Richard B. Pelzer

Richard Bryan Pelzer (June 16, 1965 – September 13, 2019) was an American public speaker, memoirist and author. He was the author of A Brother's Journey and its follow up, A Teenager's Journey.

Richard B. Pelzer
Born	Richard Bryan Pelzer (1965-06-16)June 16, 1965 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	September 13, 2019(2019-09-13) (aged 54)
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Southern New Hampshire University
Occupation(s)	Memoirist, novelist, public speaker
Children	4
Family	Dave Pelzer (brother)

Biography

Pelzer was the fourth of five sons of Stephen Pelzer and Catherine Roerva. He received his bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development from Southern New Hampshire University in 2015.^{[citation needed]}

He was divorced with four children.

Pelzer published his memoir, A Brother's Journey, an account of the story of his young adult life. Pelzer was also the author of A Teenager's Journey, which recounts his teenage years. His brother, Dave Pelzer, was severely abused by their mother when he was a child.

Controversy

Pelzer and his brother Dave Pelzer, who wrote A Child Called "It" about his own abuse by their mother, have raised questions about each's depictions of their childhoods. Articles in The New York Times Magazine^[1] and Slate^[2] have expressed skepticism of claims made by Dave Pelzer.

Death

Richard Pelzer died by suicide on September 13, 2019, after a short, difficult battle with his mental health.

Bibliography

Pelzer wrote two memoirs about the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his mother.

• A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse^[3]
• A Teenager's Journey: Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse^[4]

References

1. Jordan, Pat (2002-07-28). "Dysfunction For Dollars". The New York Times Magazine. p. S6-22. from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
2. Plotz, David (2000-09-29). "Dave Pelzer - The child-abuse entrepreneur". Slate. from the original on 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
3. A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse. New York: Warner Books. 2005. ISBN 0-446-53368-8. Retrieved 2019-09-07 – via Internet Archive text collection.
4. A Teenager's Journey: Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse. London: Sphere Books. 2006. ISBN 978-0-7515-3769-7. Retrieved 2023-10-04 – via Internet Archive text collection.

Resources

• Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2006. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2006.