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bearbutch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Incredibly written book with so many layers and meanings to discover within each page. It takes a lot to make me cry at a book these days, but this one did at the end. however I will say that the crush June had on her Uncle Finn and the way it’s handled doesn’t quite sit right with me, and makes me feel conflicted. I do recommend it highly, but be aware of that weird detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, and Incest
jefferz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Edit 3/23/24: Bumped the ratings up a star. Having gotten back into reading regularly and reflecting on books completed last year, this one really stuck with me and is one I often remember. Based purely on it's ambition and its lasting impact, this should be up to a 4 / 4.5 at least. Also kind of want to rewrite this review as it doesn't highlight the nuanced and excellent character relationships that are not always pleasant to read about.
This one is difficult to rate as I found the first 2/3 of the book trying to get through and every character insufferable, though that's not a dig at the writing or plot which is well done. I found the tone to be overall off-putting in a first-person perspective from the eyes of a very emotionally volatile 14 yr old (granted that's on me reading this when I'm over twice the age of June and her sister) and every character to be insufferable. The one bright spot and redeeming factor that kept me going was Toby, the only character that's bearable to read about. Toby and his character arc is by far the best aspect of the entire book and one I empathized with a lot.
However once the book gets to the last 1/3 of the story, I got very invested partly thanks to June managing her feelings less ridiculously (we love character growth) and the book following through on its premise of finding out just who this unknown man that shows up at Finn's funeral is. The way this book handles concepts of love (both romantic and familial), loss, prejudice (particularly bigotry given it's setting in the 80's at the start HIV/AIDS epidemic) is well done, the delivery was just not to my taste. Most of the book I struggled through at a 1-star but the last 100 pages or so is a solid 4-4.5. However if you're interested in flawed (and petty) personalities and all the emotions of preteen discovery herself, your mileage may vary and go a lot farther than mine.
This one is difficult to rate as I found the first 2/3 of the book trying to get through and every character insufferable, though that's not a dig at the writing or plot which is well done. I found the tone to be overall off-putting in a first-person perspective from the eyes of a very emotionally volatile 14 yr old (granted that's on me reading this when I'm over twice the age of June and her sister) and every character to be insufferable. The one bright spot and redeeming factor that kept me going was Toby, the only character that's bearable to read about. Toby and his character arc is by far the best aspect of the entire book and one I empathized with a lot.
However once the book gets to the last 1/3 of the story, I got very invested partly thanks to June managing her feelings less ridiculously (we love character growth) and the book following through on its premise of finding out just who this unknown man that shows up at Finn's funeral is. The way this book handles concepts of love (both romantic and familial), loss, prejudice (particularly bigotry given it's setting in the 80's at the start HIV/AIDS epidemic) is well done, the delivery was just not to my taste. Most of the book I struggled through at a 1-star but the last 100 pages or so is a solid 4-4.5. However if you're interested in flawed (and petty) personalities and all the emotions of preteen discovery herself, your mileage may vary and go a lot farther than mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Outing, and Pandemic/Epidemic
elisa26's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Homophobia
filipacmiranda's review against another edition
4.5
Tell the Wolves I'm Home is a story on the complexity of relationships and the inadequacy that, as teenagers, we often feel. As a main character, the book introduces us to a 14-year-old girl, described as a "lone wolf" without much concern for what others think of her, as having complex family relationships, and as someone with a passion for the Middle Ages.
In many ways, June Elbus was a character I found easy to identify with. The way Carol Rifka Brunt wrote her allowed me to see her point of view. Therefore, her emotions frequently became mine, making the whole experience unique. At the end of the book, I was left somewhat disconcerted.
Despite all the times June takes reprehensible positions and acts inadequate, she does not simply feel victimised by circumstances. When the time comes, she admits different perspectives on the events that have marked and defined her. She understands her role in situations that have shaped and defined those around her - namely, her older sister, Greta. Thus, sincerity is ultimately one of her greatest strengths in this book.
In many ways, June Elbus was a character I found easy to identify with. The way Carol Rifka Brunt wrote her allowed me to see her point of view. Therefore, her emotions frequently became mine, making the whole experience unique. At the end of the book, I was left somewhat disconcerted.
