Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.

A New York Times article queried the reliability of Pelzer's recollections and describes Pelzer zealously promoting his book and preoccupied with its standing on the The New York Times Best Seller list. Memoirs
A Child Called It (1995) ISBN 9781558743669
The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family (1997) ISBN 9781558745155
A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness (2000) ISBN 9780452281905
Help Yourself (2001) ISBN 9780452282766
The Privilege of Youth (2004) ISBN 9780452286290
Help Yourself for Teens (2005) ISBN 9780452286528
Moving Forward (2009) ISBN 9781599950662


Awards and recognition
JC Penney Golden Rule Award (1990)
California Volunteer of the Year (1991)
Ten Outstanding Young Americans (1993)
Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (1994)
National Jefferson Award (2005). Pelzer wrote in his book that as a child he was continually abused mistreated and beaten by his mother who thought of it as a game.

He is now living in a different state with his second wife and kids. He joined the Air Force in 1979 and later became an author. The book describes how his mother starved him forced him to drink ammonia stabbed him in the stomach burned his arm on a gas stove and forced him to eat his own vomit.