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Summary: They Cage the Animals at Night
Review: 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.
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Summary: They Cage the Animals at Night
Review: 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.
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Summary: Powerful and moving
Review: This powerful and moving story is different from so many other books out there about emotional abuse and dysfunction. If you've never been the victim of horrible parents, you might have trouble believing some of the things that happen in this book, but take it from someone whose been there--it is real and very frightening.Also recommended: McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
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Summary: You Must read this book
Review: They Cage the Animals at Night is a terrific and emotional story about Jennings Michael Burch, a young boy who learned to survive in 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 the orphanages was brutal, punishments were cruel, rules were strict, and Jennings was unable to do anything about it. Through all this time, Jennings was taught not to become close to people, because the ones you love, always leave you. At these times in the book I wanted to jump in, lead Jennings on the right track, and tell him what he believed was wrong.
He bounced from home, to orphanages, to abusive foster homes, to good foster homes, to living at the zoo and rummaging through the trash for food. He could not rely on family and friends because they all abandoned him in times when he really needed them. Four of his five other brothers were going through similar times so they had no way to help Jennings.
A tattered stuffed dog named Doggie, which Jennings stole from his first foster home, was the only friend that stayed with him through the harsh times. He was the only friend he could count on through his lost and broken childhood. The story was based on sadness, love, survival, family, and friends that left me with a new look on a life I could not even imagine existed.
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Summary: THEY ALSO CAGE THE SOUL...
Review: 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. ...
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Summary: An eyeopening book
Review: The book , They Cage The Animals At Night was a great book. People of all ages should read the books. This book should make you be more thankfull for what you have, if it doesnt thats fine, but I know for me it did. I thought Jennings Burch did a great job telling his life story. Once I picked the book up it never left my hands. I couldnt put this book down. I thought the book was a real tearjerker. I hope this book makes you think..... I hope this review helped you.
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Summary: They Cage the Animals at Night
Review: "They Cage the Animals at Night" by Jennings Michael Burch is an autobiography of an eight-year-old boy who faced the perils of an insecure childhood, in everyway possible. Jennings was placed in several children's institutions due to his mother being sick and his father a drunken bum that he'd never met. He was separated from his five other brothers, and placed in orphanages, as a part-timer instead of the orphans (a.k.a. lifers) He bounced from home, to orphanages, to abusive foster homes, to good foster homes, to living at the zoo and rummaging through the trash for food. Through all this time, Jennings was taught not to become close to people, because the ones you love, always leave you. Jennings was taught many other lessons; unfortunately he learned them all the hard way. This story will break your heart, and yet at the same time fill you with hope for him in the future as you compare him to his brothers.
I loved this book. I read it as a fifth grader, and then again in high school. With both reads I learned something. The pages of this autobiography made tears come to my eyes, because Jennings Michael Burch brings you into the story, and back to the memories of your own childhood. You can't believe that the days you were twirling around in your princess costume, Jennings was sleeping in the cold bushes of the Bronx zoo by himself.
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Summary: Truth Be Told
Review: There is an honesty to "They Cage Animals at Night" that seeps into your soul and makes you feel, care, cry, rage, and finally rejoice. There are many books of survivors of abuse or tragedy, but few touch you to the core such as this. I rank it on the same level as "White Oleander", "Lucky", and "My Fractured Life." An amazing an honest story.
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Summary: Jennings Micheal Burch learned to stand up for himself
Review: Jennings Michael Burch wrote about the life he had to live when he was a young child. He wrote how it was when he was sent to placement homes. His lfe was all about moving to different foster homes. Jennings,at first,Didnt know how these homes worked but quickly learned after he was punished for even the smallest wrong move. In these homes Burch learned how to stand up for himself and to have a stronger approach to life. Through out the whole book he overcomes obsitcles that he never thought he could overcome. One reason why I liked this book was because Jennings had a pet stuff animal dog and he had the dog say what Jennings was really feeling. I thought it was really interesting and creative. Another reason why I liked reading this book was because I feel it is one of the best books Ive ever read. I liked the way Jennings wrote the actual events that he went through and it made me feel like he was telling his story to me in person. Through out the whole book he kept me interested by sharing his goals and how he overcame all his fears.
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Summary: A touching story about a young boy overcoming obstacles
Review: "They Cage the Animals at Night" is a great and touching story. In this book the author,Jennings Micheal Burch, Told the tramatic events that happened troughout his childhood. At a very young age his mother took him to a Childrens home without telling him where he was, how long he was staying or even why he was there. Every time his mother came back to get him, he would soon be shiped to another home. Every place he went he made friends but Jennings soon learned the cruelty of the nuns as they beat him, how to say good bye,except tragedy, and to expect pain and disapointment. Burch finally realised(With the help of a bus driver)that all of these things were a part of life and doesnt mean that he cant accomplish his goals and live his dreams. One reason why I liked reading this book was because it gave me a reality check. It helped me to realise that just because someone is different from me doesnt mean I have to jugde them.I now know how important it is to get to know others before i judge them.I also liked this book because it showed that no matter how bad your life has been it isnt to late to follow your dreams. This story shows a great example on how holding onto your dreams can make all the difference in life.
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