I read "I Am the Cage" by Allison Sweet Grant on NetGalley in 2 days! I could not put this book down. Elisabeth is a young woman who had much medical trauma in her life. So she decides to live a quiet life in solitude, not having anybody in her life. Until a snow storm hits the town she has moved to. Her neighbor, Noah, helps her out in the storm and they become friends, despite her trying to withhold herself. This book is heart-wrenchingly sad and hopefully healing.

I only discovered that this book was YA after reading it. But I’m always intrigued by a good blurb, and this one caught my attention. It sounded like an intense book, but as someone with a disability, I was curious about a story that involves medical trauma and the aftermath. It ended up being a good story that I could lose myself in.

Elisabeth is a fascinating character. She grew up with a congenital bone problem, and it required intense procedures over a long period of time, which became medical trauma. But even after the issue was corrected with an excruciating procedure, it becomes clear that she has more scars than the physical ones. She moved to a small town in Wisconsin and is living alone and working a dead-end job, and has intentionally limited her interactions with other people to protect herself.

Although my own experiences are totally different from the ones in the book, I can completely understand the beliefs that Elisabeth holds. Experiencing this at a young age would only make it more difficult to move past it, especially when all of the language to discuss it can be so harmful to hear casually. Even writing my review, I tried to avoid terms that reinforce ableism: defect, abnormality, broken, fixed, repaired. So it isn’t surprising that Elisabeth internalized ableism and began to view herself as broken, wrong, and in need of fixing. Even years after the medical trauma, she still deals with that internal conversation. It makes it difficult to connect with others, fearing that once they discover who she really is, they won’t really like her at all.

Elisabeth does a lot of stupid things and has such twisted up thinking, but she does grow over the course of the book. Over the course of a major blizzard, she comes to some big realizations about herself, her experiences, and the way she prevents others from getting too close, and the entire book felt like it was leading up to a giant realization, which it was.

While she does eventually reach her big realization, she’s pushed to it by the circumstances of the storm and needing someone’s help. She meets the attractive sheriff who lives across the street, and the two of them begin to form a bond during the worst of the blizzard. I liked seeing the connection between Elisabeth and Noah develop, and watch his strong understanding melt the walls around her.

Overall, this was a really intriguing read. It talks about the language we use for disabilities, and how casually hurtful it is, especially for young people. I found myself rooting for Elisabeth to come through this stronger, and wished that I could have hugged that little girl and tell her so many good things about herself. The story switches between the present timeline during the blizzard and to Elisabeth’s past, punctuated by medical and emotional trauma, and the short, fast-paced chapters made it a blatant lie when I told myself ‘one more chapter.’ Although there is a hint of romance, the story is so much more of a coming-of-age tale. Even when reading, it’s difficult to estimate Elisabeth’s age, and I just kind of guessed that she was an adult, since her age isn’t mentioned in the present timeline until close to the end. This would be a good read for you if: you are intrigued by how trauma echoes and continues to impact people for years to come, enjoy coming-of-age stories, and love reading books that make you feel the cold leaping off the pages.

Thank you to Dutton Books for Young Readers via NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am torn with my opinion on this book.

It's clear not only from the author's note but by the visceral descriptions of the MC's medical trauma that this is a story that is personal to her. The powerlessness and isolation (even when surrounded by people) that Justine experienced was heartbreaking and all too believable for anyone who has experience with the healthcare system failing them. I am glad that this book exists for purpose of representation because I have not read anything like it.

The first 40% or so of the book was strong, in my opinion. I was drawn in quickly and appreciated the looming dread of Justine's past against the stark contrast of Elizabeth's minimalist presence. However, I felt that the book was almost set up as a thriller, by the tone and timing of the beginning of the book. I kept waiting to find out a climactic horror that never occurred in the finale. It's not that Justine NEEDED any more horror, her experience was certainly awful enough, the text was just pointing towards a climax that never occurred. I think that if the framing of the story were adjusted, the reader wouldn't be left feeling like they were led to nothing.

