I LOVED this book. I don't even think I can explain how much I adored it. I loved Julian and Adams friendship! Adam was there for Julian, Julian got the friendship he always wanted. They are both my little cinnamon rolls and I love them so much. I am really hoping for a second book because the way we left off I want to see how Julian is handling school now that Adam has graduated. This book also ruined my soul, but in the best way possible of course. I just loved all the aspects of friendship, high school romance, and a parent that is actually there for your child ( I really enjoyed Adam's mom) I think the friendship aspect of the book was so strong and real and I can't wait to read more from this author. Solid 5 stars.

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!

A List of Cages is a book I am unlikely to forget with a truly mesmerizing story. I loved the two characters, Adam and Julian like they were my own children. The plot was really well-paced and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of Robin's books.

A List of Cages is one of the most heartbreaking books I've ever read. When I first read the synopsis of this book, I didn't think that the descriptions would be so vivid and realistic. As someone who is an advocate for mental health, the premise of the story immediately drew me in. However, I wasn't prepared for the emotions that it would make me feel. So just for anyone who is planning to read this book, get your heart ready.

"I wish I had the ability to talk to people like that. Talking is a talent; he probably doesn't realize it, but it is."


is told from two perspectives - Adam, a senior with ADHD whom everyone loves, and Julian, an orphan freshmen who lives with his uncle. Julian is someone who is experiencing something that no kid should experience, but sadly is a reality to many - child abuse. It's a harrowing tale of something that could happen to anyone but we wouldn't want to happen.

"Because when you're between two shores and no one can see you, you don't really exist at all."


Honestly, I didn't think that I would like this book a first because it was slow to start, and the tone was very somber. It brought down my mood even though not much was happening yet. But the emotions it brought me towards the latter half of the book felt so real that I couldn't help but appreciate it. It shows that reality of the world that we avoid discussing, but is really there.

"eventually, all the tears are gone, and I'm empty, but it's a good sort of empty. Like I'm lighter."


My favorite thing about this book is how realistic it is. First, Adam is not some perfect guy who is loved by everyone and cares about Julian. At times, like when he hurt Charlie for seemingly constantly choosing Julian over him, he can be clueless. Second, Charlie was jealous of Julian at first, but when he knew Julian, he started to warm up to him. This book shows that human beings are not perfect. That despite trying our best to understand the world, there would always be times when we are clueless and miss things that we should notice.

"I used to think struggle was what aged you, but if that were the case, Julian should've been a hundred years old. Now I wonder if the opposite is true. Maybe instead of accelarating your age, pain won't let you grow."


On the other hand, this book also shows that the world is full of kindness. We just have to dig deep within ourselves to find it. Right from the start, Emerald warmed up to Julian, even though he seemed to be "intruding" in their circle of friendship. Charlie, towards the end, also started really caring for Julian, wanting to protect him, and visiting him in the hospital. Julian, who has been through so much, after being hurt beyond imaginable, still has so much kindness in him for other people. (Just writing this is making me emotional.) It kind of makes me rethink what I'm doing with my life.

"Hate ricochets, but kindness does too."


This book has made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions that I didn't think I could feel. Too often it's easy for people to be judgmental just because we don't know what it's like to be in another person's shoes. This book shows that despite it being part of our instincts, we should; because people are going through so much, and each of us has our own problems to face. We just have to remember that every time we meet people.

"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?"


I think this definitely is a book that everyone should read at least once in their lives. Yes, it's kind of a sad book, but it's also a book that filled me with so much hope. I have no complaints about this book whatsoever. Just remember to be ready for heavy emotions when you read this one, but I definitely recommend it!

A List of Cages is a highly emotional novel that really makes you think. If you are looking for a story with a highly developed cast of characters and a plot that will leave you turning page after page, then this is definitely the book for you.

Absolutely stunning. Packed quite a punch that kept me thinking about it for days after I finished.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The two voices of Adam and Julian weren't distinct enough for me. The beginning felt slow. By the middle I was starting to like it more, I loved how Adam's friends kind of adopted Julian and made him feel welcome. Then, after the incident the end felt off.
I understand why other people liked it, but it wasn't outstanding for me.

This book broke my heart into a million pieces, and I don't know if I'll ever be the same. It's definitely not an easy read, but it's one that I would highly recommend to every single person I know because I feel it's an important and necessary read. There are so many things to love about this book - in a lot of ways it reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but not in a plagaristic way - and I feel I came away from it a better person than I was before. Read this book. It will change you and you will be thankful for it.

I did not really enjoy this book I'm sorry, it was just. Little strange

This book started out with so much promise! You have Julian, the shy, scared, honestly kind of weird freshman who eats alone and loves books and lives with his uncle, and you have Adam, the popular, easygoing, ADHD-diagnosed senior whose life is already all planned out. And you're expecting this wonderful tale of how Adam helps Julian come out of his shell, become a better person, et cetera et cetera, and finally they're all happy in the end, right? WRONG.

