Just finished reading 'A Child Called It' and wow... this book wrecked me in ways I didn't expect. David's story is both horrifying and incredibly inspiring.

The way he describes his abuse is so raw and unfiltered - you can practically feel the hunger pains when he talks about being starved for days. What shocked me most was how his mother systematically dehumanized him, even taking away his name.

Despite the darkness, there's something beautiful about David's resilience. That moment when school staff finally intervene had me cheering through my tears!

Fair warning though - this isn't an easy read. Some passages made me physically nauseous (the 'gas chamber game' part especially). But it's important to sit with that discomfort.

What surprised me most was realizing how many adults failed David before someone finally stepped up. Makes you think about our responsibility to protect vulnerable kids.

Already ordered the next book in the series - need to know how David's story continues after surviving such unimaginable cruelty.