111 pages • 3 hours read
Robin RoeA List of Cages
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2017A 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.
Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
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BetaChapters 23-26Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 23 Summary
In this one-page chapter, Adam sees his mother coming out of Dr. Pearce's office extremely upset. She says she came to see the principal to discuss her concerns about Julian. Julian’s uncle never returns her calls, and he has recently changed his telephone number.
Chapter 24 Summary
Julian narrates this chapter; he goes bowling with Adam and Charlie. Julian takes off his sneakers at a bench to bowl, and Charlie sees his hairless legs between his socks and short jeans. Charlie asks Julian loudly if he shaves his legs, and Julian answers yes. When Charlie asks why he shaves his legs, Julian explains that his uncle told him that body hair carried germs and if he didn't shave, he would get sick. Julian is surprised when he finds out Adam and Charlie don't shave their legs.
Adam explains to Julian that the only people who shave their legs are swimmers, who shave to keep their body hair from slowing them down in the water, and girls. When Julian asks why girls shave their legs, Charlie responds that nobody wants to go out with a girl with hairy legs and arm pits. Charlie embarrasses Julian by asking if he shaves his arm pits too, but Adam comes to the rescue and insists that Charlie change the topic back to bowling.
Chapter 25 Summary
This is a very short chapter narrated by Julian. Julian's alarm goes off at 6 a.m. on Monday morning. He sees that Russell has put a twenty-dollar bill underneath his shell after beating Julian. Julian walks to the bathroom and examines the injuries from his beating, which are on his front as well as back. This is the first time his uncle has whipped him on the front, and pain on both his front and back makes it difficult for Julian to sleep.
Julian looks at his eyes in the mirror and remembers his mother's eyes were bright blue, and his father's eyes were a faded green. He reflects on how his eyes are a combination of their two colors, and he "can see both of them looking back at [him]" through his own eyes (120).
Chapter 26 Summary
Adam’s narration begins this chapter; he is in Dr. Whitlock’s office, and he and Dr. Whitlock are discussing Julian’s absence from school. They agree it’s odd for Julian to be out for several days, so Dr. Whitlock gives Adam permission to use his lunch hour to go check on Julian.
The rest of the chapter is narrated by Julian as Adam goes to Julian’s house for the first time. Julian allows Adam to come inside the house even though he tells Adam that his uncle doesn’t want people in the house. Adam opens a cabinet where Russell keeps fine china and weapons. Adam remarks to Julian that the combination is weird. Adam also notices that the peanut butter and jelly that Russell has in the house is highly processed. Adam leaves because Julian is feeling uncomfortable about Russell coming home and finding Adam there.
Chapters 23-26 Analysis
Roe shows how Julian's home environment impacts his ability to make friends. Julian already thinks that Charlie hates him, so when Charlie discovers that Julian shaves his legs (at Russell’s mandate), and Charlie asks him why, it heightens Julian's embarrassment. Charlie says to Julian that Julian should know about gender and sexuality as all at their grade school were required to take a puberty class in sixth grade. Julian, however, explains that his uncle never signed the consent form, so he was excused from it.
It is important to note that even after his uncle beats him, and Julian finds out that other boys don't shave, Julian still believes that his uncle made him shave his legs only because he "is just worried about [Julian’s] health" (119). Julian also believes Russell’s intentions are good because Julian thinks he goes out to work everyday. Julian still blames himself, and he thinks that he is the one doing stupid things that in turn good justify Russell’s treatment of him.
Roe reveals Julian's unfit environment even further in these chapters when, in Chapter 26, Adam goes to Julian's house to check on him during his lunch period. Adam asks Julian if he is sick; Julian responds he has a cold or the flu but hasn't been to the doctor. Julian panics as Adam jogs through his house, terrified Adam might break something, and when Adam opens his uncle's china cabinet, Julian yells at Adam, "'No one can touch that!'" (123). Adam remarks that it’s weird how his uncle mixes guns with fine china and also notices that the peanut butter and jelly Julian is eating is highly processed. He offers to stay with Julian while he is sick, but Julian tells Adam that his uncle wouldn’t want him in the house no matter what.
