Em Lost In Books's Reviews > Tell the Wolves I'm Home

this book deals with the sensitive subject of AIDS and that too in 1980s. what makes in charming and heartbreaking is that it is told from the PoV of a 12 year old. A crucial point in a kid's life. it is at this time that anything can go wrong, or somethings can happen that the kid learns how hard life is, and how one should face the hard times and bitter truths, and stay calm. Or be a rebellion, and let the darkness take over you.

Junes Elbus is struggling with the death of her uncle Finn. He died of AIDS and June is having a hard time. One of the thing that June came to accept after his death was that she was in love with her uncle. When he was alive, Finn always treated her with affection; she was his favorite. After his death, June thought she lost the reason to be alive and wrap herself in a cocoon where no one could disturb her. But fate had other plans.

this story explores the beautiful friendship between Junes and Toby, the depth of loneliness of Greta (June's elder sister), and June's mother's sadness on being left behind by the sibling whom she loved with all her heart.

it just broke my heart how the author showed all these emotions. Parents teach their kids to stay away from certain people because they think its bad for their kids to get mix up with these kind of people. But what if they're the best friends your kid can have? Certainly no one can know what goes through a mind, but blaming someone for all the miseries in your life is not a good thing, especially when somewhere you're trying to run away from your own mistakes and expectations. So talking to kids always helps and vice versa.

One of the best aspect of this book is friendship. be it June and Toby or June and Greta. While June and Toby's friendship seem carefree and easygoing, it's Greta and June's friendship that took my breath away. It was so complex. Greta loved her sibling with all her heart but the little sister somewhere left Greta thinking that she no more needs her. But how wrong she was! At one time both simply stopped showing emotion for each other, there was so much envy and anger. When in the end it comes all out, it was mesmerizing to see both of these girls together, taking care of each other.

It is a lovely story dealing with love, passion, sadness, angst, and friendship. I would not have picked it for myself had Srividya not recommended it to me so strongly.