Play Book Tag discussion

4 stars - and its 2013! Oh I so enjoyed this read! I don't usually go for the YA feel, but this was done so well. One of the reason's it was categorized as YA, was because its told from the point of view of a fourteen year old, and it was done so so beautifully. How I remember that angst, and all the secret places in your heart that are opening up. One of the wonderful things about this book that isn't clear from the book description, is that the story isn't just about the relationship between June, her uncle, (recently passed away), and her uncle's previously unknown partner. At the heart, the story is about June's relationship with her sister Greta, and to a lesser but related extent, her uncle Finn's and her mother's. It was beautifully woven, and intricately done. The characters were complex and incredibly well ported. It was beautiful, through and through.

On a personal note, and the author did say she took a few liberties to enhance the story, I couldn't help thinking about 1987. June, our young conflicted heroine, is fourteen, her sister around sixteen or 17, and I was 18 or 19. I remember being around 16 when AIDS first emerged, and we were all young and frightened. No one yet knew or understood how it was passed, just that it was happening at plague proportions, through lovemaking and other contact, and that while it began in the male gay community, no one was safe, and there was no cure. By 1987, there was the beginnings of AZT emerging, and it was looking like less of an epidemic, but no one was sure. It was happening at an alarming rate, and it seemed to be everywhere. In the art, the media, the books, the news, everyone knew of someone. I remembered the fears, the understanding of what was happening to the gay community both politically, socially, not to mention medically. Love was on the table for discussion. Was it dangerous, or the most powerful thing in the world. I do believe the AIDS epidemic was part of how our culture in part began to change its opinions and rally to fight for rights. I was just a few years older than Greta and June, having my own first kisses, crushes, afraid to, yet disobeying my parents. A little weird, definitely awkward, trying to figure out who I was, and how to fight for what's right. Its hard to be passionate, when what you believe keeps changing - the epitome of a teenager's angst. But June, wasn't the orphan she believed herself to be. She was a part of a family, and those dynamics became displayed beautifully over the course of the novel. I really loved it - and I didn't expect to.

Speaking of YA novels, its also important I think to mention, that our middle school is having a summer read, where every kid is reading the same book. So with my 6th and 8th grader, I have been reading along with them, Losing It, by Erin Frye. I have come to see how these middle grade books really do take on difficult topics, experiences, and feelings, and do it quite well. I am glad for the moral and valuable life lessons embedded within these novels, and I imagine Tell the Wolves I'm home is a beautiful story - for teens through all the way up. One more thought. I would never have read it, known about it, or even thought to pick it up, if it weren't for Shelfari and GoodReads. Same with The Tsar of Love and Techno. Same with When Mockingbirds Sing, 84 Charing Cross Road, and Between the World and Me. Now, my September reads beckon, two more I wouldn't have picked up. Just started the Jerusalem Maiden, not quite into it yet. Next up is the Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, Americanah, and the Book of Esther. Enjoy all - Amy

Sounds interesting! I may give this a try.

Great review Amy! Thanks for sharing a little bit about yourself; relating to the topic always gives more depth to the story itself. Looking forward to the rest of your reviews this month.

You liked it!! I think I took this one off of my TBR, but now back on it goes. Glad you tried it as a result of Goodreads . . .honestly, I just wish I had four brains so I could read all day long with three of them.

I love that Image, Anita! Except I would make one extra brain for books, 1 extra for writing, and 1 extra for the overflow of everything else!

I loved this book, I read it when it first came out and loved the writing, the story and the characters so much. Very nice review.

Great review - it was a 5-star read for me.

I read this a while back for my face to face book club. Wasn't a favorite for me.

I really liked this one, too. I felt the author really captured the fear of AIDS in the 80s, and I liked the dynamics of the family relationships. How far we've come since then, and how far we still have to go!

Amy wrote: "I love that Image, Anita! Except I would make one extra brain for books, 1 extra for writing, and 1 extra for the overflow of everything else!"

That would also work!!