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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Miss Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.