Caged

by Susan Brocker

"Sam shoved as much gear into her pack a she could until it bulged out like a gorged snake ... sirens wailed down the street, approaching at tsunami speed.

She sprinted down the alley, clutched the metal fence and clambered up. She heard whining and wimpering, and a ghastly stench rolled up her nostrils."

Times are tough and Sam's family are struggling to get by in emergency housing - a tiny cabin in a city caravan park.

In her desperate and dodgy efforts t find extra rent money, Sam stumbles into a ring of crime beyond her worst nightmare.

Can she save her family and rescue the maltreated puppies she has uncovered?

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A heart-wrenching story about Sam, a 14-year-old girl from a struggling homeless family, who is already involved in petty crime. She must face her own fears and her sense of what is right, to defy a dangerous drug criminal, and rescue starving dogs and their pups from an inhumane backyard breeder.

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2023

About the author

Susan Brocker is the award-winning author of books for older children and teens. She lives in New Zealand on a small farm with her horses and many pets. Her close affinity and love of animals shines through in much of her writing. She also has a history degree and a great love of social history that is often reflected in her books.

Reviews

[Sam]

An engaging middle grade read which doesn’t shy away from topical issues and the hardship some young people face - living in emergency housing, feeling pressured to turn to crime to support your family and making poor decisions due to feeling trapped. Delving into the world of puppy farming and one girl’s attempt to bring justice, it is also a rousing story about having the courage to trust others and how a community can work together to bring about change. A bold book and a page-turning adventure for young readers.

[Wendy Howard]

This was a delightful, if at times grim, quick read, which I absorbed in an afternoon. In these tough times, it's easy to see how someone could really end up in this much trouble, just by trying to do the right thing, and it resonated with me. Classed as teen fiction in my library.

[Angie Belcher]

I was drawn to this book while looking for something exciting to extend my 12 year old animal-loving granddaughter into a wider range of reading material. It was a hit. Susan Brocker has a remarkable talent for writing stories that not only entertain but also build empathy and understanding. Caged is no exception.
The story follows Sam, a 14-year-old girl living with her homeless family and struggling to make the right choices in difficult circumstances. When she discovers dogs and puppies being neglected by a cruel backyard breeder, she is determined to help. In doing so, she finds herself standing up to dangerous criminals and confronting her own fears.
Sam is a believable and relatable character. She is far from perfect, but her courage and determination make her easy to support. As the story unfolds, readers see her grow in confidence and discover that one person really can make a difference.
While Caged deals with serious issues such as poverty, crime, animal cruelty, and elder abuse, it remains an engaging and hopeful read.
The story is fast-paced, emotional, and hard to put down.
Ideal for readers aged 10 and over, Caged would also make an excellent classroom read-aloud. Susan Brocker's love of animals shines through every page, encouraging young readers to think about kindness, compassion, and standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

[Miss Wilson]

Likeable main character, Sam, partners with Niko, Aunt Ruby, some other characters and Cherry Bomb to put things right in a daring rescue. The storyline deals with poverty, shame, animal cruelty, meth, vapes, protection, choices, care, responsibility and family. A good pace with short chapters which ought to appeal to young readers who love animals.