A Child Called It Test Review

Review 1

100

• Who is the narrator of the story?

David Pelzer

200

What is David’s early childhood like?

Idyllic-mother is loving, everyone gets along, a happy family

300

• Identify three character traits that describe David.

Strong, smart, clever, witty, resilient, weak, brave, hopeless, survivor, forgiving independent, rebellious

400

• Identify three character traits that describe David’s mother.

Abusive, manipulative, phony, alcoholic, cowardly, selfish, controlling

500

• Describe how David’s mother begins to change.

Loving to abusive

Review 2

100

• How does David describe his father?  What character does he refer to when talking about his father?

Superman

200

What does David do at school to make the other kids not like him and ostracize him?

Steals food from their lunches

300

• What does David’s mother make David do when the family is on vacation at the Russian River?

Eat a dirty diaper

400

• Identify two things that David is desperate for from his mother and family?

Love, attention, respect, dignity

500

• How does David refer to himself in regards to his family? 

As a slave

Review 3

100

True or False: David overcomes his abusive mother with the support of his brothers.

False

200

At the end of the novel, what is the relationship status of David’s parents?

They separate

300

During the epilogue, David describes his life after experiencing an abusive childhood by moving on to becoming a successful adult.  What character trait does this show?

Resilient, brave, strong

400

• True or False:
• At the beginning of the novel, David describes his mother as the Wicked Witch, but later only refers to her as “the bitch.”

True

500

• David mentions that he no longer believes in God.  What does this say about his feelings/mental state?

He is hopeless, faithless, defeated

Review 4

100

True or False:

The Mother is abusive to all of her children, except baby Kevin.

False

200

What is one possible reason that the Mother abuses and tortures David?

She experienced some trauma in her own life/childhood growing up

300

True or False:

David overcomes his abusive childhood to become a successful adult.  He even joins the army.

False

400

• Why does the Mother treat David nicely and tell him he is a part of the family again?

To trick the social worker into thinking there isn’t any abuse

500

• Describe David’s relationship with his own son.

Loving, connected, happy

Review 5

100

True or False: 

Some of David’s injuries from his mother include dislocating his arm, being burned on the stove, and being stabbed with a kitchen knife.

True

200

What “accident” occurs that leaves David to take care of himself, even though he probably needed medical attention?

His mother stabs him with kitchen knife

300

• When pregnant with baby Kevin, what does the Mother make David believe?

Makes David think that he hurt/damaged the baby

400

• Identify three theme topics that are present throughout the novel.

Guilt, responsibility, faith, hope, defeat, hate, trauma, cycle/pattern, breaking the cycle, innocence/loss of innocence, abandonment, lonely, low self-esteem/self-worth, affection, love, dignity, respect, humanity, dehumanization, escape, manipulation, consequences, survival, excuses, blame, negligence, grit, family dynamics

500

True or False

David’s father helps him by sticking up for him/challenging the Mother when she beats him.

False