A portrait of finding those you have loved and lost in the hearts of others.
Beautiful. ~Sheila
14-year-old June Elbus thought the sun and moon rose and sat around her Uncle Finn. He was her everything, her confidant and the one who really understood her. He was an artist, known for his may with a canvas and he even created an incredible painting of June and her sister Greta. In the early 80’s it was hard for people to talk about what made Finn sick, but June’s mom (Finn’s sister), sat June down and explained that Finn had AIDS.
Suddenly June’s world is turned upside down. She now has to fear what happens in Finn leans in to hug her, of offers her a drink of his beverage. And then, Finn dies.
At the funeral June sees a very sad-looking man and learns another shock. This man, Toby, has been Finn’s long time partner of 9 years. June’s mom will have nothing to do with him saying that he is the one who gave Finn AIDS. Yet slowly as time goes on June meets with Toby and starts to learn about a side of Finn she never knew. Hiding the fact she is meeting Toby from her family who would not approve and her always accusing eye of her troubled older sister Greta, June expands her world and understanding of how fragile life can be.
There are so many layers to this story that it is hard to put into a review. Obviously the main story is of Finn and June and AIDS. But there is also the painting of June and Greta that follows right along throughout the book in a powerful way – almost a metaphor of how life is never how we see it at one glance and how we are always changing and growing in ways that are seen and unseen. And there is also Greta, battling her own demons as almost this under layer of turmoil that everyone is caught up in.
Powerful? yes. There were a couple of things in the book that I felt were unnecessary, and I am just going to say it. Toby drinking and smoking with June probably had some purpose to the story.. something about living on the edge or throwing caution to the wind – but it bothered me because 1) June is 14 and 2) Toby is an adult (30’s I believe) and should know better. It just felt unnecessary.
Ok that said – the book is a brilliant look into the scare of the AIDS epidemic of the 80’s and the reaction of the families it touched. It takes a young girl to see through the disease to the people, and for that reason, the book is brilliant.
I listened to this one on audio and Amy Rubinate narrated this very well.
Book Journey 
It really does sound like a good book.
It was a great read Patty 🙂
I am now curious about this one…the title certainly doesn’t give away the contents! I would never have guessed what the book was about.
I picked it up from another blogger Laurel, I read their review and was hooked.
This is on my pile to get to soon! 🙂 I am really excited about it.
I would love to read your review of this one!
I loved it this one so much.
Hope you had a nice Christmas Sheila
Thank you Diane, and you too!
I know what you mean about Toby’s drinking and smoking with June… not sure what the point was. I still loved the book enough for it to make my list of favorites this year. Glad the audio was good, too.
I think the author was going for a “reckless, we cant control what happens in this world so the world be dammed” sort of thing… but the age difference and him having her sneak off with him – even if was all innocent was not appropriate behavior… gah. Thats my thoughts anyway – its the only thing that keeps me from raving about this one 🙂
I just got this for Christmas. I asked for it after reading a few reviews from bloggers. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to reading soon.
Awesome – enjoy it! 🙂
All of a sudden I’m hearing great things about this book. I need to see if I have it and, if not, I need to buy it.
I would love to read your review of this Kathy!
I’ve heard nothing but good things about this one! It’s definitely on my radar.
Awesome!
I do hope to get to this in 2014…
I hope you do too Care 🙂
Another blog I read just reviewed this book (also had positive things to say), so it must be a sign! It’s on my library request list now 🙂
Nice! I hope you enjoy it.
I loved this book! My book group members pointed out the unlikelihood of June being able to go into NYC by herself at that age even if it was the 80s. She also is alternately wiser than her years or acts like a much younger kid. Still we all enjoyed the writing and the family relationships, etc. It isn’t a book I would have picked up if not for it being a book group pick.
Good thoughts here…yes some things were stretched… I had to keep reminding myself of Junes age… and then that angered me because of her age.
I recently read this one as well! Overall, I enjoyed it, but I agree that there were some weird parts that I described as awkward in my review, particularly between June and Toby. I felt that there were some unanswered questions, particularly about Greta. But, in the end, it was a powerful read, a needed read, and an emotional one at that!
I want to read your review now 🙂 Yes, they do not really explain whats up with Greta either…
I thought Greta’s issues were explained well enough. I think the author was amazing in capturing all the teen angst AND wisdom, but mostly the angst and poor decisions.