I also wish we had learned more about Kacey, who was clearly an important presence in Justine's life, but who we never really dug into as a person or even in her relationship with Justine. Justine's mother, too, reads as two-dimensional, which can certainly be partially attributed to the POVs being from an eleven and eighteen year old. Noah and their budding relationship fell flat for me as well. Was he a safe haven (while pushing her boundaries) or a risqué choice (while again nothing really happened)?

All in all I wish that this story were structured differently for Justine's story of horror to truly shine.

Elisabeth is processing the trauma of medical treatments that occurred when she was younger. Instead of heading to college, she is living in a small town in Wisconsin, working in a store, and interacting with few people. When a snowstorm causes her to seek the help of a neighbor, she is forced to process some of the trauma. I loved the topic of this book and it was a perfect book to read on a snowy day. However, the relationship with the neighbor seemed off and I never really embraced or understood Elisabeth.

While there was a lot of beautiful writing in this book, it didn't grab me the way it has grabs many other reviewers. It didn't feel YA to me. There were moments where it felt far below and far above what a YA book should be.

During her childhood, Justine Elizabeth was diagnosed with a discrepancy in leg length. Under the guise of clinical wisdom, her doctors embarked on a course of treatment that ultimately transformed her existence into an unrelenting ordeal, stripping away the promise of a joyful life. This narrative unfolds through an interweaving of past and present perspectives, offering a profound exploration of the internal descent into isolation—a journey in which trust in others erodes until one comes to believe that solitude is the only refuge.

This read has broken and healed my soul all at once. I navigated through such strong emotions resulting from a trauma I could not even begin imagining living through.

This story is about surviving something that breaks you. Not only physically but also mentally, in such a strong way that you don’t know how to trust anyone, let alone your own self.

I strongly believe this is one of those books everyone should read in their life. There are so many powerful lessons to learn and so much growth waiting for anyone that picks up this book and reads it.

Wow! This was a really powerful and compelling book. I enjoyed the Now and Then timeline along with the addition of Justine/Elisabeth's poems. I ended up reading it in less than 24 hours. It was a book I could not put down - especially as we learned more about her backstory. The characters were interesting, the wintry setting added the perfect vibes, and the writing was great. The medical trauma and issues of how much say a child should have over what happens to them medically is not one I have seen often, but is something that should be discussed more. Overall, a great read for both teens and adults.

I have conflicted thoughts about this novel. On the one hand, the writing is raw and visceral. The slow, sweet romance that builds in the current-day story is lovely. The scenic, snow-strewn landscape of Elizabeth’s chosen small town hideout is gorgeously described. The story flashes back to Elizabeth’s past, revealing in fits and starts an extreme medical procedure she was put through as an eleven year old, overseen by a cold and distant doctor and her perfectionist mother, with virtually no emotional support.

Traumatized by this experience and clearly suffering from PTSD, Elizabeth views the experience as barbaric and inhumane. She’s hiding out in a small town where no one knows her, and she’s determined to keep it that way—in order to feel safe.

I kept waiting for something more to be revealed about her past procedure, like that her doctor had sexually assaulted her or that she finds out the procedure wasn’t deemed necessary but was done at her mother’s insistence least she be straddled with an “imperfect” daughter. But no final twist like this came.

**SPOILER**

The procedure still seems to be the standard of care for children born with significant limb length discrepancies and, while Elizabeth’s experience could and should have been handled much better by the adults around her, the result was an able-bodied young woman who routinely walks for miles, can shovel snow for hours, etc. As someone with a significant disability which has required double-digit orthopedic surgeries (starting at 21, though, so I always had a say), it feels like the benefit of her procedure, horrific as it was, is an elephant in the room that never gets addresses. To that end, I’m fine with the doctor’s portrayal as pure evil. But it seems like Elizabeth’s mom doesn’t truly own up to her mistakes or make any real effort as amends. Why, then, would Elizabeth want this woman in her life at all?

