Tell The Wolves I'm Home

Title: Tell The Wolves I'm Home
Author: Carol Rifka Brunt













Photo from goodreads.com

Summary: Taken from goodreads

In this striking literary debut, Carol Rifka Brunt unfolds a moving story of love, grief, and renewal as two lonely people become the unlikeliest of friends and find that sometimes you don’t know you’ve lost someone until you’ve found them.
1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life - someone who will help her to heal and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.
At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.
An emotionally charged coming-of-age novel, Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a tender story of love lost and found, an unforgettable portrait of the way compassion can make us whole again.

My Thoughts:

There are rare times when I love a book just by reading the first ten pages, and reading Tell The Wolves I'm Home was one of those rare times.  My favorite character was June.  Here she was, a teenager who lost her best friend and no one in her family could understand why she was taking Finn's death so hard.  She was also a girl who marched to the beat of her own drum and didn't care what others thought.  She was comfortable in her own skin.  I think her character shows other teen girls that it is perfectly fine to be who you really are and that you don't need to listen to those who try to change you.

The part with Greta always inviting her sister, June, to the woods for parties and then would often disappear drunk, only for June to find her buried in a pile of leaves, had me guessing what was wrong with Greta.  June would ask, but she would never give an answer.  I could tell that Greta was unhappy with her life, but with what?

My favorite part of the book was when June finally decided to not listen to her parents and sister and went to visit Toby.  He didn't cause her uncle to die, though that's what her family believed.  June soon became friends with her, showing that could see people for who the really are, not for what people made them out to be.

I didn't like the character of Greta too much.  Sure when she finally came clean about what was bothering her, I did feel sorry, but that was all.  Other than that, she was mean to June.  I know they were siblings, but she was just deceitful to her sister and that pulled me towards disliking the character more.  Maybe that's what the author wanted to happen.  The reader to sympathize more with June, because I know I did.

Closing:

I rated this book 5 stars because I absolutely loved it and I think the author did a great job writing it.  If you're into realistic fiction, this book taking place at the height of the AIDS epidemic, then I think this is a book to check out.  It full of love, compassion, hope, all shining through the death of a loved one.  June shows that one can be who they want to be no matter what and that is a great message to send out to people.