Thanks to Disney for sending a copy of A List of Cages and for providing a prize pack to giveaway! Here's more about the book and the promotion:
Title: A List of Cages
Author: Robin Roe
Series: n/a
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
A List of Cages was heartbreaking and emotional and an all-around lovely book. One that I think would do everyone a bit of good to read in these dark times. It's about friendship and kindness and overcoming adversity, and it's oh-so-very touching.
And one of the quotes from the story -- "Hate ricochets, but kindness does too." -- really got me thinking about the small kindnesses we do for each other, the ones that don't take much from us but can mean the world to someone else. Especially when said kindness comes at a time when the recipient could really use it.
I remember when I was around four or five, and my parents had taken us to Dairy Queen to get sundaes. There was a little girl in the restaurant who was begging her mother for one, too, but her mother had said no. My dad, being the tender-hearted soul he is, got up without saying a word and bought that little girl a sundae of her own, despite that we didn't have a lot of money and it was a rare treat for our family as it was. The mother thanked my dad and we all went about our business. But I remember how happy that little girl was, and how inspired I was by my dad's actions. I mean, sure, nowadays the mother probably would have admonished my father for daring to undermine her authority, but things were different then and it was just a kind gesture.
And I know that kindness like that can be paid forward ten-fold. When I was just a bit older, I remember a customer in line in front of us at the supermarket offering to pay for our family's groceries, and it came at a time when we needed it most. I've always thought -- though there are times I forget -- that the more kindness you put out into the world, the more kindness finds you.
It's so easy to tell each other to "be the change" or "do unto others", but it's so much harder to demonstrate this through our actions. And yet, somehow, I must have been doing that all this time because my own daughter is the picture of kindness.
When a girl with Downs Syndrome started attending Katie's daycare, Katie befriended her and treated her the way she would any other child. And the thing is, I don't think Katie saw the girl as any different. She's never been the kind of kid who pointed out others' differences, but even her daycare teacher noted how sweet it was that when other children shied away from Katie's new friend, Katie went out of her way to be a good friend to this girl. In this way, Katie is my hope for the future.
One (1) winner receives:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: A List of CagesAuthor: Robin Roe
Series: n/a
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he’s got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn’t easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can’t complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian—the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years.
Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He’s still kindhearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what’s really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives…
First-time novelist Robin Roe relied on life experience when writing this exquisite, gripping story featuring two lionhearted characters.
A List of Cages was heartbreaking and emotional and an all-around lovely book. One that I think would do everyone a bit of good to read in these dark times. It's about friendship and kindness and overcoming adversity, and it's oh-so-very touching.
And one of the quotes from the story -- "Hate ricochets, but kindness does too." -- really got me thinking about the small kindnesses we do for each other, the ones that don't take much from us but can mean the world to someone else. Especially when said kindness comes at a time when the recipient could really use it.
I remember when I was around four or five, and my parents had taken us to Dairy Queen to get sundaes. There was a little girl in the restaurant who was begging her mother for one, too, but her mother had said no. My dad, being the tender-hearted soul he is, got up without saying a word and bought that little girl a sundae of her own, despite that we didn't have a lot of money and it was a rare treat for our family as it was. The mother thanked my dad and we all went about our business. But I remember how happy that little girl was, and how inspired I was by my dad's actions. I mean, sure, nowadays the mother probably would have admonished my father for daring to undermine her authority, but things were different then and it was just a kind gesture.
And I know that kindness like that can be paid forward ten-fold. When I was just a bit older, I remember a customer in line in front of us at the supermarket offering to pay for our family's groceries, and it came at a time when we needed it most. I've always thought -- though there are times I forget -- that the more kindness you put out into the world, the more kindness finds you.
It's so easy to tell each other to "be the change" or "do unto others", but it's so much harder to demonstrate this through our actions. And yet, somehow, I must have been doing that all this time because my own daughter is the picture of kindness.
When a girl with Downs Syndrome started attending Katie's daycare, Katie befriended her and treated her the way she would any other child. And the thing is, I don't think Katie saw the girl as any different. She's never been the kind of kid who pointed out others' differences, but even her daycare teacher noted how sweet it was that when other children shied away from Katie's new friend, Katie went out of her way to be a good friend to this girl. In this way, Katie is my hope for the future.
About the author:
Robin Roe has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's from Harvard. She counseled adolescents in Boston before she moved to Dallas, Texas, to run a mentoring program for at-risk teens. This is her first novel.
Find Jessica:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram
One (1) winner receives:
- A copy of A List of Cages by Robin Roe
- A $50 Visa gift card to put towards a day of friendship
Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I remember a person standing in front of me paid for the groceries of the person in front of them. That person had forgotten their wallet and was in tears, so the person in front of me stepped up and paid for them. It was the most kind thing I've ever witnessed.
ReplyDeleteI feel lucky to be surrounded by incredibly kind and caring people and have a million memories of kindness. My most vivid though were when I had just had my son, nurses are seriously angels and they were all so kind and caring to me as a patient and to my son while he was in the NICU.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget when my friend decided to stay home from a trip so that someone else could go with.
ReplyDeleteOne that always sticks out is when I first visited my father in Alabama. I was crossing a street and a bag I was carrying ripped, dumping my purchases into the road. Several people stopped and got out of the cars to help me pick them up! It stuck with me, and now I live here and love it. best move I ever made:)
ReplyDeleteI will never forget my daughter trying to help me when I was sick and bringing me breakfast in bed. It was a muffin and juice and it was so cute of her to help me.
ReplyDeleteI remember a person who paid for my groceries when I realized I forgot my wallet at home
ReplyDeleteI will always remember the kindness of our neighbors during the 1993 blizzard in the NC mountains. We had our newborn son, on a heart monitor and no electricity. They spent the day, making a path to their house and invited us to stay with them. They were amazing!
ReplyDeleteI will always remember the kindness of my best friend who always remembers me on the holidays and my birthday.
ReplyDeleteheather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com
I was a poor college kid, just scrapping to get by and one of my friends always commented that I needed to get a better coat since I rode the bus everywhere. I couldn't afford one so I wore my old one that had holes, was too small, and super thin every day. One day my friend picked me up for dinner at her house and surprised me with a brand new, really nice coat for no reason at all. She has the biggest heart in the world. It's a small thing but it meant a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteI will always remember the kind homeless man who changed my tire when I was stuck on the side of the road in a blizzard.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I remember one just before Christmas that I will always remember. I got done shopping at the mall...was 10 below zero. I had left my headlights on and my car would not start. My cellphone had died when I was in the mall...didnt even have that. When I got out of my car to go back in the mall...a guy was in the row behind me and yelled over...open your hood! He said it had happened to him a few weeks earlier so he had picked up a portable charger and had it in his truck! I appreciated it so much..my car started right up. Most people, especially around the holidays, are in such a hurry...that they would not have noticed or heard my car not want to turn over. He did...and waited for me to get out. So kind of him...it was so cold that day....he was my angel that day! I will never forget his generosity!
ReplyDeleteThe greatest kindness that people have ever shown me was in college- a bunch my friends really helped me get away from an abusive relationship and my now husband truly was my knight in shining armor who rescued me. I will never forget the many late nights they spent counseling me and also helping me work through things.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living aboard I had lost my passport. A kind stranger approached my friend asking if she or someone she knew lost a passport. I was so grateful and happy! I will NEVER forget that strangers kindness!
ReplyDeleteThe moment of kindness that stuck out to me lately is my dad driving 5 hours to bring me firewood!
ReplyDeleteWhen the people from my mom's church decorated our home for Christmas while she was in the hospital with cancer.
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good one