Tell The Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt (2012)
Overview of the Book
Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt is a novel about a young girl, June Elbus, and her journey as she discovers life and her own identity in the midst of grief. June is a fourteen-year-old girl when her beloved uncle, Finn, passes away from AIDS. June is devastated, but as she begins to come to terms with her loss, she discovers that Finn had a secret life. June embarks on a journey to find out the truth about her uncle, and in the process, discovers her own identity and learns to cope with her own grief.
Plot
The novel begins with June’s narration as she reflects on the loss of her beloved uncle Finn. June’s parents are distant and her older sister is too busy with her own life, so June has been particularly close to her uncle. When Finn passes away, June is shattered and begins to go into a deep depression. In order to try to cope with her grief, June begins to investigate her uncle’s life. She discovers that Finn had a secret life—he had a lover, Toby, whom June contacts in order to find out more about her uncle. June and Toby gradually form a close bond as they both try to come to terms with their grief and find out more about Finn’s life.
June’s sister Greta is also grieving the loss of Finn, and is in a very fragile state of mind. June begins to worry about her sister, and she is determined to find out the truth about her uncle in order to help her sister cope with her loss. June’s investigations lead her to a group of people who knew Finn and were a part of his secret life. Through this group of people, June finds out more about Finn and his life, and begins to understand him in a way she never had before.
June’s journey of discovery leads her to find out the truth about her uncle, and also to come to terms with her own grief. With the help of Toby and the people from Finn’s past, June learns to cope with her loss and finds her own identity in the process.
Key Teachings
Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a story of grief, identity, and acceptance. The novel teaches readers to accept the losses in life, and to use those losses as a way to grow and find oneself. It also encourages readers to be open-minded and understanding of the secrets and complexities of life. The novel also teaches readers to be compassionate and understanding of the struggles and secrets of others, even if they are hard to accept.
The novel also emphasizes the importance of love and support in times of grief. June finds solace in the people from Finn’s past, and through their love and support, she is able to come to terms with her grief. The novel teaches readers that love and support are essential in times of hardship, and that even in the most difficult of times, there is always someone who can help.
Interesting Facts
- Tell the Wolves I’m Home was Brunt’s debut novel, and it was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and an Amazon Best Book of the Month.
- The novel was a New York Times bestseller, and was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
- The novel was adapted into a play that premiered at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2016.
- The novel was also adapted into a film, which premiered in 2018.
FAQs
- Q: What is the book Tell the Wolves I’m Home about?
A: Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a novel about a young girl, June Elbus, and her journey as she discovers life and her own identity in the midst of grief. June is a fourteen-year-old girl when her beloved uncle, Finn, passes away from AIDS. June is devastated, but as she begins to come to terms with her loss, she discovers that Finn had a secret life. June embarks on a journey to find out the truth about her uncle, and in the process, discovers her own identity and learns to cope with her own grief.
- Q: Who wrote Tell the Wolves I’m Home?
A: Tell the Wolves I’m Home was written by Carol Rifka Brunt.
- Q: When was Tell the Wolves I’m Home published?
A: Tell the Wolves I’m Home was published in 2012.
- Q: What awards has Tell the Wolves I’m Home won?
A: Tell the Wolves I’m Home was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. It was also a New York Times bestseller, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
- Q: Has Tell the Wolves I’m Home been adapted into a movie or play?
A: Yes, Tell the Wolves I’m Home has been adapted into a play that premiered at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2016, and into a film that premiered in 2018.
The novel Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of grief, identity, and acceptance. Through the journey of June Elbus, readers learn to accept the losses in life and to use them as a way to grow and find oneself. The novel teaches readers to be open-minded, understanding, and compassionate of the secrets and complexities of life, and to find solace in love and support. Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a powerful and inspiring story that has been acclaimed by readers and critics alike.