Name: A list of cages
Rating: 4.252427184466019 (103 reviews)
ISBN: 9781484763803

Robin Roe

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

A list of cages

Sarah Sammis

It's mostly Julian's story — but Adam's point of view is necessary to get the big picture. Julian's world is so small — from his attempts to cope with his anxiety, to how his uncle is treating him, to his own shyness. 

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...

this book feels like a punch in the face. it also feels like a warm hug 

» “Adam…do you think we have missions?”
He looks at me with a confused expression. “What kind of missions?”
“Things we’re meant to do.”
“I don’t know. Do you think you have a mission?”
I shrug, disappointed. If Adam doesn’t know, then I guess no one does.
A girl turns onto our hall, eyes red and sad, and as she passes, Adam sends her a smile. Her whole face brightens and she sends him a smile back.
Hate ricochets, but kindness does too.

jess

I wasn't expecting what I got from A List of Cages, which is a good thing—it was a lot more complex and powerful and heartbreaking. It was so, so difficult to read Julian's story. I hope he is doing all right now. Julian is a very distinct character, and well-written and very realistic. His reactions to his abuse aren't singular—they jump around. He can be angry and accepting and frightened by it.

The choice of a dual POV was one that actually added quite a lot to the story in this case, because Adam isn't just another view of Julian's pain. He has his own detailed and well-done character development, outside of Julian's story, that strengthens both stories. Adam's friends made me so happy, that they were there for Julian not because he was Adam's friend but because they had become Julian's. Both Adam and Julian had two distinct voices, which I enjoyed.

I couldn't stop reading once I got to the middle and it was written really well. It's definitely not for the faint of heart but if you can stomach it, it's a really beautiful story.

Lauren Tabor

I cried and I laughed and I felt a lot of things reading this book. I loved the friendships that were made in this story and the relationships. The things Julian went through in his life are heartbreaking and I loved watching his growth and journey throughout this story.

Julian hates being in school. Reading aloud is a tortuous experience and his relations with his peers are nonexistent. He's been dodging meetings with the school psychiatrist, but her new aide, Adam, has been tasked with him fetching him to make sure he actually shows up. Adam is Julian's former foster brother and he has a particularly interest in seeing Julian do well. Over the year, it becomes increasingly clear that there are problems with Julian at home that Julian isn't willing to talk about or try to fix. 

The strength of this book falls firmly on the friendship between Julian and Adam. They've known each other for years - though they've not spoken since Julian's uncle took him in - so Adam is particularly protective of Julian, which is exactly what he needs. Even just including Julian in the parties and outings Adam and his friends have helps Julian so much because it gives him the peer socialization and support that he needs. 

Reading what Russell did to Julian was horribly difficult. And Julian's meek acceptance was even worse. I just feel emotionally drained from reading it and helplessly angry. Child abuse is always difficult to hear about, but to see it described from Julian's point of view is especially hard. I know telling these stories can be important because they show how not okay it is, but it's just so hard to stomach a child being treated so horribly.

Stefanie Sugia

"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."As I'm reading this book, I was quite shocked by its similarities with the previous book I just finished—Counting by 7s, which involves the main character losing both of their parents. Compared to that book, A List of Cages feels a lot darker and has a somber mood surrounding the story because it involves physical and verbal abuse (I don't know if that spoiled too much, but it is one of the main themes of this book that I have to discuss in my review). I've read a few books related with abuse in the past, but it's still difficult to read every single time. I felt so many emotions while I was reading this book; and I was completely immersed in Julian's life story."I've cried in pain and I've cried in fear, but these tears are different, like I'm breaking apart.""But why can't good things feel like forever? It was all so fast...before they left. I want to spin it back...slow it down. Why is time like that? Why does it slow down in the places you don't want it to, but it speeds away when you're happy?"There are two sides of the story: one is written from the perspective of Julian, and the second one is from Adam's perspective. The start of this book seems very mysterious because there are a lot of things we do not know yet. But slowly, as Adam got closer to Julian, the mysteries started peeling off piece by piece until we are exposed to the heartbreaking truth behind Julian's life. I'm not going into too much details to avoid spoilers, but I have to say I felt really bad for Julian throughout this book 😟. I feel like no one should be treated that way, and I'm sure at that moment Julian would feel very alone in this world. There are several parts in this book that is sickening to read because it's just so horrible 😥. But I'll gladly say that the story ended on a good note. A bit bittersweet and it made my heart ache a little, yet it feels like the perfect way to end this book.

The more lighthearted side of the story is when Julian started opening himself up to Adam and his group of friends. It's like a breath of fresh air after reading all the harrowing part of this book. I'm really glad to see Julian's character development and how he was able to influence the people around him with his kind and innocent heart. It was quite touching to see his interaction with Charlie, Adam's best friend, who at first had a difficult time accepting Julian who's exceptionally quiet and awkward around other people. It proves how a loving and kind heart will touch other people's life in ways we never expected.
  "Hate ricochets, but kindness does too."
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it was quite difficult to read at the same time. It taught me about a lot of things, especially about overcoming our fears—just like Julian did. This book also reminded me how words can be so damaging to a person if used badly. Even when the things being said might not necessarily be true, the person on the receiving end might perceive it as the truth and live their lives believing it. That's why it is just beyond me why someone would intentionally use words to hurt or even manipulate other people 😟. Anyways, I might read more of Robin Roe's works in the future because I really liked her writing in this one! 😊
  "The things I know stay in my head as I stand on my own two feet at the end of the day, and I walk back to my room with my journal to write my list of cages."


Read the full review here:
http://www.thebookielooker.com/2018/0...

Amanda Kordeliski

4.5 This book has been at the top of my TBR pile since the spring. Every time I was selecting a new book I would pick this one up first, think about it for a moment and then decide I wasn't emotionally ready for it and put it back. 
I started out the day listening to this book while I ran errands and did things around the house. Even after I turned off my audio, I couldn't stop thinking about Julian and promptly spent the evening curled up finishing this one with a box of tissues at my side. This book will shatter your heart into a million pieces. Julian loses both his parents in an accident when he is in elementary school. He spends the first eight months after their death living with a social worker and her son, Adam, whom he had been partnered with at school as a mentor and reading buddy. Julian's world is completely turned upside down again when an uncle-by-marriage is located and he is uprooted to live with the uncle. 
His uncle is an abusive and controlling man and quickly alienates Julian from anyone who might reach out and help him or recognize he is in trouble, including Adam and his mom
The story starts with Adam, a senior, recognizing Julian, a new freshman, at school and the school year is told in alternative viewpoints between Adam and Julian. This is a tough book to read and covers loss and extreme abuse and a stark look at how almost every adult in Julian's life failed to recognize the signs of neglect and abuse. 
4.5 only because I felt the pacing was a little uneven and as a teacher I always bristle when every teacher a character encounters is hateful and turns a blind eye to a kid in need.

Nadine 

This is one special book. I basically had to finish it in one setting as I couldn't put it down. It has so much going for it and is heart-stoppingly sad but also celebrates the strength of a lovely kind heart of an ADHD boy and the wonder and beauty of good friendships that pull through all sort of teenage angst and personal issues. 
Must read.

Tiffany Robinson

This took me awhile to finish cause I was having trouble getting into it.

A list of cages

Reviews

Highlights