They Cage the Animals at Night (Signet) [Paperback]

Jennings Michael Burch (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet | Publication Date: October 1, 1985

At the age of eight, the author began a three-year odyssey through a series of orphan asylums and foster homes, punctuated by episodes of living in the streets--a journey through a world of hostile strangers, abusive adults, and suspicious children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This heart-wrenching autobiographical account...has the power of a Dickens novel. -- Booklist

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451159411
• ISBN-13: 978-0451159410
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (219 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Adoption
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > Grandparenting
  • #4 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Grandparenting

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

179 of 187 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Cage the Animals at Night, April 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: They Cage the Animals at Night (Signet) (Paperback)

They Cage the Animals at Night is a terrific and emotionalstory about Jennings Michael Burch, a young boy who learned to survivein a cold, frightening world. His mother was too sick to care for him and left him in a series of orphanages and institutions. Life in these orphanages was brutal, punishments were cruel, rules were strict, and Jennings was unable to do anything about it. He couldn't rely on family and friends because they all abandoned him in times that he really needed them. A tattered stuffed dog was the only friend that stayed with him through it all and the only thing he could count on in his lost childhood. This is the best book I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. When it was time to go to sleep, I would get a flashlight and sit in the dark for hours and read this book. I have never read a sadder story. The fact that this all happened to the author makes me realize just how lucky I actually am to have family, friends, home, and money. I really felt sorry for Jennings. He was a boy about my age who doesn't have all that I have. The story was based on sadness, love, survival, family, and friends. I would recommend this to anyone of any age who likes a powerful, sad story or who wants to be moved and touched. My entire family has either read it or wants to read it. Everyone I know that read it has felt the same way that I do about it.

88 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THEY ALSO CAGE THE SOUL..., June 14, 2001

By 

Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They Cage the Animals at Night (Signet) (Paperback)

This is the story of Jennings Michael Burch and it is not an easy book to read. It tells of a young boy's determination to survive despite abandonment, physical abuse and humiliation after being left by his ailing mother at an orphanage. He then experiences a variety of foster homes and some of these accounts will bring more than a single tear to your eye.

During his stay at an orphanage, the Sisters would allow the children to choose a stuffed animal to take to bed with them at night as a source of comfort. Goodness only knows, it was their only small comfort - every other aspect was a child's worst nightmare! However, in the wee hours of the morning before the children awoke, the animals would quickly be gathered up and locked away (caged) and this is the source of the book's title. David's only source of acceptance, love and understanding comes from "Doggie", a tattered stuffed dog. Your heart will cry for this little boy whose only desire is to please, be loved and be wanted. The story does have a happy ending, if such stories ever really do. Despite all odds, Michael does survive, along with "Doggie". The hurt, rejection and loneliness felt as an abused child never disappear. The wounds heal, the heart forgives, but the mind never forgets. Anyone who has experienced abuse as a child, whether it be physical, sexual, emotional or verbal, will be able to relate only too well to the story of little Jennings Michael Burch. Often, reading the stories of other victims of abuse, help the adult survivor to realize they are not alone. If you have never experienced abuse, you will count your blessings that you have never had to live each and every day in a world of constant fear and rejection. ...

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Cage the Animals at Night, April 21, 2002

By 

C. Petersen (Seattle, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They Cage the Animals at Night (Signet) (Paperback)

I finished this book at one sitting because I could not put it down. It was one of the most touching stories I ever read. It tells the story of a little boy named Jennings. His mother has health problems, so he and his brothers spend much of their young lives in orphanages and foster homes. Jennings is seperated from his mom and his brothers, and sent to cold institutions that are often run by unfeeling administrators who dole out painful and humiliating punishments for small, insignificant offenses such as wetting the bed. He is lent out to foster homes where he is ignored, beaten, and otherwise mistreated. All this moving around causes him to fall behind in his schooling. Because of this, his fellow students and even his teachers mock and deride him, telling him he is stupid. What little time he does spend at home is disrupted by quarreling older brothers, a sick mother, a permanently hospitalized brother, a couple of drunken brothers, and a constant lack of money. And even with all he went through, he didn't give up. The book is very well written, and will touch the heart of anyone who loves children. I think that everone should read this inspiring true story.