As a child, Dave Pelzer was horrifically abused by his mother, who considered him to be an "it", not a child. But he survived and lived to tell his courageous story. Haunted by memories of his years bruised and cowering in his mother's basement, his life remained a struggle - but he was determined to make something of himself. Dave's dramatic reunion with his dying father and a shocking confrontation with his mother led to his ultimate calling: mentor to others struggling with personal hardships. from a difficult marriage to the birth of his son and an enduring friendship, Dave wasfinally able to break free from his past, to trust, to love and to live.