Honestly, Julian and Adam's relationship was a little bit... creepy. Adam acted a lot like Julian's dad, and Julian acted like a five-year-old. Now, I know there's a four-year age gap between freshmen and seniors, but... this is not normal. At all. If there was a freshman who acted like Julian did, like he's five, I would be somewhat concerned. Adam was not. He acted like it was perfectly normal, didn't go to his mother (who FOSTERS CHILDREN and who FOSTERED JULIAN and who probably has some experience in this are) or to his school counselor (who he's an aide for) or literally anyone else, although he's supposedly an open book.

And while Adam's acting like an "adult," he's also a bad influence, taking Julian to parties full of drugs and alcohol, and letting his friends encourage Julian to drink, even though it's clear that (a) Julian is uncomfortable with the entire situation and (b) as an acting "adult," it's completely irresponsible to let a "child" under your care drink an alcoholic beverage.

Even when Adam suspects abuse (and finds clear evidence of abuse) of Julian by his uncle, he doesn't report it, choosing to keep it a secret in order to make Julian feel more "comfortable," even though he could have discreetly gone to a number of adults qualified to deal with the situation. Even after the climax, when adults end up getting involved by force, and Adam finds further evidence of abuse, he doesn't learn from his mistakes that lead to the climax, and again keeps this evidence secret in order to make Julian feel more comfortable.

Honestly, I thought Adam was an awful role model, character, and friend throughout the book. He's depicted as a perfect, friendly guy (and not in a satirical way), none of his actions, which lead to this awful situation, are ever condemned. His mother never gets mad at him for hiding everything from her (she has the emotional range of a potato that just nods, croons, and cries easily).

That being said, while Adam's character was perfectly awful, Julian's parts were written amazingly. It was clear from the beginning that there was something wrong with Julian's home life, but we don't know what it is because Julian himself only suspects that there's something amiss. He exhibits all the traits of learned helplessness, not realizing that what's happening is wrong and illegal, because he's never had access to resources that could tell him otherwise. Julian's narration was not only relatable to any book lover (his obsession with Elian Mariner basically = Harry Potter, which I think everyone can relate to), but also brought a new perspective.

However, I kept getting Adam and Julian mixed up, since they were both narrated in first person. Although their personalities are clearly polar opposites, each of them had the same voice while narrating, and I was often confused whose point of view I was supposed to be seeing. Other than the two main (male, white, straight) characters, no other character was truly fleshed out. I kept getting all of Adam's female friends mixed up, because they're all effortlessly beautiful, pretty, smart, and, at the same time, ditzy. There are way too many supporting characters who do nothing for the story (if Adam had had just one best friend who helped him reach out to Julian instead of 20 semi-close friends, it would have been less confusing), and most everyone except for Julian was two-dimensional. The villains had no motives, and neither, really, did the heroes.

The short version: if this book had just been about Adam, it would have gotten zero stars. Not only is Adam a convoluted, paradoxical character whose actions (which result in harm to others) are praised, he is also just a creepy person in terms of how he chose to approach his relationship to Julian. Julian's part, on the other hand, was written brilliantly. He manages to get into your head and make you see abuse from the victim's perspective and is definitely not at fault throughout the story.

2/5 stars, just for Julian

He's only four years younger than me, but I feel so much older, or maybe he feels so much younger. I used to think struggle was what aged you, but if that were the case, Julian should've been a hundred years old. Now I wonder if the opposite is true. Maybe instead of accelerating your age, pain won't let you grow.

This was a painful read in so many levels. I actually cried reading the abuse young Julian experienced with his uncle Russell. This story is about friendship, pain, high school, and the loss of parents. The narration is done with two narratives. Julian and Adam. Julian is now living with his uncle Russell after the tragic death of his parents. He is experiencing that loss but also learning and social disabilities that everyone assumed was tied to his parents death but it becomes apparent that it is tied to the relationship of his sadistic uncle.

Adam has taken the role of assisting the school counselor with Julian's struggles with school. They develop a friendship and Adam takes the role of protector when things do not seem right with Julian's home life. In the end it all comes to Julian believing that he is loved and worthy.

It is hard to believe the Disney that I grew up with published this. Disney has come a long way to the liberal left. This book is geared towards young people but if I knew of this book and my children were interested in reading this, I would want to read it with them. Very heavy stuff! Heavy stuff that parents need to have conversations with their young adults. How to handle when a friend is abused by a parent or guardian. Also conversations about sex and expectations that each family have. Do I recommend this read? I would use extreme caution.

