Tell the Wolves I'm Home explores relationships. Set in the 1980's the book captures the fear and misunderstood reactions to AIDS which runs in parallel to misunderstood relationships.

Coming of Age is a strange phrase; as if at some point one arrives at a destination. An end point. When exactly is this supposed to happen? 18, 21, 30, 50?

When this happens too slowly; i.e. the 30 year old college graduate living with his parents, jobless. Is this a preservation of childhood? Conversely, when it happens too quickly is this to be celebrated or do we mourn the loss of childhood? This question is cultural and generational. The answer changes over time.

***SPOILERS BELOW****

In the case of the coming of age novel “Tell the Wolves I’m Home” I find tragedy.

I find it tragic, sad and creepy even. Parents that are too busy to parent. An older sister pushed to perfection, celebrated and pressured to the point of day drinking. A 14 year smoking and drinking with an adult male somewhere above 30 years old is inappropriate. I’m fully aware that stating this platonic relationship is inappropriate is likely to be condemned as out of touch with the world today.

June and Toby are both suffering loss so they gravitate towards one another. Both drawn and pushed. Pushed by Finn. Perhaps the inappropriateness of the relationship is the point. The parents thought it was inappropriate. June herself knew it was wrong otherwise she wouldn’t have hidden the relationship.

As an appreciator of art, the ongoing description of the painting's destruction is cringeworthy.

The AIDS source reveal turns the entire book around.

The ending is beautiful. The mom reconciling her past, adding her own piece to the painting. June maturing. Sisters once again becoming sisters.

In the end we learn. Be present. Be truthful. Be perceptive.