The Privilege of Youth: A Teenager's Story of Longing for Acceptance and Friendship
Written by Dave Pelzer
Narrated by J. Charles
4/5
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About this audiobook
More than six million readers can attest to the heartbreak and courage of Dave Pelzer's story of growing up in an abusive home. His inspirational books have helped countless others triumph over hardship and misfortune.
Now this former lost boy who defeated insurmountable odds to emerge whole and happy at last takes us on his incredible odyssey toward healing and forgiveness. In The Privilege of Youth, Pelzer supplies the missing chapter of his life: as a boy on the threshold of adulthood. With his usual sensitivity and insight, he recounts the relentless taunting he endured from bullies; but he also describes the joys of learning and the thrill of making his first real friends—some of whom he still shares close relationships with today. He writes about the simple pleasures of exploring a neighborhood he was just beginning to get to know while trying to forget the hell he had endured as a child.
From high school to a world beyond the four walls that were his prison for so many years, The Privilege of Youth charts this crucial turning point in Dave Pelzer's life. This brave and compassionate memoir from the man who has journeyed far will inspire a whole new generation of readers and listeners.
Dave Pelzer
Dave Pelzer has experienced a truly adventurous extraordinary life. At age 12, Dave was rescued and placed in a series of foster homes until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 18. As a member of the armed forces, Dave was hand-picked to midair refuel the then highly secretive SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Some of Dave’s distinctive accomplishments have been recognized through several prestigious awards, as well as personal commendations from four U.S. Presidents. In 1993, Dave was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans, joining a distinguished group including John F. Kennedy and Walt Disney. In 1994, Dave was the only American to be honored as The Outstanding Young Persons of the World! In 2005, Dave was the recipient of the National Jefferson Award, which is considered the Pulitzer Prize of public service. Unbeknownst to the general public, from 2006 to 2010, while at extreme risk plus using his own time and expense, Dave spent weeks at a time visiting the troops in the Middle East and South West Asia, providing counseling and comedic presentations to embedded troops. For nearly a decade, when not on the road speaking, performing radio presentations, or offering counseling services, Dave serves his community as a volunteer Fire Captain for two separate districts. He has served in many explosive fires, floods, and other natural disasters. For his efforts, Dave was twice selected as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Dave is the author of nine inspirational books. Dave’s first book, A Child Called “It” was on the New York Times Best Sellers List for a record setting six years. His books were on the same Best Sellers List well over twelve years. Dave was the first author to have four # 1 International Best Sellers and to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Dave is a living testament of a self-made man who has dedicated his life to helping others . . . to help themselves. He is the host of the podcast, The Dave Pelzer Show, providing humor, advice, and tools to help listeners make positive, productive changes. Visit: www.davepelzer.com.
More audiobooks from Dave Pelzer
A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Return to the River: Reflections on Life Choices During a Pandemic Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
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Reviews for The Privilege of Youth
101 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dave goes back in time from the latest Pelzer memoir, A Man Named Dave. He fills in some details regarding his teenage years.This was very disappointing - not the writing, but what he shares. Dave Pelzer and his life story has truly touched my heart. His books have left a lasting impression on me - his tenacity is encouraging and commendable. However, most of the memories in this book have been mentioned and/or explained in his other three books. This did not fulfill any questions or wonderings I may have had throughout the others. It was a repetition that did not impress me and I feel somewhat duped; hence, my rating. My recommendation is to skip this one and end on a positive note with A Man Named Dave. (2.75/5)Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a great book. I love Dave Pelzer. I could read these books over and over
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Covering his teenage years, David Pelzer's completes the autobiographical account of the difficulties of his childhood and growing up. It concentrates on the time he spent in Duinsmoore Way, Suburban Park, both for the period he lived there in foster care and then regularly returned after he moved to another foster home.It is a moving account and paints a picture of an awkward, resourceful, at times desperate, young man longing for acceptance. Figuring significantly in helping him in coming to terms with himself are some of the residents of Duinsmoore Way including the two younger friends David and Paul he makes there but more significantly his friends' parents and the colourful Sarge.Pelzer takes us through a number of his sometimes wild adventures with his two friends David and Paul, his efforts to save for the time when he will be ejected by the welfare system, and the encouragement he received from the more mature residents of Duinsmoore Way. He also records the constant teasing and bullying he suffered at school. It is however a very positive account, and at times quite moving. The book concludes with several testimonies from some of those who featured in David's young life.The Privilege of Youth is very well written, and makes for a very colourful account of Pelzer's youth. Most enlightening I found was the episodes of the teasing and bullying he suffered at school, providing some insight into the thinking and actions of the victim. It is however very selective, while there is much about his time in Duinsmoore Way (I cannot find that name on the map, is this perhaps Dunsmuir Way?), it tells us almost nothing about his foster parents, and although he moved from school to school he tells of his troubles at just one. I came to this without reading Pelzer's earlier writings, A Child Called "It", The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave, three books which on completing this I instantly ordered.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Privilege of Youth is the fourth book that I have read by Dave Pelzer. This book focuses on one street that Dave lived on in a foster home. The name of the street is Duinsmoore Way. This is the time just before he reached adulthood.You get to hear what Dave thoughts are during this time. He is living in a foster home in a nice community in California. Duinsmoore is the place where he really feels he belongs and actually gets to live his first time as a child. The one thing that Dave never really got to do or feel before he finds it all on Duinsmoore Way.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I read this book after "The Lost Boy" so as to read the story of Dave Pelzer's life in a more chronological order. I enjoyed hearing about the true friendships he made as a teenager after having such a rough start in life and always feeling like he wasn't good enough. I enjoyed hearing about his wife and son. Of course the book was heartbreaking as well, but I don't like to give spoilers, so be prepared for some sadness amidst all the teenage shenannigans. I'm really glad that I picked up "A Child Called It" again and then continued to read the works of this brave man.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed reading all his books. I got a deeper understanding of what his life was like growing up with an abusive mother. It was a story as were all his others.