A Special Thank You to Disney Book Group and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

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!

Trust me, you're gonna want to read this.

I received an e-arc to read and review.

This is not a book that I requested to review. I will not be reviewing it.

Compelling story with characters I cared about. Readers who like "real world" problems will like this title.

I’m not sure saying I loved “A List of Cages” is appropriate because of the subject matter, but I can say I loved Julian and Adam.

This book broke my heart and some parts were very difficult to read. Yet it was also a good reminder that humanity still exists in this world, even in the darkest of places. I don’t want to spoil how the plot develops, but I will say that the bond between the characters is beautiful. Julian’s ability to see when others are trapped in their own cages is remarkable. We don’t get to see how their stories play out, but that is true to life. We’re all on our own journey.

My only problem with the book is that at times the characters felt just a touch too naive in their decision-making, particularly Adam. It doesn’t take away from the plot or the writing. It’s a minor flaw in an otherwise exceptional book.

As a warning, there is abuse in “A List of Cages” and it is graphic. If this is a trigger for you, I would recommend you give it a pass. Otherwise, I recommend it for everyone high-school aged and up. It’s simply beautiful.

I couldn't say I enjoyed 'A list of cages' as the abuse depicted is chilling and distressing, however I appreciated the story, and the writer's skill in creating such complex characters.

This book won't be for everyone, as many of the themes explored (abuse, death, social isolation) are sensitive and may be too close to home for some teenagers. However all the issues are handled sensitively, the writing is good, and there are more hopeful themes including loyalty so it is not as depressing a read as it could have been.

Certainly not an easy story to read, but a compelling one nonetheless. I loved the friendship between Adam and Julian and it was refreshing to get a story that takes a more sensitive approach to male friendships. Also - Julian AND Adam were tragic characters in their own right and it was fascinating to watch their journey together. Definitely a book I can put in the hands of teens with the warning that tissues may be necessary.

I didn’t expect to like this book quite as much as I did, but I really enjoyed it and all the emotions it induced. Adam and Julian have the kind of mentor/friend relationship that most people long for. Adam is a senior in high school who takes Julian, a quiet fourteen year old, under his wing.

Adam was previously partnered with Julian in elementary school as reading buddies, and when Julian startes seeing (or ditching, more accurately) his school therapist, Adam is once again partnered with Julian to make sure he gets to his appointments. Except, Adam’s role is much more than that. Although Adam is friendly towards Julian already because he’s just a pretty great person in general, he is asked to befriend Julian.

It is revealed that Julian and Adam have more of a history than just being reading buddies and that Julian’s parents tragically died in an accident when he was younger. Through alternating perspectives from Julian and Adam, we get a glimpse into the friendship that blossoms between the two as well as the horrors Julian faces at home with his uncle. The different perspectives were not confusing at all and each boy had their own distinct voice; I could always tell who was narrating even if I missed the chapter heading that indicated the perspective.

“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.” – Robin Roe, A List of Cages

I didn’t love the all the cafeteria scenes in the novel; some of them seemed a bit tedious in description, but they resulted in more round characters that I could relate to and understand, even though this wasn’t their story. I didn’t like that a romance was introduced into the plot, either.

While there’s a couple things about this book I didn’t love, the story is heartwarming and harrowing as genuine friendship is woven in with tragic scenes of abuse that culminates into a life-threatening situation that will likely haunt these boys for the rest of their lives. This book was incredibly hard to read at some points because of the abuse, but this is absolutely a book worth reading.

On a lighter note, other characters such as Adam’s mother and friends were all very dimensional. I loved how special all of Adam’s friendships were, although the romance that he had seemed a bit unnecessary in a book like this. The romance was believable and sweet, though.

OVERALL? Definitely a book worth your time and money! : )

4 Stars!

Have you read A List of Cages? If so, what’d you think? If not, do you want to? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

After Julian’s parents died in an accident he lived with a foster family until a relative took him in. He is now a high school freshman, and he is struggling. He misses his parents every day, life with his uncle isn’t what he thought it would be, he has no friends and the teachers don’t seem to care about his learning disabilities. Adam, his former foster brother, is a senior at the same high school. He is assigned to help the school psychologist and that’s how he reconnects with Julian. Adam has a gut feeling something is not right with Julian and he makes it his mission to help him with whatever he is dealing with.

A List of Cages is a sad, sad, sad story but also a very beautiful one. The two main characters are mostly loveable, and sometimes you just want to punch them to make sure they make the right decisions. Written from both their perspectives this book will suck you in, take you in a chokehold and wont ever let you go.

Recommended for all YA contemporary readers, especially the ones who were heartbroken after reading All the Bright Places.

A beautiful story that will make your hear ache, throb, and feel so much. Loved this book!