I decided to listen to this novel on a whim for a Year of Epic Reads challenge, and I’m extraordinarily glad that I did. A List of Cages is a truly heartbreaking yet stubbornly hopeful story that snuck its way both into my heart and onto my favorites list.

This is not an easy novel to read. It explores themes of grief and abuse, the latter in particular depth. Julian’s parents died in a tragic accident when he was young, leaving him first as a foster brother to other protagonist Adam, then a ward to his Uncle Russell. Said uncle is horrendously abusive, in every way possible; he was manipulative and harsh to Julian. The beating scenes, while not especially graphic, added another layer of horror and emotion. Roe executed this well.

The light in this darkness was the brotherly relationship between Julian and Adam, who is four years older. They’re reunited at school, and long story short, Adam takes Julian under his wing. They become friends, and soon even Adam’s senior friends join in. I especially liked Emerald and Charlie, though the latter took some time to get used to.

I believe the audiobook did an excellent job distinguishing two already distinct voices. The dual narration only aids the stark contrast between Adam’s optimistic, easygoing nature and Julian’s apologetic timidity. The narrators did an exceptional job, and Roe’s skill in character crafting and development was apparent.

Related to my last point, I was impressed by how fleshed out each character was, even those with lesser roles. Adam’s friends and mother, Julian’s uncle — all had a clear cut personality that impacted the plot in some ways, be it major or minor, positive or negative.

One thing I especially enjoyed was the lack of romance. While there was a minor storyline related to Adam’s love life, the focus is primarily on Julian and Adam’s friendship, secondarily on familial love and finding family. Roe’s decision to cut romance from the story allowed the emotions to take the spotlight, the despair and fear and hope and happiness. While these can definitely be present with romantic elements, I think the lack thereof really let them shine.

I have to applaud Roe for writing a story that I absolutely didn’t want to put down. I was hooked almost instantly, and from then on, no matter how small an event was, I had the hardest time hitting pause for any reason. Julian and Adam stole my heart and ran with it. And can we talk about that ending?! It was frightening and thrilling, but ultimately, perfect.

I didn’t expect much from A List of Cages, but it’s now one of my favorite contemporary novels. I can’t believe it took me so long to read, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. It’s a poignant story that pulled at my heartstrings, but still managed to put a smile on my face. I can’t wait to see what Roe writes next; until then, ten thousand stars. [Book reference! If you can handle the content, 10/10 recommend reading so you can understand.] ❤️

Representation:
• Julian has dyslexia.
• Adam has ADHD and, since medication doesn’t work for him, uses homeopathic remedies. I liked that Roe didn’t write either in a negative light.

CW: physical and psychological abuse, bullying, violence, death of parents, death