The New York Times Book Review - Jen Doll
This is Roe's first young adult novel, and it's impressive. Julian's and Adam's perspectives alternate, and the plot chugs steadily forward, moments of beauty and humor interspersed with scenes of abuse and violence. Roe runs a mentoring program for at-risk teens; it's clear she brings firsthand experience to the subject. While the crimes she portrays are truly vile (and make for difficult reading), their evil can't stand up to the goodness in her protagonists, and the lesson that every kindness matters—and that we always have the choice to be kind.
From the Publisher
"Emotion courses through every sentence of this novel, whether it is love, compassion, or bone-chilling cruelty. A triumphant story about the power of friendship and of truly being seen."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A page-turner with a lot of compassion."—Booklist (starred review)
A remarkably gripping and moving tale of a life saved—in more than one way—by the power of friendship."—Emma Donoghue, best-selling author of Room
"As inspiring as it is heartbreaking, A List of Cages is a hero story you will never forget."—Tamara Ireland Stone, best-selling author of Every Last Word
"A poignant, hopeful story about loss, grief, abuse, and the transformative power of friendship."—Amber Smith, New York Times best-selling author of The Way I Used to Be
"Written with honesty and compassion, this book will resonate with a wide range of readers."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This is Roe's first novel, and it's impressive. Julian's and Adam's perspectives alternate . . . moments of beauty and humor interspersed with scenes of abuse and violence."
—The New York Times Book Review
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2016-09-19
In her debut, Roe tells the story of a friendship between two young men who will linger in the thoughts and minds of readers long after the final page is turned. Told through alternating first-person narration, the story of 14-year-old Julian and his former foster brother, 18-year-old Adam, is equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. Five years after losing his parents in a tragic accident and being taken from a loving foster home to live with a cold and brutal uncle, Adam Blake quite literally walks back into Julians life. Plagued by antsy feet courtesy of his ADHD, Adam is happy to be assigned the job of escorting Julian to the counseling sessions that hes been frequently skipping. Though both boys are thrilled to be reunited, theres an uneasiness that lies between them. Reclusive and wracked with self-doubt, Adam quickly realizes that this Julian is much different from the one he used to know. Roe deliberately unspools her story, keeping readers wondering why Julian, who clearly desperately craves connection, keeps Adam at arms length. Emotion courses through every sentence of this novel, whether it is love, compassion, or bone-chilling cruelty. Julian and Adam are dark-haired but otherwise racially indeterminate. A triumphant story about the power of friendship and of truly being seen. (Fiction. 14 & up)
