A child called "it"

I read the book "A Child Called It" by David Pelzer. This book is about a boy named David who first lived a normal life with his parents and brothers and now struggles to remember and only dream about those days ever since his mother vented her anger from drinking on him. She abused him in every possible way. From being beaten, and starved, burned and stabbed. Always coming up with "games" in order for him to survive. She doesnt refer to him as her son but as an "it" or "the boy". His mother threatens him everytime he wants to tell someone about what goes on while hes at home he never has the courage to fess up scared of what mother would do if she were to find out. His bed was an old army cot and his clothes were torn and dirty. When he could eat it wouldnt be much, spoiled food or leftovers if he was even lucky to get that. Dreaming kept him living all he wanted and needed was someone to take care of him and love him.