Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time

by Charlotte Culin

Physically and emotionally battered by her parents, a self-absorbed father and an alcoholic mother, fourteen-year-old Claire Burden considers suicide until two new friends help her open up to a loving world

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with this book as a tween. I still haven’t returned my copy to the school library 🤫. It’s on my living room shelf. 😬

[Felicia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember first reading this book back in Junior High. I was 12 year old and this was the first book I had read that actually kept my interest all the way through. The story is about 14 year old Claire and her struggle to grow up as normal as she possibly can while being raised by her alcoholic and abusive mother. The book has many flaws, but the touching story and strong characters make up for them. I read this book at least once a year. It's one of my classics.

[Marinna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, the best book I have ever read. My mom has a copy and she recommended it to me a few years back. This book is the best book I have ever read. I love it so much! I HIGHLY recommend it but it may be tough getting a copy due to it not being in print anymore. It's worth the trouble to find though. This story is just so realistic and the author does such a good job at telling the story that you just cannot put this book down. This is definitely a book I will pass on to my future children to read and I hope that they will pass it on to theirs. I cannot wait to get my hands on my very own copy of this book. This is one that is worth reading and then re-reading over and over again. I absolutely loved it.

[Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So totally like my favorite book forever. I keep looking for it, but I'm afraid to reread it in case it ruins the memory.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in junior high - maybe 6th grade. Considering it's out of print now, I can't believe I managed to find it in my small-town library. I still remember it, and wish I could get my hands on it again. Harrowing story of child abuse and how a child reacts to it. Very serious stuff for a pre-teen.

[Honeybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was 13 and it was so moving. It is still one of the best books I have ever read. Such a beautiful story of perservence. But it's out of print! Ughhh!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

its very simple in language, but leaves you thinking about what is right and how old you have to be to know what is wrong.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as an adolescent and have never forgotten it, about a girl coming of age as an artist and a young woman and contending with an abusive mother.

[sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I remember ever reading .....read it again and gave it to my daughter.Very powerful.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a teen and fell in love with it. I could relate to a point. I use to have this book. It's nearly impossible to find in print.

[Jenna Hodgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out of my middle school library back around 1988 and absolutely LOVED it. I think it's the first book I ever loved so much that I went around recommending it to my friends so they could enjoy it too!
Unfortunately, I've tried to find this book to re-read it literally for decades and haven't been able to find it. Honestly, I was beginning to second guess my memory and wondered if the book even existed or if I had dreamed it! Looks like I'm not the only one who loved it, nor the only one who has had trouble finding it! Strange that it's out of print since so popular with so many readers!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in 7th grade and it has remained my favorite ever since. At age 37 I began searching for it and for my 42nd birthday I received 2 copies from friends. Reading it again all these years later, I was able to see it from a different perspective. The lead character, Claire, has always felt like a dear friend to me and it was so nice to "reconnect" . If you can find a copy, only had one print edition, I highly suggest you read it.

[Dux Interitio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up my copy at a second hand store because it looked well loved and I thought it must have been a good book. For around a year when I got it I read it, finished it, then flipped right back to the first page and reread it. It addresses child abuse, neglect, alcoholism, and generational cycles of abuse. The book shows the importance of found family as well. It is my favorite book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was 13 or 14, in middle school. It was on the library discard cart so I got to keep it. I'm almost 23 and I still have it. It is my favorite book and will probably always be my favorite. It is the only book that I have read over and over. I am so glad I kept my copy.

[Mahasin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can find a copy of this book read it.

[Sonia Crooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in high school from the school library. As an abused child myself I really identified with it. Great book!

[imsocrafty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in eighth grade and it has stuck with me all these years.

[Madame Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this gem on my shelf for 10 years. It was heartbreaking and full of wisdom like others wrote. I'm glad that I finally got around to reading it. Better late than never!

[Sapphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember finding this book during a garage sale growing up, I still own the paperback. Although throughout the years it's taken on a lot of wear and tear, it's still one of my favourites and I keep going back to re-read it once every few years. I was 13 when I read it first and I'm going on 30 now, funny how that works.

originally published in 1979 it will be hard to find a copy as it's no longer in print.

It's just one of those books that stays with you for a long time. Claire the protagonist was very relatable back then and really helped me understand myself as a young adult.

I highly recommend this to anyone who can get their hands on it.

[SraPanadera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this in high school---the school library copy, I think. I don't know where or when I got my copy. I remember reading it several times and REALLY liking it. I suspect I would not like it so much now, or would find a multitude of flaws as an adult that I over-looked or did not notice as a teen. I don't know that I'll read it again, if only so that I can continue to think it was good.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is an excellent coming to age book!

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic lurid YA problem novel of the 1970s. Totally great, I really enjoyed it.
CW: the n-word (used by a villain.)

[Heather Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected to really enjoy this book. The rating for it on Goodreads was 4.61 (out of 5 stars) and with 120 reviews. The story was told in the voice of a 14 year old, Claire, but I felt her thoughts and feelings were of a 9 or 10 year old. She was way too immature sounding for me to believe her age. Furthermore, I felt it was poor writing and besides the old man in the woods I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Claire falls for a boy that helps her deal with the child abuse she encountered, but with how young she seemed to be I had a difficult time buying the romance. And even in those aspects of the story her thoughts were childish to me.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was around 10 and it was the first book I fell in love with outside of Harry Potter. I remember finding a copy of the hardcover in a used bookstore as a kid and I still have the same copy (granted it's practically falling apart at the binding). This is a story I am able to read over and over again while always finding something new to take away. Even though the book was published in 1979, it is still so relevant to what some kids are going through today. If you can find a copy, I really recommend reading it.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read this book in High School when I wrote a paper on it. It is a haunting story, that I never forgot, about the effects of child abuse. It is since out of print and difficult to find. I recently found an issue and re-read it. Really glad to find it again.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of my favorites as a teenager, but I was into drama back then. This one's about an abused teenage girl.

[Amy Sjoquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

hard cover. One of the first books I read as a teen having to do with physical abuse.

[Jasmine Blayock · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book so much that i read it 3 times

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how this holds up as an adult since it's out of print, but I absolutely adored it as a teenager.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from high school, I
was glad to find it in the library discards. Still a good story.