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rachelkreadsbookz's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
AIDS stigma portrayaljefferz'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
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
leontyna's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It was a really touching story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia
evermore_ivy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Grief
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
rshisler's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I felt this book with my whole heart. The author does a great job illustrating the inner voice of teenage June. I alternated between laughing, crying, and just loving each character in all their flaws.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief