They Cage the Animals at Night (Extra book)

This is a true story written by the author, Jennings Michael Burch, chronicling his own growing up in a family of five boys in NYC in the book They Cage the Animals at Night.  Jennings’s story is set in the Bronx/Brooklyn and in Queens during the 1950s. The story captures his youth, age eight to eleven, being placed in foster homes, youth homes, and at times back with his family.  Jennings never met his father, a local drunk, and is moved from his home based on his mother’s erratic and deteriorating health condition.  Jennings only reprieve in his youth is when one of the nuns at a home gives Jennings a stuffed animal, named Doggie, who helps him throughout the story as his “comfort” animal.  Jennings’s mom suffers from some debilitating unknown illness and later in the book falls down the stairs and breaks her back and neck.  Jennings is routinely picked on at the homes, though he does find a few friends during the story.  He also is helped out by a bus driver, Sal, whom later becomes his surrogate father and helps the entire family.  Jennings is ridiculed for his name by some children, beaten up by a foster parent, treated harshly by a son of another foster family, and had numerous horrible incidents at the various homes, all of which were run by Catholic nuns, go figure!  Today these nuns would be placed in jail for the horrible treatment of these children.  How Jennings made it through is a miracle, running away from the homes, and living in the Bronx Zoo over a few weekends with no food or water.  While the book was not well edited, I found at least six grammatical/typographical errors; the story of the young boy has a few heartwarming moments, not to add that he shows himself as a survivor.  Kids who have a hard life may see Jennings as a hero and someone to aspire to become.  Luckily, I did not have this type of hard life, so less connective for me.  A quick read for kids aged 10-12, otherwise I’d pass.  I can’t remember who suggested this one, I don’t think it was an RA, but maybe a colleague… oh well.  Another read done.  Happy New Year.  I’ll pick up another book in 2014, I think!  Overall some very good books suggested by the RAs and my friends.