Tell The Wolves I'm Home is Carol Rifka Brunt's 2012 debut novel. It has been well-received by many critics. It's 1987. June Elbus is a fourteen year old girl who lives in Westchester, New York with her parents and sister. June's Uncle Finn is her world and when he dies of AIDS, her world is completely destroyed. A few days after his funeral, June meets Toby, a complete stranger with whom she has one thing in common: a love for Finn.
I really liked the interesting and quirky characters in this book. June is obsessed with the Middle Ages and often ventures into the woods where she imagines going back in time. June's sister, Greta, is possibly the most intriguing character. She and June were best friends but grew apart. Greta tries to revive their friendship in meaningful and unexpected ways, and her efforts make for enjoyable reading.
The detailed and accurate descriptions of New York City (where Finn lived) added depth to the novel.
The writing was solid but nothing too special. What was special, however, was the emotional plot. June experiences the grief of losing the only person in the entire world who understands her. To top that off, her parents never seem to be around and her sister seems to despise her. The only place June feels comforted is in the woods.
This book is a heartfelt account of how tough life can get, told in an innocent and honest voice. However, the ending was not completely satisfying because the author left many characters at loose ends. Four out of five stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment