Tell the Wolves I’m Home

A Novel

By: Carol Rifka Brunt

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In this striking literary debut, Carol Rifka Brunt unfolds a moving story of love, grief, and renewal as two lonely people become the unlikeliest of friends and find that sometimes you don’t know you’ve lost someone until you’ve found them.

1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life - someone who will help her to heal and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

An emotionally charged coming-of-age novel, Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a tender story of love lost and found, an unforgettable portrait of the way compassion can make us whole again.

Carol Rifka Brunt’s work has appeared in several literary journals, including the North American Review and the Sun. In 2006 she was one of three fiction writers who received a New Writing Ventures Award, and in 2007 she received a generous Arts Council England grant to write Tell the Wolves I’m Home, her first novel. Originally from New York, she currently lives in England with her husband and three children.

©2012 Carol Silverman (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A gorgeously evocative novel about love, loss, and the ragged mysteries of the human heart, all filtered through the achingly real voice of a remarkable young heroine. How can you not fall in love with a book that shows you how hope can make a difference?” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author)

“Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a charming, sure-handed, and deeply sympathetic debut. Brunt writes about family, adolescence, and the human heart with great candor, insight, and pathos.” (Jonathan Evison, New York Times bestselling author)

“Tremendously moving…Brunt strikes a difficult balance, imbuing June with the disarming candor of a child and the melancholy wisdom of a heart-scarred adult.” ( Wall Street Journal)

Excellent listen!

Loved the story and development of the family plus Toby's relationships. Greta surprised me.

Excellent Book

What made the experience of listening to Tell the Wolves I’m Home the most enjoyable?

How surprised I was that a Daily Deal book could be so wonderful.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved how the subject of AIDS in the early 80's was dealt with and the multiple perspectives offered and handled realistically. In addition, the complexity of relationships and different kinds of love was explored gracefully.

Have you listened to any of Amy Rubinate’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I look forward to reading more of her work.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes toward the end, the bravery and loyalty and love that came through in several of the characters was quite touching. I won't spoil it for potential readers or listeners, but it's extremely moving.

Any additional comments?

Thank you to the author for the the exceptionally touching story and for hiring such a perfect narrator to read this book. A story can be ruined by the wrong narrator and in this case I feel she did the story justice.

Clueless

Rifka Brunt writes a very authentic clueless teenager in June Elbus. I found myself alternately annoyed with her and identifying with her (I would have been near her age in 1987). The story seemed to try to tackle a little too much at once --sisterly camaraderie, coming of age, AIDS in the 80s, love--but was still enjoyable. However, I was not a fan of the reader. Rubinate has a breathy quality to her voice that was trying to convey a young protagonist, but was really just annoying. She also had a slight uptalk which really grated on me.

Right in the heart strings

If you could sum up Tell the Wolves I’m Home in three words, what would they be?

Makes you think

Who was your favorite character and why?

i cant pick a favorite they were all easy to relate to.

Have you listened to any of Amy Rubinate’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but i enjoyed her Narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Need to Suspend Reality for this one

What did you like best about Tell the Wolves I’m Home? What did you like least?

This was definitely a creative story of a young girl's relationship with her uncle/godfather and his partner - both who die of AIDS. It is also the story of intense sibling rivalry. The writing was good, though at times repetitive. I usually love coming of age tales, but there was something about this novel that just didn't work for me. I think it was because most of the story was realistic, while parts of the story required you to suspend reality. I think that the combination didn't work.

Would you recommend Tell the Wolves I’m Home to your friends? Why or why not?

Young Adult readers.

Which character – as performed by Amy Rubinate – was your favorite?

Main character.

Do you think Tell the Wolves I’m Home needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, didn't think it was compelling enough to warrant a sequel.

Keep No Secrets

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes but first I would encourage the friend to listen to the narrator first. The plot is good, the characters are well developed and the story is also a learning experience.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tell the Wolves I’m Home?

When June was able to tell Toby that she loved him.

Would you be willing to try another one of Amy Rubinate’s performances?

No. The voice of June was spoken in a monotone. Her voice would at times cause my stomach to do flip-flops. I would put aside my ipod and take a break. By doing this, I was able to finish the novel. I enjoyed the novel enough that I did get to the end of the book.

Do you think Tell the Wolves I’m Home needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. The book was complete with its ending.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the coming of age for June. I was pleased with how the subject of aids was discussed. Toby, who was the partner of Finn, June's god-father, uncle and best friend were the three pivotal characters of the book. Before Finn died from aids, he expressed a heart felt desire for Toby to help June to understand who Toby was to Finn. June had to sneak away to see Toby because her mother, Danny, did not approve of Toby. She blamed Toby for giving the aid's virus to her brother, Finn. After many trips to the city of Manhattan, June and Toby did become good friends. He answered questions, shared places he and Finn liked to visit, explained that his and Finn's apartment was filled with all that was of both himself and her Uncle Finn. These were a few of the ways that Toby imparted to June just how much Toby and Finn shared love. June's sister, Greta, was nasty towards June because of the close relationship June and Finn shared. Spending time with Toby did teach June just how important Finn felt towards her whole family and not just her. Having been able to understand so much more about her life by learning about Toby and Finn's relationship, she struggled through the many avenues of not understanding how coming of age brings with it the ability to understand and believe in the strength of love. June was able to take back all that she had learned from Toby, especially the meaning of love, and she became the catalyst that brought her family together as one.

Excellent

Above all else this book is about love. It is about a family. It is about two sisters. And, it is about healing. I enjoyed this so much I had a hard time hitting the post button. I look forward to more from this author.

great realistic fiction read

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tell the Wolves I’m Home?

What the girls do the painting had me on the edge of my seat. It was imaginative and crazy. I liked the story line and the intimate glimpse into the start of the AIDS epidemic.

Alex Award Winner

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I wasn't too thrilled with the narrator's voice. She did a great job with the book, but I felt that the voice was just slightly too old for the main character.

What did you like best about this story?

It was interesting to go back in time and learn what it was like to not understand AIDS, and not just for children, but not even the medical and scientific communities understood what it was yet. It's heartbreaking to think about the trauma AIDS patients suffered at the hands of a society that didn't know yet what to do with this disease.

Started strong, but ultimately a let-down

So disappointing. It started so well, but the characters began to grate, made poor choices, and the narrative devolved into a mass of YA angst.