I Am the Cage

De: Allison Sweet Grant

Narrado por: Allison Sweet Grant

“I Am the Cage gives resounding voice to the voiceless.”–The Associated Press

“Powerful.″–Booklist, starred review

“Visceral, wrenching, and beautiful.”–John Green, #1 bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars

“The sense of powerlessness—and redemption—will stay with you.”–Jojo Moyes, #1 bestselling author of We All Live Here and Me Before You

Fish Creek, Wisconsin—Beautiful. Quiet. Isolated. Anonymous. It’s all that nineteen-year-old Elisabeth needs, and everything she wants. Cloistered in her tiny cabin, Elisabeth is determined to be alone, hiding from her memories and making sure that no one can ever hurt her again.

But when a massive snowstorm strikes, plunging the town into darkness, Elisabeth finally allows herself to accept help from her neighbor, Noah, the town’s young sheriff. Forced to show him more vulnerability than she ever intended, Elisabeth realizes she can no longer outrun the scars of her childhood, and facing the darkness might be exactly what she needs to let the light in.

In a searing own-voices story accented by poignant childhood flashbacks and stunning poetry, Allison Sweet Grant’s young adult debut is a quietly powerful portrait of a young woman’s journey to confront the medical trauma inflicted to “fix” her—and heal her heart in the process. An emotional coming-of-age story about a young woman running away from herself, yet grasping to find a way back. Deeply moving, authentically raw, and humming with the possibility of a new love.

©2025 Allison Sweet Grant (P)2025 Listening Library

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A beautiful and poetic book about the many ways pain, and love in all its forms, leaves a lasting stain. Elisabeth’s story of childhood trauma, both physical and emotional, is brutal, heartfelt, and a testament to finally breaking free and moving forward on your own terms.”–Kathleen Glasgow, #1 bestselling author of Girl in Pieces

“Heartfelt, human and true—a novel that feels real from the first word to the last. I loved it.”–Markus Zusak, #1 bestselling author of The Book Thief

“Grant’s YA debut emerges with a captivating sparkle that mirrors a snowstorm’s atmospheric quiet with its introspective and rhythmic prose…. An outstanding character study with themes of pain and acceptance. Powerful.″–Booklist, starred review

Emotional, relatable, and perfect

This is now one of my favorite audiobooks of all time. While the story ends up having a predictable ending, the story is thought-provoking, gut-wretching, and everything I needed. I am normally a fan of sci-fi and non-fiction, but I was fully engrossed in this story and have recommended it to my entire family. So glad the author was the voice talent.

poignant and beautiful

loved hearing the author read and think it was a wonderful story, thanks for sharing it with the world.

Authentic voice

A beautifully rendered story of trauma, recovery, and relationships, and a love letter to language.

Poignant, gorgeous novel

This is a beautifully written coming of age story about a young woman who went through medical trauma as a child. Anyone who has gone through any kind of difficult time could connect with the story. The prose is gorgeous and evocative. And the author’s narration is truly excellent and emotional. Would give it 10 stars if I could!

Connection with story

Story told well listening again I know I will catch more. Like the poetry infused.

The growth of the protagonist

I enjoyed it all the prose and the poetry💐💐💐 I am an 82 year old crone, I follow Adam and he led me to Sweet Allison🌟💫⭐️

A Must-Listen—Beautifully Narrated by the Author

This audiobook was exceptional. The story itself is deeply emotional and beautifully written, but hearing it narrated by the author, Allison Sweet Grant, made it even more impactful. Her enunciation was clear, and you could hear the depth of feeling in her voice, making every moment even more powerful. It felt incredibly personal, and I was moved to tears multiple times. If you’re considering reading this book, I highly recommend listening to it as well—it’s an unforgettable experience.

Not good

I wish I AM THE CAGE was a five star review for me, as I understand the novel is very personal to its writer Allison Sweet Grant.

My inability to warm up to narrator Elisabeth/Justine is probably the biggest reason I didn’t enjoy I AM THE CAGE. In the chapters from her childhood, she constantly ascribed negative feelings and motives to her mother, the way a kid might (she doesn’t like *me*, she didn’t want to help me). By telling rather than showing, I didn’t feel as if the character was unbiased. Caretaking for a sick/recovering child is exhausting, especially when she child sees the parent as the cause of the hurt. Unlike other stories, Justine showed only resentment most of the time. Obviously surgical pain is horrible and being unable to take care of oneself adds to the stress of recovery for both parent and child.

The slow pace of I AM THE CAGE made reading more like a chore than a pleasure. For example, the excruciating minutiae of plays during the game of Uno felt like page filler.

Two stars is a stretch rating for me.

No character development

Too much imagery not enough story. The hated mom trope is tired. I don’t understand any of the relationships that develop with the cold main character. No personality is developed besides her being depressed.