A List of Cages

“A List of Cages” is book that bolsters my existing faith in the younger generation. Its message about friendship resonates with me. One of my favorite quotes from the book seems to sum it up: “Hate ricochets, but so does kindness.”

At the heart of Robin Roe’s debut novel lies the relationship of Adam and his younger foster brother Julian. Julian lived in Adam’s home temporarily after the death of Julian’s parents. The two are reunited years later in high school. Despite their different ages and circumstances they develop a friendship that alters their lives as Adam discovers things may not be all that they seem in Julian’s home.

“A List of Cages” is written through Adam and Julian’s point of view, which I did like. However, I struggled to read Julian’s chapters at times. I definitely found myself crying for Julian’s situation that is unfortunately not unheard of. Roe really captured Julian’s vulnerability in a way that was haunting. I felt protectiveness for Julian and at first had a hard time accepting that Adam and his friends would accept Julian into their circle. But through the sad parts, my heart achingly opened to this possibility. I did not feel as connected to the other teens in the book, but I was able to accept this due to the story’s first person point of view. Though Roe’s novel is about the impact of friendship, another gem from the book has stuck with me: “What keeps you from living the life you want? What keeps you from being free?”

“A List of Cages” is classified as a Young Adult fiction novel, though with its weighty material I would recommend it as a great read for those high school aged and up.

I received an advance copy of this book through Net Galley for an honest review.

Wow! This book is amazing. If you like realistic contemporary young adult novels, put this on your to be read list. In the same vein as John Green's many works and The Hate U Give, Robin Roe has written a touching, heartwrenching story.

The story line moves seamlessly between Julian's and Adam's points of view to fill in the storyline completely. A novel that tackles the tough truths of abuse, loss, love and living in foster care, told in the authentic voices of two young men, it is a true masterpiece.

I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book I don't even know where to begin. Awhile back, I wrote about why I wasn't able to finish A LITTLE LIFE, a book that I felt was exploitative and disturbing in the way it used a person's history of abuse for what felt like entertainment value. Robin Roe's A LIST OF CAGES is the opposite of that. It is definitely a book about abuse, and it is hard to read at points because of that - I had to take breaks and put the book down sometimes because I was so sad - but it is also a book with a profound understanding of what trauma does to a child, how it can essentially freeze their development and warp their worldview, how it changes the way they make friends, how it isolates and brands them, how they can fall through the cracks of a society that claims to be constantly vigilant about these issues. In that way this is also a political book about the terrifying inadequacy of our foster care system, a point that in my opinion can not be made often enough.

However: at its heart this is just an incredibly moving and beautiful story about two boys who come to understand and love each other, and there are not enough stories about that. There are not enough stories that show the ways boys are sensitive and vulnerable, the ways they love and hurt, the ways pain affects them in a society that is constantly telling them not to feel or show it. This book is intense, but it is also uplifting, a story of survival and resilience. I love Adam and Julian, I love Adam's mother and all Adam's friends - everyone is given a chance to develop and be vivid on the page. This is a gorgeous book.

I don't think I could give this book justice with my review. So I'm just going to keep it really short and have you figure out yourself why this book is a must-read.
A LIST OF CAGES is one of those rare books that packs on FEELS. It's real, raw and beautifully written. I absolutely had no idea it's going to have such an impact on me. But it did. And how can it not? It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story that overflows with emotion. And Julian and Adam. Man I love those two! The friendship between them was portrayed in such a perfect and endearing way.
This was definitely a devastatingly beautiful book and I loved every page of it!

A List of Cages turned out to be one of my favourite reads of 2016 and I just managed to squeeze it in at the end of December. I adored the story and while it is a very tough read it is also a heartwarming and beautiful read. Since reading it I've recommended it to everyone. It is a contemporary book which packs a punch and I really wish for everyone to read it. It has both romance, family and friendship and it relies heavily on friendship or family opposed to romance. And now I want to reread it.

In short: do yourself a favour and read it!

*e-galley received for review from Netgalley.

1st the positives- I LOVED the first half of the book. I thought the story moved along at a good pace for the most part and I was actively rooting for both Julian and Adam the whole time. I actually enjoyed Charlie’s character arc the most (he’s a supporting character). I do think that a book like this is really important to open people’s eyes about aspects of child abuse and the foster system, and overall I thought the writing was pretty good for a debut novel.