I could not find any interviews with author or detailed bios, so I’m not sure if she’s writing from personal experience or not. I’m also unaware if there’s a current movement in the limb difference community away from corrective procedures (akin to the Deaf community’s rejection of cochlear implants). I do know that, having had a two inch leg length discrepancy for 14 years between surgeries, it is painful, difficult emotionally and affected me in a myriad of different, unpleasant ways. I was thrilled to have it corrected. I’m much safer walking now and am in less pain. So I’m not sure of the ultimate message this book puts out to children families facing this same procedure. Clearly, the family must support and acknowledge a child’s needs and feelings, but is the author suggesting the procedure should not be done? Again, I’m left wondering if the author is speaking from her own experience or imagining what going through this as a child might be like. I wonder, too, if she ever imagined what being an adult with a significant leg length difference might be like. From my own experience, I know that being disabled in an able-bodied world can be very hard, traumatic even.

Throughout reading this I had to remind myself the main character was 19. 19! At 19 all I wanted to do was follow my boyfriend around at college, and in I Am the Cage Elisabeth had to grow up quick to be able to deal with all the consequences of the choices her parents made “for her”. It keep me uncomfortable the entire time I was reading, like the walls were closing in as the snow got deeper in the book. 5 stars.

This book took me out of my normal genres, and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It’s a deeply emotional exploration of childhood trauma and the lasting impact it has on our adult lives. The story follows Elisabeth on her journey to self-acceptance and healing, with a pacing that feels natural and immersive.

One of the standout aspects of the book is the depth of its characters. They feel real, flawed, and compelling, making it easy to connect with their struggles and triumphs. I also appreciated the insight into Elisabeth’s medical condition and treatment—something I knew little about before reading. It was inspiring to learn more, both through the novel itself and in my own research afterward.

The story gripped me so completely that I read it in a single sitting, and even after finishing, I found myself thinking about the characters for days. That lingering impact is the mark of a well-written and powerful narrative. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional, thought-provoking read.

4.5 stars.

I Am the Cage by Allison Sweet Grant is an emotionally compelling young adult novel.

Elisabeth has endured a lot during her young life. Instead of heading off to college, she moves to a cabin in Fish Creek, WI. Elisabeth is incredibly self-sufficient and likes to spend her days by herself. Elisabeth has a wonderful boss but even at work, she prefers to do her job on her own.

When a huge storm hits, Elisabeth’s independence serves her well initially. But as the snow continues to fall, she eventually requests assistance from her neighbor Sheriff Noah Harmon. Spending time with Noah becomes a turning point in her recovery from events in her childhood.

I Am the Cage is a heart-wrenching young adult novel of reconciliation. Elisabeth is a sympathetic young woman who has learned not to trust others. Noah is a sensitive man whose compassion, gentleness, and understanding proves to be exactly what Elisabeth needs. The chapters move seamlessly between Elisabeth’s painful childhood and quiet present. With beautiful prose and emotional poetry, Allison Sweet Grant brings Elisabeth beautifully to life and brings this tender young adult novel to a heartfelt conclusion.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman takes a gap year to sort through the trauma of excruciatingly painful medical procedures.

The beginning of this book captured my attention immediately. I wanted to keep reading to find out all that Elisabeth/Justine had gone through to make her crawl into solitude. I enjoyed the flashbacks but the amount of pain this girl went through was heartbreaking. I’m giving it three stars because I started to lose interest in the middle. Things were a little repetitive but it really picked up around 70%. The ending was fabulous. I will read more from this author! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is a powerful story of trauma and healing, beautifully written with stunning poetry. The narrative unfolds across two timelines—past and present—that enrich the development of the main character. While the ending felt a bit rushed, the book still left a strong impression. I believe both YA readers and adults will find it deeply moving. A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader's copy.

