Overview

""Have you been inside The Cage?"" ""Who told you about that place?"" For decades, local residents have referred to The Turner Estate as 'The Cage'. The crumbling mansion hidden in the trees is a favorite location for teens and adults alike to party out of sight of prying eyes. For Jeremy Finn, an intelligent young man constantly bullied for his weight and family situation, The Cage is a place to be avoided. As a curious 10 year old, he snuck inside the decaying building and stumbled across a scene that would engender nightmares for years. Jeremy kept the discovery to himself. Certain no one would believe him and determined to pretend the incident never happened. Eight years later, he would be compelled to return to The Cage by the curiosity of his only friend Elizabeth 'Bits' Reynolds. For Bits, a smart, strong-willed but emotionally vulnerable young woman, the mysteries of the mansion are tangible problems she can focus on and solve. Unlike the persistent grief of her father's unexpected death, which has left her feeling closed off and isolated. Sneaking inside The Cage is the easy part. Understanding the secrets within the abandoned house-and within themselves-will prove a much greater challenge. In a few short days the two teens will reveal a family tragedy to the world. And confront the fears they have both kept carefully hidden from themselves and those they love.

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9781957184692

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Reviews

The Cage by M. L. Willard follows Jeremy and Bits as they turn back to the eerie Turner Estate, known as The Cage, which triggers Jeremy's childhood memories of sneaking there with his brother. As they make their way through the dilapidated mansion, they discover human remains, igniting a mix of fear and curiosity about the estate's dark past. After contacting the authorities, they face the emotional pressure surrounding their own family issues, especially in dealing with loss and guilt. As they bond over their discoveries, Jeremy is afflicted by his grandfather's death, while Bits has her own bag of grief. Their investigation into the Turner family's history deepens, leading to unsettling and shocking parallels to missing persons, ultimately linking their private conflict to The Cage's haunting legacy. M.L. Willard's The Cage is a wonderfully creative mix of mystery and suspense that ropes readers in from the start. Willard's ability to evoke a creepy, textured atmosphere is impressive, and I did feel immersed in the decaying remnants of the formerly opulent Turner Estate, urine smell and all, where there are literally skeletons in closets. I love that Willard takes the time to move outside so we can see the human element of what trauma, in this generation and the last, does to those who are suffering from loss. We also see friendship, curiosity, and the reality of most communities: gossip. There is a sweet moment where Bits is comforting Jeremy by straightening his collar, and it's these tiny but thoughtful inclusions that make Willard's characters relatable. There are some twists in the tale and questions that continue to pop up. Overall, The Cage is well worth the read. Very highly recommended. -Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Author Information

Author M. L. Willard lives in northern Vermont with her husband and her dog. Her oasis is an acre of family land surrounded by open fields and mountain views. She has two grown daughters, a son-in-law, a grandpuppy, and a grandkitty. Over the last 40 years, she has completed several novel-length manuscripts. A sample of her work can be found in two anthologies: ""Itty Bitty Writing Space"" and ""Worth 1,000 Words"". The Cage is her debut novel. Released with high hopes for future projects in the fiction or fantasy genres.

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