That didn’t play for me, and I really had a hard time with how casual the attitude about alcohol was, especially when Adam and his mom were so careful about so many other things, like choosing homeopathic remedies over prescription drugs because of adverse side effects. What I didn’t like was the way Adam seemed so protective of Julian in some ways and sort of oblivious in other ways-like bringing him alcohol at a party and expecting his friends not to get Julian too drunk.

You kind of got the picture of how his mind worked and what life was like for him without it being center-stage. I liked that Adam’s ADHD wasn’t the story. I loved that about him, and I loved his relationship with his grouchy-but-goodhearted best friend Charlie. Adam is likeable for a whole other host of reasons. But he’s kind and artistic, and I couldn’t help wanting him to find a way through his troubles. The kind of kid that makes for an easy target to get picked on. He’s quiet-the kind of kid that struggles to come up with quick responses in conversation. The story opens with Julian’s point-of-view, and right away, I was pretty hooked.

As he begins to uncover Julian’s secrets, he realizes Julian could be in terrible danger, but trying to rescue him could cost both boys their lives. Now, though, Julian isn’t the chatty kid he once was, and Adam has to figure out why. Adam quickly recognizes Julian as the foster brother who lived with him and his mom five years ago.

When the school counselor gets tired of Julian dodging his appointments with her, she sends her aide, a senior named Adam to find Julian. At home, he tiptoes around the house where he’s not allowed to touch anything, where the only things that belong to him are the possessions in the trunk his parents gave him. At school, he hides from belligerent teachers and from his trouble reading. Published JanuAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

A List of Cages by Robin Roe