# Need a "Child Called It"ish movie for a middle school class **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535 "2008-04-01T15:46:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/1 "2008-04-01T15:46:04Z")
Greetings, Dopers! I am looking for a movie to use in conjunction with the book “They Cage The Animals At Night”… which is a tamer kind of “Child Called It” story. These kids are seventh graders, and most of the class is a little harder-edged than my mainstream seventh graders. I would like to show a film that will engage them and get them to think about the choices they make, even when they are dealt a grim hand. Thanks for your input 🙂 Also, I should say that I am looking for films that they might not have seen. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/2 "2008-04-01T16:53:46Z")
What the heck is a “Child Called It” story? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/3 "2008-04-01T17:30:49Z")
A Child Called It is a memoir by David Pelzer, who was, according to the book, horribly abused by his mother until he was put into foster care when he was 12. ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/4 "2008-04-01T18:34:07Z")
Yes, Captain Amazing has it. Sorry I didn’t clarify, but I just take it for granted that it is a series of books that kids have read or heard about. Anyway… looking for a movie about foster care. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/5 "2008-04-01T19:12:12Z")
Although it’s not really a “Child Called ‘It’” movie, the first one that came to mind was [Whale Rider](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298228/). ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/6 "2008-04-01T20:03:55Z")
Maybe [White Oleander](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283139/)? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/7 "2008-04-02T10:27:30Z")
[Bless the beasts and children](http://imdb.com/title/tt0068286/) I read the book in 9th grade English and really enjoyed it, but never saw the movie. I have heard good things about it, although you may need to point put the symbolism between the bison and the mistreated, outcast kids. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/8 "2008-04-02T11:24:43Z")
Have they filmed Le Guin’s _The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas_? ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/9 "2008-04-02T12:16:09Z")
I will check out those suggestions and see if any work. I _have_ Whale Rider… I’ll have to re-watch it. I was planning on incorporating it into my curriculum next year anyway to add to our multicultural unit. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/10 "2008-04-03T00:24:28Z")
How about a movie about parental neglect, rather than abuse? [The Quiet Room](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117422/). ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-child-called-it-ish-movie-for-a-middle-school-class/443535/11 "2008-04-03T00:49:36Z")
One that has always struck a chord with me is _[Radio Flyer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105211/)_. An abusive stepfather chooses the younger of the two children as the target, so the boys turn to their imaginations. As a bonus, it shows how Elijah Wood was _the_ best child actor of the era (early 90s).