If you enjoy reading books filled with thrill and action, this is not the book for you. The Privilege of Youth by Dave Pelzer is a book about courage and triumph. Dave Pelzer, the main character of the book, tells a tale of his life as a teen. This story supplies the missing chapter of his life between the books from the series, The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave.

As a young child Pelzer was abused. He was beaten, neglected and forced to fend for himself. These misfortunes cause Pelzer to feel alone as a teen. He recounts the relentless taunting he endured from bullies. Also he describes the thrill of making his first real friends. Once he got put into foster care he moves around to different families until settling down with one family in a place Duinsmoore Way. Here he meets the Brazell family which he spends the most time with and meets his two best friends David Howard, Paul Brazell. From the first chapter on, Pelzer continues recounting the reckless moments of his life as a teen.

“ Pelzer demonstrates, as few have, that it is in the darkest skies that the stars are best seen.”- Richard Paul Evans. Pelzer is a living example that all of us have the capability to better ourselves no matter what the odds. This book is written in a way that helps readers heal, no matter what sort of hardship they face in their lives. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to anyone who was or is in the foster care system, has a tragic or traumatic past, and/or needs a little guidance to get through rough times.