The Lost Boy Characters
The main characters in The Lost Boy include David, Roerva, Stephen, Ron, Stan, and Russell Pelzer, Mrs. Gold, Lilian and Rudy Catanze, and Gordon Hutcheson.
- David Pelzer is the author and protagonist. He enters the foster care system after being removed from his abusive mother's care.
- Roerva Pelzer is David's abusive mother, whom he calls "Mother."
- Stephen Pelzer is David's alcoholic father.
- Ron, Stan, and Russell Pelzer are David's brothers.
- Ms. Gold whom David calls an "angel," is David’s social worker.
- Lillian and Rudy Catanze are David's first foster parents.
- Gordon Hutcheson is David's probation officer.
Characters
David Pelzer
David Pelzer is the author of two bestselling memoirs, A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy. These books tell the story of David's childhood, beginning with the horrific abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother and following him through the foster care system. While serving in the Air Force, he began volunteering at Hillside, the juvenile hall where he'd been briefly detained as an adolescent. His desire to give back to the system that saved his life led him to write his memoirs.
Mother (Roerva Pelzer)
David's deranged, alcoholic mother. For the first years of David's life,
Mother is a loving and caring person and dotes on David, her youngest son at
the time. Only later does the abuse start. Her actions are unforgivable and
horrific in their ingenuity. She attempts on several occasions to gas David
with a concoction of bleach and ammonia. It's unclear exactly what triggered
this behavior. Her excessive alcohol consumption certainly didn't help. In the
epilogue of The Lost Boy, David hints that she, too, had a family
secret like David's—something tragic enough to make David cry, though obviously
not enough to justify the abuse.
Father (Stephen Pelzer)
When David was a child, he thought of Father as his hero. Stephen was a
career fireman known for his bravery in the line of duty. He was unable to
prevent the abuse, however, and instead of getting a divorce he retreated into
alcoholism to escape David's crazy mother. At the end of The Lost Boy,
the teenage David visits his father in San Francisco and finds him a broken man
with a severe drinking problem. Stephen encourages David to enlist in the
military. We can only assume that he's proud of his son.
Ron, Stan, and Russell Pelzer
David's brothers. In A Child Called "It," David made it clear
that his mother had forced his brothers to participate in the abuse and that
they were helpless to stop her. In The Lost Boy, David leaves his
brothers behind when he enters foster care, only to discover later that his
youngest brother, Russell, has replaced him as the family punching bag.
Aunt Mary
One of David's foster mothers. Aunt Mary is the first foster parent to care for David after his rescue. She's also the first person who stands up to Mother in front of David. This gives him hope.
Ms. Gold
David's social worker, whom he refers to as an "angel." In the weeks after
his rescue, David forms a strong attachment with Ms. Gold, who's shocked by the
horrific abuse he suffered. She accompanies him to the trial, where a judge
officially strips his mother of custody and makes David a ward of the state of
California. Later, when David gets in trouble with the law, Ms. Gold is
replaced by Gordon Hutchenson, a probation officer.
Lilian and Rudy Catanze
David's first foster parents after being made a ward of the state. Lilian
and Rudy are long-time foster parents with a large family. Soon after David
arrives, the Catanzes throw a picnic for all their former foster children, who
refer to them as Mom and Dad. Lilian and Rudy are kind, forgiving people, but
they do have rules and won't tolerate lying. When David begins stealing, Rudy
is forced to take him to Hillcrest, a juvenile detention center. David is
removed from the Catanze home not long after his release from Hillcrest.
Gordon Hutchenson
David's probation officer. He's assigned to David after David is accused...
(This entire section contains 879 words.)
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of attempting to burn down his school. Gordon replaces Ms. Gold, but never forms the same level of attachment with David. He recommends to the court that David return to the foster care system after serving his time in juvenile hall.
Alice Turnbough
David's sometime foster mother. His initial stay with Alice Turnbough was
temporary, lasting only a few days while Gordon Hutchenson attempted to place
David with another family. David later came back to live with Alice and her new
husband, this time permanently. He's living with them when he enlists in the
United States Air Force.
Joanne and Michael Nulls
One of David's foster families. David lives with them only briefly before
they decide to divorce.
Jody and Vera Jones
One of David's foster families. Jody and Vera are an African American
couple who've converted the garage into a bunkhouse for their foster children.
One day, the foster children are removed following accusations that Jody
molested another girl who had been under his care.
John and Linda Walsh
One of David's foster families. John and Linda Walsh already have three
children of their own when David is placed with them. David and the Walshes
move to an upscale neighborhood where David is ridiculed for being a foster
child. David lives there only briefly before returning to the Turnboughs.
Michael and Sandra Marsh
David's friends from Duinsmoore Drive. Michael Marsh becomes a kind of
mentor to David, and he often allows David to borrow books from his large
library. David makes a point of keeping in touch with the Marshes after he
leaves the Walshes and goes back to the Turnboughs.
