This is a painful book. Elizabeth thinks she's hiding in her little cabin in the little town where she tries to know no one very well, but what she's really doing is slowly coming to terms with what happened to her as a child and rebuilding herself in a stronger, more solid person. The book alternates between barely-adult Elizabeth snowed in in her little cabin and her evolving relationship with the friendly next-door sheriff and her memories of eleven-year old Elizabeth and brutal leg-lengthening surgery and treatment, where no one listened to her or explained anything or really helped her deal with the pain. it's a very internal book, almost every statement beginning with "I"; it's a claustrophobic and sometimes heavy-handed read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

My thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Books/Penguin Random House for ARC of "I Am the Cage" in exchange for an honest review.
Such an intimate powerful story of one terribly hurt young woman. I don't know how any readers could experience this book without becoming invested in and deeply moved by the gut wrenching isolation of 19 year old Elizabeth.
After finishing high school, she's dropped out of the world, living a solitary hermit's life in a remote Wisconsin cabin. Elizabeth's survived a childhood of almost indescribable medical torture. She suffered for years with a metal leg brace pinned to her bones in order to adjust their growth.
Through all the years of torment, her sense of self worth has been chipped away by excruciating agonies of the procedure along with the overall lack of empathy from her mother. Now healed only physically, she seeks total solitude as a way to protect herself from a world of hurt.
But then a winter blizzard leaves her stranded and forced to rely on the help of her nearest neighbor Noah, the small town's young Sheriff. In gradual increments, Noah's concern and genuine friendship, bring out glimmers of humanity and new perceptions in this bedeviled young soul. After years in the dark, sunlight's peeking through for her.
For a heart touching experience, I can't praise this book highly enough. There's a kind of ethereal, haunting poetry to it, as well as some actual, beautifully crafted poetry in Elizabeth's deepest thoughts.
For anyone who wants to experience the highs and lows of a character's life-affirming journey out of anguish, I'd say this book's as good as it gets.

This is a beautiful story about finding yourself after trauma. There is so much raw emotion that was hard to read at times. I especially found some of it hard to read because my daughter was born with an underdeveloped foot, the lower leg bones in that leg don't grow quite as quickly as the other leg and when she was a 2 or 3 years old her orthopedist promoted the same procedure. We heard the doctors out and agreed, it sounds like medieval torture and it wasn't medically necessary. Reading Elisabeth's story is every reason we said no. This is an extremely emotional story to read, and so hard to put down. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley, Dutton Books for Young Readers, and Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review.

"I Am the Cage" by Allison Sweet Grant is a young adult novel about Elisabeth's medical trauma and the move she makes to a small, snowy town to hide from her emotional and physical past. Usually when I think about a young adult novel, I expect to a read a book about characters currently in middle or high school, but Elisabeth is a high school grad who hasn't gone to college. The book switches between her time living in Fish Creek, mostly during a terrible snow storm, and her experience as a young person experienced deep medical trauma. I've read many young adult novels before that involve some kind of love story, but I've never read a book about a young person experiencing medical trauma. Grant really makes it feel like you are physically feeling the same physical pain as Elisabeth while she is in the hospital undergoing treatments and her emotional pain as her parents treat her like an outcast. Elisabeth tries to keep a hard facade during her time in Fish Creek, but she meets Noah, the town sheriff, and she begins to realize that there is more to life than her past. I really enjoyed this book!

As a pediatric nurse who has cared for children with Ilizarov fixators, I deeply appreciated how Elisabeth’s complex emotions about her life, health, and relationships were intricately woven into her experience with the fixator. The novel’s dual timeline—flipping between her childhood and adulthood—made her journey feel even more poignant. I completely related to her desire to escape from everyone and everything, seeking to understand herself outside the constraints of her overbearing mother, her health struggles, and the fixator itself.

The author’s choice to have Elisabeth retreat to a remote cabin in the Midwest, only to face a massive snowstorm, was especially powerful. This physical isolation mirrored her emotional journey, forcing her to confront her past and prove her independence during a literal and metaphorical dark time. Yet, even in her solitude, she found unexpected light in the people she encountered—Mr. Ito and Noah—who helped her rediscover herself. As a self-proclaimed introvert and loner, her gradual connection with others in the small town added a beautiful depth to her story.

One aspect I wish had been explored further was her relationship with Kacey, who is frequently referenced throughout the novel. A deeper look into their dynamic could have provided even more insight into Elisabeth’s emotional world.

I loved this book with the dual timeline and felt like I could really relate to the main character. Slow build romance is also nice, but predictable.

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.