I remember those days at beginning of the AIDS craziness. Definitely was a ‘how did someone become infected’ vibe. Really enjoyed watching June. I felt there were unresolved threads related to Greta. ( )

I picked this up after hearing about the Alex Awards for adult fiction with appeal to young adults and learning that this book was a winner of that award. The book isn't plot-driven, but relationship-driven. It follows a young teenage girl as she learns more about her uncle, herself, and her family's secrets and prejudices folling the uncle's death from AIDS. I found it quite moving. ( )

Chriss gave me this book, signed by the author, and I assumed it was because she had read and loved it, but apparently not. Even so, as always when Chriss tells me to read something, I really enjoyed it.

This book is about June, whose uncle (Finn) is about to die of AIDS. It's 1987 and no one really knows what AIDS is or how you get it, so naturally people are very suspicious. Finn's boyfriend, Toby, is accused of murdering Finn by June's family, but June - who loved her uncle - slowly befriends Toby.

Given the subject this book was very sad, but it also had some really sweet moments (some that made my cry at the end, very uncomfortable since I was on a bus. But I wasn't bawling my eyes out at least...). June likes to go into the woods and pretend she's in medieval times, something I related to a lot (I mean, I don't do that these days, but when I was fourteen? Yeah...).

June's relationship with her sister was also really nice to read about, even though her sister was quite horrible at times. But that was true for almost all characters in the book, so...

And I really love the cover! ( )

I absolutely loved this story..The narrative was heart wrenching, well paced and read like a screenplay in ways. One of the better books I've read in a while especially for a first effort! ( )

Engaging and Beautiful!

I don’t remember how this book was recommended to me, but when it came up on my list I snagged it. I was hooked right into the young June’s story and enjoyed it up to the lady page. The imagery is so beautiful that I would love to see it as a film! The theme threads through the story perfectly! ( )