A Cage of Butterflies facts for kids

A Cage of Butterflies is an exciting young adult novel written by Australian author Brian Caswell in 1992. It tells the story of a group of smart teenagers and some special younger children who are part of a secret research project. They uncover a mystery and try to escape from the facility where they are being studied.

The Secret Research Facility

The story takes place at a secret research center, which everyone calls "the farm." This facility studies two different groups of people.

The Think Tank

The first group is made up of several teenagers. They are all super smart, with very high IQs (over 150). These teenagers call themselves the "Think Tank." Their names are Greg, Mikki, Lesley, Gordon, Gretel, Katie, and Chris.

The Babies' Special Abilities

The Think Tank is actually a cover for the real subjects of the research. These are five seven-year-old children known as the "Babies." Their names are Pep, Ricardo, Ian, Rachael, and Myriam. What makes them special? They can talk to each other using their minds, which is called telepathy! All the Babies were born around the same time in the same hospital.

Uncovering the Mystery

When the Think Tank members accidentally connect with the Babies using their minds, they learn a shocking truth. The researchers are using the Babies unfairly. With help from two kind workers at the facility, Susan and Erik, the teenagers decide to investigate. They want to find out why the Babies have these special powers.

The Escape Plan

The head researcher, John Larsen, is determined to solve the mystery of the Babies' abilities. He will stop at nothing to get answers. The Think Tank, along with Susan and Erik, must help the Babies. They come up with a clever plan to trick Larsen and escape from the facility.

Life After the Farm

The story jumps forward six years into the future. The Think Tank has used their smarts to create a successful company called 'Think Tank Inc.' It's now worth three million dollars! The Babies, the Think Tank members, and the now-married Erik and Susan all live together. Greg and Mikki have also gotten married.

What Does the Title Mean?

The title, "A Cage of Butterflies," refers to how Larsen and his team treat both the Babies and the Think Tank. They keep them under constant watch, almost like prisoners. They don't allow them to move around freely. It's like they are beautiful, unique butterflies trapped in a cage.

Characters

The Think Tank

• Greg
• Mikki
• Katie
• Lesley
• Gordon
• Gretel
• Chris

Researchers and Scientists

• Larsen
• Susan
• Erik
• MacIntyre
• Richard (who used to work there)

The Babies

• Ian
• Myriam
• Ricardo
• Rachael
• Pep

Awards

• Shortlisted 3M Talking Book of the Year Award 1993
• Shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Older Readers 1993