Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson
Like Julian, Melinda carries a painful secret she cannot voice. It is a classic, honest portrait of trauma, silence and the slow work of reclaiming yourself, written with the same quiet compassion.
12 books to read next
Books Like A List of Cages
If you loved A List of Cages by Robin Roe
A List of Cages pairs two very different narrators: Adam, a popular, warm-hearted senior with ADHD, and Julian, a grieving, withdrawn freshman hiding abuse at home. Readers love the tenderness between the foster brothers, the slow reveal of what Julian endures, and the way friendship becomes a lifeline. It is emotionally intense and sometimes hard to read, but full of kindness, humour and hope, with alternating chapters that build steady suspense.
Friendship as a lifeline
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Benjamin Alire Sáenz
A gentle, deeply felt story of two boys whose bond helps each face pain and family secrets. It offers the same tenderness that makes Adam and Julian's relationship so memorable.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
Charlie, a fragile and kind outsider, is drawn in by older friends who look out for him. Fans of Julian's vulnerability and Adam's protectiveness will recognise that dynamic here.
Wonder
R. J. Palacio
Multiple narrators show how kindness, or its absence, shapes a boy's school life. Like Roe's novel, it celebrates empathy and the difference one caring person can make.
Grief and healing
Every last word
Tamara Ireland Stone
Sam hides her obsessive thoughts behind a popular image and finds a refuge in writing. Julian's love of stories and his secret struggles echo through this hopeful, heartfelt book.
A Monster Calls
Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
A boy wrestles with fear, loss and anger he cannot express. It shares A List of Cages' raw emotional honesty about grief and will leave you just as moved.
We Are Okay
Nina LaCour
A quiet, aching story of a girl isolating herself after loss until an old friend reaches out. It mirrors the reunion at the heart of Roe's novel and its slow path toward healing.
Boys in crisis
Challenger Deep
Neal Shusterman
Told from inside a teen's mind as mental illness takes hold, it builds empathy for a boy who cannot explain what is happening, much like Julian's guarded chapters.
Long Way Down
Jason Reynolds
A fast, powerful verse novel about a boy facing violence and grief. Readers who were gripped by the danger in A List of Cages will race through this intense read.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay
Adib Khorram
Darius battles depression and feeling out of place until a genuine friendship changes things. It brings the warmth and gentle humour that balance the darker moments in Roe's book.
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