63 pages • 2 hours read
Jennings Michael BurchThey Cage the Animals at Night
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1984A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
They Cage the Animals at Night is an autobiographical memoir by Jennings Michael Burch, depicting his tumultuous childhood as he navigates the American foster care system while dealing with abusive and neglectful foster homes, a precarious family situation, and friendships that anchor him amidst his adversities. The book addresses themes of abandonment, abuse, and neglect.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jennings Michael Burch's They Cage the Animals at Night offers a poignant and raw memoir of a childhood spent in foster homes and orphanages. Readers praise its emotional depth and authenticity, though some criticize its unrelenting bleakness. The narrative's impact is profound, despite occasional narrative slowdowns. Overall, it's a compelling but heart-wrenching read.
Who Should Read They Cage the Animals at Night?
Readers who appreciate Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt or A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer will find They Cage the Animals at Night captivating. Ideal for those drawn to poignant, autobiographical accounts of childhood struggle and resilience. The memoir offers a heartfelt narrative of survival and hope in the face of adversity.