Brunt, C. (2013). Tell the wolves I'm home. NY: Dial Press Trade. 14-year-old June Elbus is the protagonist in Tell the Wolves I’m Home. In the novel, June’s only friend and close companion, her godfather Finn, suddenly dies of an illness. When June thinks she’s now alone, she realizes Finn’s death brought Toby into her life, Finn’s boyfriend who will make June question everything she knew about Finn, her family, and herself. June meets with Toby on several occasions, where she learns the truth about her family’s resentment of each other. The novel ends with Toby and June’s mother reconciling before he dies, and all of the additions June and Greta added on Finn’s painting are removed, while June’s mother’s are left untouched. I think the intended audience of Tell the Wolves I’m Home might be for ages 13 and up. Recommendations for follow up reading include Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, and What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I think Tell the Wolves I’m Home meets the emotional developmental criteria because June has to deal with the death of her godfather, and mourns his loss, along with Toby, throughout the novel. I think Tell the Wolves I’m Home meets the social developmental criteria because June is very shy and distant, with the exception of Finn. Also, June and her sister, Greta, struggle to rekindle their long lost relationship they had when they were younger. June’s mom also struggles to keep a steady relationship with Finn because he is gay, and with Toby because he was Finn’s boyfriend.