Now the negatives- The story slowed down to almost a halt in the second half of the book for me. Not a lot was happening for about 30 pages, so it started to get boring. I think Robin’s writing style could be better and there were important questions that I had while reading this book that never got answered. I also think that Robin was sometimes writing for shock value and not necessarily for a meaningful story.

I think that anyone could get something out of this book and I do recommend it, but there are better books out there.

Rating : 3.5/5 (more like.. 3.75ish)

I liked the neurodiversity rep, both dyslexia and ADHD; I never felt like it was forcefully plugged into the story. So props for that. However, I wish I could have raved about this book.
I think I was slightly put off by how much the book relied on the depiction of physical abuse for its plotting, and sort of just neglected everything else. I think a better way to put it is – there really isn’t much happening, really. It is too… cyclic and predictable. But Julian and Adam were so likeable and easy to connect with as MCs, and that’s what saved the book for me.

"Hate ricochets, but so does kindness."

This book is so heart-wrenching. Beautifully crafted, it tells the story of Adam--a charismatic senior, and Julian--the shy foster brother he hasn't seen in years. The friendship that is re-kindled between the boys is sweet. Both of the point of view characters have their own struggles, but in their interactions with each other, they really shine. Adam's friends are great supporting characters as well.

The subject matter is difficult, but handled with such grace and hope. I will be thinking about these characters for a long time.

This book completely has my heart. I was shocked by its depth and how profoundly Adam and Julian's story rocked me. I cannot express enough how special this book is. Raw, eye-opening, and in the end, full of hope. A powerful story of love, family, and friendship. It would not surprise me one bit if this book won some major awards

Told from the perspectives of two teens, Julian and Adam, this book grabs you from page one and doesn't let you go until the very end. While the two leads are beautifully executed, so are the supporting players. An amazing story of friendship, heartache, what it means to really care about someone, A List of Cages is a triumph of storytelling. This review is purposefully vague because I don't want to give away any spoilers, but trust me when I say that Robin Roe has captured two unique characters that will stay with you long after you close this book.

An utter emotional rollercoaster. I basically read this book in one day. It is an easy read that keeps the mind constantly churning. I felt connected to the introvert nature of Julian. The social awkwardness is something I struggle with as an adult. However, I cannot fathom experiencing his loss and the horrible events he endures. Thankfully, friendship is there to hold him up when life continually kicks him down. Lessons can be learned by both adults and teens about compassion through this book. I give it a solid 4/5

Wow... I devoured this in half a day! What a beautiful heart breaking story with two amazing characters that you couldn’t help but love. Adam was sweet and kind the kind of friend you want in your life and poor sweet Julien I just wanted to wrap that child in a hug and never let him go. My heart is aching for him.

I got this book from the library knowing nothing about it. I can hardly express how much this book moved me. I found it a little hard to believe that people like Adam exist in this cruel world, but I hope with all my heart that they do. I just finished it and tears are still streaming down my face. Absolutely beautiful...

This heart-wrenching book is so finely craft and deeply felt that it's a seamless, immerse experience to read it. I found myself comparing it to Hanya Yanigahara's "A Little Life," but it is written with a great deal more compassion and hope. Both main characters- Adam and Julian- are so genuine (so lovable really) that you're invested right away. A List of Cages will resonate with you emotionally long after you're finished with it

Julian was always being ridiculed because of his learning condition - a disability no one knew of and no one even cared about. Being a dyslexic, he really had a hard time with his studies and often found himself sitting alone in his secret place. When his parents died, he was taken by a foster family but soon he was taken by his evil uncle Russell, who abused and tortured him with a switch and put him in a trunk. Julian's life was hell.

Adam, who was once Julian's foster brother, was diagnosed with ADHD and always had a hard time keeping still and silent. When Julian was assigned to him in school, they became friends again and he even introduced him to his own peers, which consisted of Emerald, Camille, Matt, Jesse and Charlie. (Oh Charlie was such a great character, he was the bully that you'd love to hate and hate to love, and I love him so much!)

Adam knew Julian was keeping secrets from him. Deadly secrets. And he was hellbent on discovering this secret, no matter how dangerous it could get.

