Just finished reading 'A Child Called It' and wow... I don't even know where to begin. This book shook me to my core.

The author's raw account of childhood abuse is both horrifying and strangely uplifting. How someone could endure such cruelty yet emerge with such resilience is beyond comprehension.

What struck me most was the psychological torture - being called 'It', the gas chamber 'games', the calculated starvation. The mother's behavior was so methodically cruel it made me physically sick at times.

Yet through all this darkness shines David's incredible will to survive. His small acts of rebellion (stealing bits of food, hiding injuries) show such profound courage in a child so young.

The writing style is deceptively simple, which makes the horror even more impactful. There's no melodrama - just stark, matter-of-fact descriptions that let the events speak for themselves.

Warning: This isn't an easy read. I had to take breaks because some passages were too intense. But it's an important one - shining light on how abuse often happens in plain sight while others turn away.

Already ordered the next book in the series. If you're ready for an emotional gut-punch that will change how you see resilience, pick this up. Just keep tissues nearby.