Despite all the times June takes reprehensible positions and acts inadequate, she does not simply feel victimised by circumstances. When the time comes, she admits different perspectives on the events that have marked and defined her. She understands her role in situations that have shaped and defined those around her - namely, her older sister, Greta. Thus, sincerity is ultimately one of her greatest strengths in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief
parasolcrafter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oh...this book truly is wonderful; its so sad yet so beautiful and full of hope. its a tragedy through and through - of everyone losing finn, of june losing toby - but its full of such love that it doesnt feel as heartbreaking as it could. and the love really is so rich in this book. june loves finn - i do have my issues with that, but i understand why she feels what she feels - and finn and toby loved each other and danni loved her brother and she loves her children and june loves greta and finn loved everyone and love...its everywhere in this book, for both the good and the bad. its the fuel for this book and the characters and it makes this book what it is. and thats why it hurts so much because love only does so much, only goes so far and then when you can no longer love that person it goes - where? you have to keep it inside yourself because the love you have one person is for them; you cant put it on someone else. so you keep it inside and you hold it close the way you held the person you loved close. and like...god. i could wax poetic about this book forever. its just so good. and the title...it hurts because at first to me it meant that june could tell the wolves about finn, she could tell that hes home but by the end of the book is dead, the wolves are dead, and now the wolves can tell finn that june is home. like...god. pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death
inirac's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall feels like the most accurate representation of making decisions as a teenager, so we’ll done there. But had to really convince myself to keep reading half way thru. I guess I’m glad I did? I don’t know how I feel yet
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder
piastri's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There is something so completely raw about this book that really caught me off guard.
The way June talks about her uncle, and Toby to an extent, made me deeply uncomfortable but i’m willing to be a bit forgiving because i remember being fourteen and having a messy family where i didn’t get to see people for years and that was a weird time. but it’s definitely something that marked the book down for me.
depiction of the aids crisis, however, and the way that it affected the people involved was beautiful in a terrible way. my heart breaks for those who we lost and whose stories have died with them.
The way June talks about her uncle, and Toby to an extent, made me deeply uncomfortable but i’m willing to be a bit forgiving because i remember being fourteen and having a messy family where i didn’t get to see people for years and that was a weird time. but it’s definitely something that marked the book down for me.
depiction of the aids crisis, however, and the way that it affected the people involved was beautiful in a terrible way. my heart breaks for those who we lost and whose stories have died with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Incest, Grief, and Alcohol
relin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
It was interesting enough to finish, but I don't think this book was for me. I struggled with some of the ways that the relationships and characters were shown especially.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
madanxiety's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The most impressive aspect of this book in my opinion is the strength of the narration and characterization, particularly in their faithfulness to the character's ages. June had such a present voice; it truly felt like hearing a teenager's thought process, but not just any teenager - a very unique, and lonely girl. The way she rationalized things and her self-consciousness and shame resonated with my own teenage experience.
Even though I really loved the way the novel captured siblinghood, jealousy, loneliness, grief, and adolescence, I do have some problems with it.
For one, June's crush on Finn disturbed me from the beginning. I was hoping it was just a weird detail, but it ended up being pretty central to the plot. I just found that so... bizarre. Sure, I suppose it's in the realm of possibility, especially for such an isolated girl, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth, especially when Toby began relating it to his gayness. It perpetuates this Freudian idea that gay people are "deviants" or perverse in the same way that incestuous people are. I think it's pretty safe to say that being gay is far more common than being in love with your relative, so I thought it was a bit weird (to say the least) that the novel seems to put them on an even playing field.
Honestly, I leave the novel a little disturbed at the fact that it has essentially convinced me that sometimes it's okay 1) to fall in love with your uncle, and 2) for a strange adult and a teenager to meet and drink and smoke together behind the backs of their parents. It's a well-told story, but are these things not troubling?
Even though I really loved the way the novel captured siblinghood, jealousy, loneliness, grief, and adolescence, I do have some problems with it.
Honestly, I leave the novel a little disturbed at the fact that it has essentially convinced me that sometimes it's okay 1) to fall in love with your uncle, and 2) for a strange adult and a teenager to meet and drink and smoke together behind the backs of their parents. It's a well-told story, but are these things not troubling?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, and Toxic friendship
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
June's crush on her gay uncle, and later his boyfriend, was not handled super well. Every adult in her life pretended to not see it or treated it in a very "oh ho ho she'll grow out of it" way. This inappropriate crush on adult figures is a way neglected children reach out for attention. As June and her sister are left to their own devices during tax season you can really see where the susceptibility to substance abuse (alcohol and cigarettes) and need for adult attention comes from. This acceptance/ignorance of the crush gives the story an incest or 'attraction to minors' feel when it was June primarily reaching out for romantic attention and the adults around her redirecting her but not outright rejecting her. There is a scene where she kisses an adult on the mouth or fantasizes about doing so. June pretends Toby is her lover when she takes him from the hospital via taxi to her home, where he dies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, and Racism
About 88% through the book it is mentioned that 'the wolves in the woods' were several feral dogs that ended up being shot. It was an unnecessary detail.