This.Was.Heartbreaking!

There's no dry spot on my handkerchief after reading this book. All of my tears poured out of my eyes, my heart shattering into pieces. Julian and Adam are two broken souls, physically, emotionally, mentally. A List of Cages is a hard-hitting drama that would haunt you even in your sleep.

Honestly, with all the pain and hurt I've felt in this book, I don't even want to review it. God knows I could never do it justice to the suffering that Julian had experienced. God.. I can't help but wail when I see him in that trunk.. in that shell... in that cage. How could somebody be so cruel and evil and monstrous to this little angel?

Robin Roe's writing was poignant, raw and masterful and had mentally overwhelmed me. This isn't something you'll likely forget in weeks. This story will leave a mark to the reader and would move even the most insensitive person into tears.

As a precaution, when you get to read this, prepare a nebulizer at hand, because this will surely leave you breathless.

A List of Cages is an absolutely phenomenal book. It juxtaposed important discussions about mental health and abuse while also staying true to the high school experience, complete with all of its highs and lows. The bond between Adam and Julian is one of the most heartwarming that I've read in YA literature and this book has managed to topple all but one of my favorite books from their pedestals (The Book Thief is just too fantastic to not keep its favorite book status). The teenagers (the hardest age to write well) are all relatable and spot on and this book has moved me in ways that few others are able to.

This book has to be one of my favorites. The characters are just so loveable. (Well, most of them anyway!) Julian and Adam are so great and complexly developed. This story made me cry, it made me smile, and it made me laugh. It ripped my heart out and put me through an emotional rollercoaster. A List of Cages is a beautifully crafted story about friendship and overcoming the toughest of battles.

This was fantastic! I loved the two main characters, but the whole group was fantastic. I loved watching how the group of kids changed over the course of the story. This is heartbreaking AND lovely at the same time. (some language, mature content) I think this story, and Adam and Julian in particular, will stick with me for a long time.

This is one of those books that's hard to review because it was so deeply moving that I don't think I can do it justice. Beautifully written, carefully crafted, raw and honest and thoughtful. The characters will stay in your heart long after you read the final page. I wanted to hold Julian and never let him go! This book is a triumph. A must-read.

The humanity aspect of this book is why it hooked me from the first page. This book is wonderfully written and moves along quickly, I did not want to put it down once I began the journey of getting to know Julian and Adam. The author gives us a gift, she subtly helps us understand a very devastating problem in society. I laughed, cried, smiled a lot and went right back into my own childhood many times. As a teacher of young adults (English), I look forward to the days when this book becomes a staple in high school curriculums.

A List of Cages is hard to read at times, excruciatingly real, with well-developed characters and a story I couldn't put down. But it's also a story of friendship and love and hope. I know this one will stick with me for awhile.

What a great read!!!! This story had me hooked from the very beginning. Words can not say how this story made me feel. I laughed I cried I was grateful it made me feel sad and happy. Read this book you will not be disappointed

I was immediately drawn to the beautifully written characters of Adam and Julian. This is an emotional and powerful story that demonstrates the difference friendship and genuine caring can make in one's life. Loved that it was told from 2 viewpoints and that it managed to maintain some humor. I absolutely recommend this book and look forward to more novels from Robin Roe!!

A beautifully written, realistically portrayed story of friendship, hope, and survival. This book is sure to help many, many young people who have experienced loss and abuse. Robin Roe is an author to watch!

A List of Cages is wonderfully written. It's as if I am a teenager again living in this story. I recommend all teens read this book. With so many characters having such different personalities, they are bound to connect with one. It is such a powerful act of friendship, I teared up for Julian. I love this book on so many levels. Thank you Robin Roe for letting us see there can be a hero in each of us!

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

2 stars

A List of Cages follows two young men at very different stages of adolescences who share a past. Julian is a shy fourteen-year-old freshman. His parents’ tragic passing has left him stunted socially, emotionally, and physically; being under the care of Russell doesn’t help. Adam is a senior in high school and he has a group friends that mean the world to him. His ADHD makes him the lovable guy around campus and when he runs into Julian, his old foster brother, he makes it his mission to get Julian to break out of his shell.

I probably would have never read this novel if I wasn’t invited by Disney through Netgalley to review this title. It’s not my type of story. I’m not a big contemporary reader. The only time I read novels that have fantasy is if it’s historical or psychological because that’s just my preference. Even when I enjoyed contemporary as my main literary diet, I probably would’ve never picked this novel up. It’s not a striking novel. It has a gorgeous cover, but the synopsis doesn’t really draw me in or make me instantly interested in stepping out of my comfort zone.

I wish I could say that leaping out of my usual reads was amazing and groundbreaking, but this book left me feeling inconclusive about the overall story. It’s a quick read, but it’s not a read that will stick with me or haunt me. I like my contemporary to strike my heartstrings and make me feel like the lessons and tribulations the characters have experienced have helped me to become a better person. I don’t really think I took away from this novel. All I can say is… meh.

The writing wasn’t horrible, but it felt elementary. The sentences were choppy and short. There was also a lot of repetition. I can definitely see younger middle school students enjoying this novel because of its readability. My biggest issue is that it felt like a Perks of Being a Wallflower rip-off. Shy, awkward kid (who probably has a mental or social handicap) is welcomed into a large group of seniors who have fun parties. It felt way too much like watching Charlie interact with Sam and Patrick; just characters had different names and genders. Although there is a character named Charlie in this novel who plays a HUGE role throughout the novel.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 2

The main characters are Adam and Julian. I honestly didn’t care for the majority of Adam’s POV throughout most of the novel. It felt inconsequential and irrelevant. I think his POV was only necessary towards the end in the second part. His whole passages with his friends and their interactions were just boring and pointless. Julian is a really sad character, but everything just felt a little too sad for him. I just couldn’t connect to him. I felt sorry for him, but I also didn’t care until he was going through the absolute worst forms of torture. After that I just felt frustrated with him and I couldn’t wait for the whole story to be over. He’s too naïve and it was probably supposed to make me want to hug him, but I wanted to sit him down for a long talk on being sensible.

Adam’s friends were an interesting aspect to the story. I can’t say I really cared all that much for them. Charlie’s interaction with Julian were integral to the story and I enjoyed seeing the progression of the relationship. Besides that, I couldn’t connect to any of these characters and I just could care less overall.

Character Scale: 2

The Villain- I love villains, especially in everyday stories because in reality there aren’t any visible villains unless you find yourself in something akin to an Investigative Discovery special. The villain, Russell, Julian’s adoptive guardian didn’t feel understandable. I didn’t get why he was inflicting the horrible level of psychological torture that he was. That half-assed explanation in the heat of the “final showdown” felt disjointed and like a failed attempt to explain why he did what he did. Then, again, do we ever really know why serial killers kill? I guess I can see why his actions don’t make sense, but from my standpoint I’m dissatisfied.

Villain Scale: 2

Overall, I’m not sure who I would recommend this novel to. It’s one of those stories that I would recommend if you are interested based off the synopsis or if someone recommends it to you personally, but besides that I don’t feel like it’s a novel to seek out in a bookstore.

Plotastic Scale: 1.75

Cover Thoughts: I do love this cover. The illustrations are beautiful.

Thank you, Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Update: I have seen multiple rave reviews (which is something I was unaware of when writing my review) since I don't read reviews until after I've written my review, now I feel like such a black sheep. I'm beginning to think it was an it's not the book it's me case, but then I also think it's an incredibly over-hyped book after reading the reviews. Also the portrayal of teachers still irks me in this novel and I didn't mention it in my review, but I disagree with these kinds of portrayals.

I know the characters. I felt their choices and their pain. I felt their love and their courage. This book takes you on an incredible walk in life that you will never forget! This is a page turner you can't put down!!

An amazing story of friendship, compassion, and what it means to truly be there for someone! Robin's writing style is poetic, colorful, and emotionally provocative. This book will make you cry - but also laugh. I highly recommend it!

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

2 stars

A List of Cages follows two young men at very different stages of adolescences who share a past. Julian is a shy fourteen-year-old freshman. His parents’ tragic passing has left him stunted socially, emotionally, and physically; being under the care of Russell doesn’t help. Adam is a senior in high school and he has a group friends that mean the world to him. His ADHD makes him the lovable guy around campus and when he runs into Julian, his old foster brother, he makes it his mission to get Julian to break out of his shell.

