Details Books Conducive To They Cage the Animals at Night
| Original Title: | They Cage the Animals at Night |
| ISBN: | 0451159411 (ISBN13: 9780451159410) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (1996) |
Jennings Michael Burch
Paperback | Pages: 304 pages Rating: 4.32 | 8344 Users | 700 Reviews
Narration Toward Books They Cage the Animals at Night
Caging More Than Just AnimalsInterestingly enough, we got to read this in middle school. We also got to keep the books that were assigned to us. I still remember certain scenes where Jennings, the narrator, and the author of this autobiographical novel either received amazing amounts of love or terrible amounts of abuse.
Set in the 1950s, in New York City and its environs, we get the unforgettable account of a few years of Jennings's childhood. With his mother too tired, sick, and beaten down to care for him and his brothers, he is shipped off several times to either foster homes or to orphanages. Early in the book we meet his constant friend, Doggie, a white and tan stuffed animal that was given to him, (at first) only at night, at the first home he stayed at. Each night the nuns would come around and collect the animals, caging them in little cubbies. This metaphor grows into the entire essence of the book. Through hardship, pain, emotional rampage, Jennings learns that stuffed animals are not the only thing that is caged for protection.
The orphans are locked up during the night and also during the day. Forced to listen for a clicker to get them to line up for dinner or a clap of the hands to get them to line up for lunch. The orphanages were sometimes a blessing in comparison to the homes Jennings is lent out to, where he learns that love and compassion are hard to find, even if they can be found anywhere. He cages up his ability to say that he loves anyone. There are times when there is much love in the world and Jennings cannot bear to find it in him to speak the words because if he does, if he lets them escape, just like the stuffed animals or the orphans, he might get doubly hurt. The cruelty that he finds in the world seems to confirm his need to lock himself up into himself. Yet, Jennings is a child of firm compassion. He is rarely judgmental and often very accepting and docile to the harsh world he has been thrown into. Often he cries, but rarely retaliates. He is resourceful and a master of escapism though his ever-trusty friend Doggie and through his own mind. The young boy cannot find much solace, even at home, as conditions go from worse to hellish. Each page makes it seem like the world might fall apart for our narrator.
Although much of the depth of the story was lost to me on a childhood level, reading it again brought out much more from the pages. It's a story of love for those around you and a story of overcoming overwhelming odds. There is triumph and defeat at every paragraph. A roller coaster of pain and joy.
I got to meet Jennings Michael Burch. I was in middle school, we had finished the book, and he came to speak with us. I remember our teacher telling us to speak up and to speak clearly because Jennings, because of old age and being boxed on the ears so many times by individuals in the story, could hardly hear.
This old man came shuffling within. He was balding and in a thick sweater vest over his button down shirt. We were silent as we watched years of suffering and hardship settle into a seat the teacher provided for him. Our teacher introduced us to him and we said 'hello' in unison. He smiled slightly, lowered his eyes to a duffel bag he had with him, and opened it silently. Out of it he produced Doggie, thread-bare, discolored, but still with him, his constant companion.
Describe Out Of Books They Cage the Animals at Night
| Title | : | They Cage the Animals at Night |
| Author | : | Jennings Michael Burch |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 304 pages |
| Published | : | October 1st 1985 by Signet (first published January 1st 1984) |
| Categories | : | Nonfiction. Autobiography. Memoir. Biography. Academic. School |
Rating Out Of Books They Cage the Animals at Night
Ratings: 4.32 From 8344 Users | 700 ReviewsRate Out Of Books They Cage the Animals at Night
Caging More Than Just AnimalsInterestingly enough, we got to read this in middle school. We also got to keep the books that were assigned to us. I still remember certain scenes where Jennings, the narrator, and the author of this autobiographical novel either received amazing amounts of love or terrible amounts of abuse.Set in the 1950s, in New York City and its environs, we get the unforgettable account of a few years of Jennings's childhood. With his mother too tired, sick, and beaten down to
Insightful, Touching, Eye Opening, Heartbreaking & Mesmerizing! A Courageous Read! I Loved It!
Still my favorite book, even after all these years. Fostering from a kids perspective. It shows how important it is to be involved and to be one of the good families.
I wish I could tell you why They Cage The Animals At Night popped into my head tonight, of all nights. I read this book probably 20 years ago, when I was a small child myself. I feel that I need to read this book again to perhaps gain more insight than I did as a child. But from what I do remember of the book, it's this: Jennings was bounced in and out of orphanages & homes At one orphanage, they had stuffed animals, but they were taken away (caged) each night Doggie was his companion who
read it - like a bookI had heard this was required reading in some schools - and boy do I feel sorry for those kids! This book was terribly depressing and it wasn't until the end that I found out this was a true story! I am not quite sure what kind of lesson you learn from this book except to thank your lucky stars you were not growing up during this time when orphanages were basically child abuse centers. Check this one off the list.
3.5/5 starsThis is such a gripping story, and the fact that it's a true makes my heart ache.From the age of 9 through 11, Jennings goes from home after another, suffering from loss, by losing his family when he had to leave, to losing his friends he made in the home, to dealing with sickness and death. Jennings goes through so much at a young age and it's heart breaking to read his story. This novel really gives us an insight as to how the foster care system works (though not as many churches in
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