A List of Cages

by Robin Roe

"Adam, a high school senior, rescues Julian, a freshman, from an abusive situation"--

• ISBN10: 1484763807
• ISBN13: 9781484763803
• Publish Date: 10 January 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Hyperion
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

This book literally squeezed my heart so tight it ached long after I finished it. You know the feeling? That sinking pit in your stomach; the sudden urge to cry; the emotions of anguish and of hope. Most importantly though; the power of love, friendship, and healing. This is an emotionally heavy book but other parts are more lighthearted through Adam's character; who also makes an excellent role model for kindness and empathy.

PARENTS:
Since this is marketed as a YA book, I feel it necessary to mention a few things for young readers. I would classify this as an "Upper Grade" level book and would not recommend for children younger than 14. The writing style is simple, but physical child abuse and psychological torture are central to the plot, some of which is depicted graphically and might be hard for sensitive readers. No sexual abuse is involved.

As a previous foster parent, I was truly moved by this story. The ending lacks an epilogue, but you do get a glimpse of Julien’s future and we aren’t left with a cliffhanger. This to me, felt the most authentic of all. Healing takes different forms and various measures of time and I think that’s exactly the message the author was trying to portray in the end.


Favorite quote:
“Hate ricochets, but kindness does too.”

The author also does a fantastic job latching you on to every single page that you literally cannot put it down. Read this book!

[Bianca]

It’s strange how many ways there are to miss someone. You miss the things they did and who they were, but you also miss who you were to them. The way everything you said and did was beautiful or entertaining or important. How much you mattered.

— A lovely book about the healing power of friendship. This was just heart-achingly good, I'm a crying mess.

[ross91]

So.many.emotions.

[Leah]

A List of Cages is one of those books that you’ll be thinking about long, long, long after you’ve finished reading. It’s the kind of book that you know you will never be able to fully do justice to – in reviews, on social media, telling your friends. It’s an immensely powerful read, that deals with many, many horrific things, things you would never expect in such a short novel, from the synopsis or the cover, but Robin Roe has done it all justice. It’s an astonishing debut novel.

This actually reads like a younger novel, especially Julian’s POV, but this is most definitely meant for more mature audiences, teenagers who can handle everything in the book, because it genuinely isn’t a pleasant read. There’s moments that made me happy inside, but they were always tempered by the other stuff, and it made me cringe. I was 15% into the novel and I knew I just wanted to keep Julian safe from everyone around him, because people can be real jerks. The people at school, mocking him for liking a book, at least he reads; I can’t stand bullying. In any form, and it just riled me up because it always happens to the ones who wouldn’t hurt flies. Julian seemed so much younger than fourteen (nearly fifteen) and I felt so protective towards him, I just wanted to shake everyone around him and ask them to stop being such horrible, awful human beings.

Then enter Adam, who is like an excitable puppy. He suffers from ADHD, can’t really stand being left in one place too long because he gets bored, but he was like a ray of blinding sunshine, after a horrible storm. He lit the book up, and the way he treated Julian made me want to cry all over again – it’s genuinely amazing what a little bit of kindness can achieve; to see Julian coming out of himself a bit more, talking to Adam, spending time with Adam and his friends, knowing what it’s like to have actual friends, it was just the most emotional heart-strings-pulling event ever. Their friendship, the kindness they show to each other (because it’s not one sided, Adam isn’t being Julian’s pity friend) it all just adds up to me being an emotional mess.

This was honestly such a hard read, but such an important read. I had no idea going in what was going to happen, no idea it would get so emotional, so hard to read, that I would literally want to pull my eyes out so I didn’t have to read any more. I was incredibly close to putting it in the freezer, Joey style. Robin Roe is an incredibly storyteller, and A List of Cages is an incredible, heart-breaking book.

[Kim Deister]

A List of Cages A List of Cages is beautifully written, telling the story of two boys whose lives have crossed once again.  Their lives have intersected at times of pain and sorrow, but it is their unlikely friendship that changes both of their lives.  This is a novel that will stick with you for a very long time, one that gives you all of the feels from the very first page.
 
It is a sad yet beautiful story that really resonated with me.  There were some moments as I read when I just felt like my heart would break.  The story told was often not a happy one, but it is a powerful one and one that is all too real for too many people.  Roe writes it with a brush of reality that makes the story that much more important and relevant.
 
What I enjoyed most with the depth of the story.  There was a variety of important issues woven into the story and those were presented with all of the rawness that is their reality.  The value of family and friends.  Dealing with ADHD.  The reality of the foster system.  The loss of family and loved ones.  Child abuse.  All of these things exist and I loved that the author didn't shy away from addressing the darker aspects of reality.
 
This is a powerful and important read that I would recommend for everyone, young adults and adults alike.

[nightingalereads]

I believe the subject matter was handled well, but this book ultimately failed to resonate with me. It was a decent and definitely important book, but the writing never grabbed me. And while I certainly didn't dislike the main characters, I never felt deeply attached to them either. I'm the sort of reader who needs to really care about a character or feel some sort of deep-rooted connection with them.

[lindsey]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Julian, a friendless Freshman, who is abused at home and has no self-confidence at all, is befriended by Adam, a gregarious and friendly Senior.  What follows is a heartbreaking, yet ultimately heartwarming, story that I think everyone should read.

To be honest, I hadn't heard of this book before I received an email from NetGalley saying I had been pre-approved to read it.  I read the blurb and it sounded intriguing enough that I sent it to my Kindle immediately.  I still wasn't sure when I would read it (I have a lot of books on my TBR list), but at least it would be there when I was ready.  The very next day, I couldn't decide what to read, so I decided to browse the titles on my Kindle until something jumped out at me (surely I'm not the only one who does this?).  A List of Cages caught my eye, and I started reading it to see if it was any good.  I am so glad I did.

It's been a while since I've read such a heart-wrenching story.  I read it in just a couple of sittings, because I just couldn't put it down, which also hasn't happened in a while.  I just had to know how things would work out.  I felt like I knew the characters, and wanted only the best for Adam and, especially, Julian.

A List of Cages is such a well-crafted book.  It's dramatic, emotional, and, unfortunately, realistic.  The story was intriguing from the start, and was written so beautifully.  The main characters are well-developed and endearing.

My heart broke for Julian, and it is still breaking knowing there are actually children in the world who endure the same abuse.  It's not just a story, it's an eye-opening commentary on child abuse, and how it can be hidden.  It's not just about the physical effects, but the mental effects, as well.

I couldn't stop thinking about Adam and Julian after I finished the book (still can't, actually, and it's been a couple of months), and I find myself randomly wondering how they're doing, until I realize they're just characters in a book.  But that just shows how much the story stuck with me.

Another thing I loved about this book is that it focuses on the platonic love of two boys, and not on a romance.  There is a romantic relationship in the story, but it's realistic, and never overshadows the main story.  It was refreshing to read a YA book without insta-love or a love-octagon.

I would highly recommend A List of Cages.  It made my Top 10 list for 2016, and it was definitely one of my favorite books last year.