I probably would have never read this novel if I wasn’t invited by Disney through Netgalley to review this title. It’s not my type of story. I’m not a big contemporary reader. The only time I read novels that have fantasy is if it’s historical or psychological because that’s just my preference. Even when I enjoyed contemporary as my main literary diet, I probably would’ve never picked this novel up. It’s not a striking novel. It has a gorgeous cover, but the synopsis doesn’t really draw me in or make me instantly interested in stepping out of my comfort zone.

I wish I could say that leaping out of my usual reads was amazing and groundbreaking, but this book left me feeling inconclusive about the overall story. It’s a quick read, but it’s not a read that will stick with me or haunt me. I like my contemporary to strike my heartstrings and make me feel like the lessons and tribulations the characters have experienced have helped me to become a better person. I don’t really think I took away from this novel. All I can say is… meh.

The writing wasn’t horrible, but it felt elementary. The sentences were choppy and short. There was also a lot of repetition. I can definitely see younger middle school students enjoying this novel because of its readability. My biggest issue is that it felt like a Perks of Being a Wallflower rip-off. Shy, awkward kid (who probably has a mental or social handicap) is welcomed into a large group of seniors who have fun parties. It felt way too much like watching Charlie interact with Sam and Patrick; just characters had different names and genders. Although there is a character named Charlie in this novel who plays a HUGE role throughout the novel.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 2

The main characters are Adam and Julian. I honestly didn’t care for the majority of Adam’s POV throughout most of the novel. It felt inconsequential and irrelevant. I think his POV was only necessary towards the end in the second part. His whole passages with his friends and their interactions were just boring and pointless. Julian is a really sad character, but everything just felt a little too sad for him. I just couldn’t connect to him. I felt sorry for him, but I also didn’t care until he was going through the absolute worst forms of torture. After that I just felt frustrated with him and I couldn’t wait for the whole story to be over. He’s too naïve and it was probably supposed to make me want to hug him, but I wanted to sit him down for a long talk on being sensible.

Adam’s friends were an interesting aspect to the story. I can’t say I really cared all that much for them. Charlie’s interaction with Julian were integral to the story and I enjoyed seeing the progression of the relationship. Besides that, I couldn’t connect to any of these characters and I just could care less overall.

Character Scale: 2

The Villain- I love villains, especially in everyday stories because in reality there aren’t any visible villains unless you find yourself in something akin to an Investigative Discovery special. The villain, Russell, Julian’s adoptive guardian didn’t feel understandable. I didn’t get why he was inflicting the horrible level of psychological torture that he was. That half-assed explanation in the heat of the “final showdown” felt disjointed and like a failed attempt to explain why he did what he did. Then, again, do we ever really know why serial killers kill? I guess I can see why his actions don’t make sense, but from my standpoint I’m dissatisfied.

Villain Scale: 2

Overall, I’m not sure who I would recommend this novel to. It’s one of those stories that I would recommend if you are interested based off the synopsis or if someone recommends it to you personally, but besides that I don’t feel like it’s a novel to seek out in a bookstore.

Plotastic Scale: 1.75

Cover Thoughts: I do love this cover. The illustrations are beautiful.

Thank you, Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Update: I have seen multiple rave reviews (which is something I was unaware of when writing my review) since I don't read reviews until after I've written my review, now I feel like such a black sheep. I'm beginning to think it was an it's not the book it's me case, but then I also think it's an incredibly over-hyped book after reading the reviews. Also the portrayal of teachers still irks me in this novel and I didn't mention it in my review, but I disagree with these kinds of portrayals.

I know the characters. I felt their choices and their pain. I felt their love and their courage. This book takes you on an incredible walk in life that you will never forget! This is a page turner you can't put down!!

An amazing story of friendship, compassion, and what it means to truly be there for someone! Robin's writing style is poetic, colorful, and emotionally provocative. This book will make you cry - but also laugh. I highly recommend it!

I loved this book and could not put it down! A remarkable story of loss, grief, heartbreak and the power of love and friendship. I loved the main characters, Julian and Adam, and found myself missing them when the book was finished. This book is beautifully written and will touch your heart and soul. I highly recommend it.