What Grant went through as a child is horrific. She was treated as an unfeeling experiment and it was just cruel. I think the character Elisabeth is unfairly harsh to her mother. Elisabeth never really communicated how she was feeling and her mother was trusting the doctors. It's hard to speak up when you're a kid, and it's clear Elisabeth felt she deserved all this pain, but there's a threshold where to become you're own advocate. Elisabeth never seems to get there. I really could have done without the poetry crap but some folks like it. The ending is positive. This is a very emotional book and I couldn't put it down. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I found this book disappointing. The protagonist's trauma seemed more told than felt and the 11-year-old voice in the "Then" sections seemed more like a teen (or even an adult) voice rather than a child's.

Title: I Am the Cage 
Author: Allison Sweet Grant        
Genre: YA       
Rating:  4 out of 5

Fish Creek, Wisconsin—Beautiful. Quiet. Isolated. Anonymous. It’s all that nineteen-year-old Elisabeth needs, and everything she wants. Cloistered in her tiny cabin, Elisabeth is determined to be alone, hiding from her memories and making sure that no one can ever hurt her again.

But when a massive snowstorm strikes, plunging the town into darkness, Elisabeth finally allows herself to accept help from her neighbor, Noah, the town’s young sheriff. Forced to show him more vulnerability than she ever intended, Elisabeth realizes she can no longer outrun the scars of her childhood, and facing the darkness might be exactly what she needs to let the light in.

I have a hard time with passive people who just let life—and people—happen to them. What Elisabeth went through as a child was horrific and is something no child—or anyone else—should ever have to go through. What the doctor did, and what her mother let happen, was terrible. And what kind of mother lets her child be tortured like that?

But Elisabeth as an adult kind of got on my nerves a bit for a while, with her passivity and hiding from the world and everyone in it. You do not have to let things that have happened to you control your life—you can move past them and grow stronger from them. For a long time, Elisabeth was content to live in the shadow of her past without attempting to heal from it, and that was very hard for me to read. I was glad when she started to embrace who she was now without clutching the horrors of her past around her like a protective cloak.

Allison Sweet Grant lives in Philadelphia. I Am the Cage is her new novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group/Dutton in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/25).

Wow, just wow. 100 stars…. I haven’t read a book like I Am the Cage in a very, very long time. Allison Sweet Grant has written a beautiful, poetic, heart wrenching story that is so very raw and so real you can’t help but cry throughout the story, painful tears, gut wrenching tears and happy tears as well.

“You’re a not-good, not nice, not-lonely-but-all-alone coward.”

“Staying locked in was my way out.”

Elisabeth endured childhood, medical trauma. She was born with fibular hemimelia, which is a short femur. This story is about how she coped, or didn’t cope how she suffered, how she felt about her doctors and her mother and how she survived life her way and on her terms. My daughter was born with half a heart and has had many surgeries and hospitalizations since she was born. She will never be fixed. This book hit home for me. I highly recommend it for moms who have gone through hell and back with their medically sick children and for young adults who have gone through medical trauma as children and are still struggling emotionally. There are no words for the poetic way this story was told. The actual poetry in the book tugged at my heart. I could feel all the feels like I was living Elisabeth’s pain.

Allison Sweet Grant please write a sequel so we can find out what happens to Elisabeth. She is now part of me. Noah was a beautiful human with a heart of gold and I want to read more about their relationship later in life. I am also curious if the author lived through childhood trauma. I can’t seem to find anything on the internet about her life.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I Am The Cage
By: Allison Sweet Grant

4 Stars

This story is one about growth and pain. Change and life. It was real and gritty. A decent blend of past and present is shared through the eyes of a girl who is different. Having been born with a "birth defect," this can mean so many things, but to her, it was pain, trauma, and betrayal. In this book, you see the experience through vivid imagery. Through poetry and experiences.

This is a book that makes you feel. Feel for the character, feel for others that are born as "defective." You see the pain, the sadness, the real of it all. I would love to say that this book is completely relatable, but it can only be to an extent. It was a great book that kept me invested. I loved Justine with her quiet resolve and resilience.

This was not what I would call a pleasant book, but it was raw and real and worth the read. The end alone makes it worth it.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review