Summary on chapter one the lost boy by david pelzer?
Chapter one of Dave Pelzer's *A Lost Boy* introduces a young Dave, around six years old, living a life dominated by his violently abusive mother. The chapter focuses on the escalating cruelty and emotional neglect he endures. His mother's abuse manifests in various forms, including verbal attacks, starvation, and forced isolation. He's already experiencing the systematic dehumanization that will define much of his childhood. The chapter establishes the setting – a seemingly normal suburban house masking a horrific reality – and sets the tone of fear, despair, and the child's desperate attempts to survive. The core theme of the chapter is the subtle yet powerful manipulation and control exerted by the mother, gradually eroding Dave's sense of self-worth and agency.