A List of Cages
Robin Roe
A List of Cages
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robin Roe
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of rain mixes with the quiet hum of a busy school hallway as Adam Blake steps into his new role as the psychologist’s aide. He’s about to uncover secrets hidden deep in the shadows—secrets that connect him to a boy he thought he’d lost forever. But some truths come with a heavy price, and friendship alone might not be enough to save them.
Themes
Quick Assessment
A List of Cages is a powerful young adult novel that explores complex themes such as physical and emotional abuse, foster care, and the impact of trauma. Suitable for teens aged 13 and up, it contains mature content including instances of child abuse, domestic violence, and self-harm, which are thoughtfully portrayed to highlight the resilience of its characters. Parents should be aware of sensitive scenes like torture, injury, and loss that contribute to the story's emotional depth.
Why we rated A List of Cages 12VE
A List of Cages is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A List of Cages works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate A List of Cages as 12VE ("Vivid — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Self-Harm, Injury, Death.
Thematically, A List of Cages explores friendship, family, abuse, orphans & foster care, and emotional healing — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, abuse.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12VE — Vivid — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781484763803
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Disney-Hyperion
- Published
- Dec 05, 2017
- Type
- Fiction