I've been looking forward to reading this book for awhile, as someone said that this was a story that needs to be told. Jackson talks about the idea of duality in this book, and the book itself is written that way. It keeps you engrossed in the present (extremely serious)happenings of the Kosovo war, while adding backstory through letters James writes to his sister. The letters have a fantastic YA voice that made me laugh out loud at times. And the relationship between James and Tomas is the icing on the cake.
I love the idea of two sides to every coin, and the exploration of character during critical moments.
I also loved feisty Clara.
And THAT ENDING.
A brilliantly fast-paced debut.

Hey so remember when LONG WAY DOWN broke me?

A PLACE FOR WOLVES just did it again.

I finished it at about 4 this morning and immediately closed my Kindle app and sat in silence until sleep claimed me.

This is not a book for the faint of heart. But even the most sensitive among us should read it anyway.

The novel, by Kosoko Jackson, centers around James Mills, a young, gay Black boy adopted into a white family constantly on the move for philanthropic reasons. This time, they’re in Kosovo, and shit pops off almost immediately. The entire read, you’re left wondering just how bad it can get for James and his boyfriend Tomas, trapped in the crossfires of a country exploding into violence.

The answer is real bad.

Like. REAL bad.

I’ve never read anything with such an engaging amount of tension paired with an enormous amount of heart. James is sympathetic and frustrating and real. He makes ugly choices. Ones I’m not sure I could make as someone twice his age, let alone as a teen. It’s heartbreaking and tense and just…a ride.

Highly recommending this. I was tense for the entire read, but in the best way. It’s a peek into a really awful moment in history, but more importantly, it’s just a really wonderful read.

Many thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

In the quest to find quality historical fiction about times OTHER than WWII and the Holocaust, the results can be a bit slim. There just doesn't seem to be as much written about all of the other events in history, which is a bit disheartening. WWII isn't the only thing we need to learn from. This book takes the events of the late 1990s in Kosovo and shows what happens when two boys attempt to flee the country before war breaks out. James is only in the country because his adoptive parents are USAID workers, traveling to all sorts of dark and troubled places across the world trying to help out. Tomas is his boyfriend, the son of Brazilian engineers who travel the world to help people get the water and sanitation they need to survive. Told in a mix of letters to his sister Anna (back home in the States at college) and present day events of fleeing to try to get to the American Embassy, this is a fast-paced thriller that makes the reader question if anything is ever completely black and white. Highly recommend.

This was an absolutely thrilling ride. I could not put it down that I read it in one sitting and that rarely happens. I really enjoyed the relationship between the boys and how fast everything happens and how much ground is covered in such a short time. I particularly liked the discussions of race and sexuality and that the boys are still both alive and together by the end. That is something that for me as a primarily romance reader gives me hope and power especially in ya with romantic elements. I love that James doesnt always make the right decision and that there are consequences.

I do wish this was longer and we had more time post epilogue and I really enjoyed James letters to his sisters. This was a fantastic book and one I will definitely read again

There was a lot to love about this one! Including the high-stakes plot, the terrifying scenarios the characters had to fight out of, and the desperation of two boys wanting to protect each other through running for their lives in a warzone. I also completely adore the author's note and how he said he specifically wanted to write a gay, black teen in a storyline that wasn't just about their minorities. Which is so so true. I hope we see so many more books like this, with queer and POC protagonists presented at the forefront any genre and any type of plot.

I also loved the heart of the story, with so many moral questions and terrors. How far would you go to save people you loved? Is it better to run or to stay? James and Tomas relationship was adorable and I loved how we got backflashes to how they met in James' letters to his sister. And they way they stolidly stuck by each other no matter what went on?? It was brilliant and heartwrenching to read. (Although I gotta say...I found it weird and awkward that James actually wrote to his sister about his sex life! Lmao, maybe I just have very different relationships with my siblings but that struck me as really weird.)

However I did fall apart over one thing: I don't know the history behind the Kosovo War. The book really throws you into the story so fast and confusingly I found it hard to keep up with the plot. Honestly, half the time I had NO idea what was going on. What the fight was for. Why James' parents were trapped. A bit more made sense by James' last letter and the author's note, but it's way way too late to have them at the back. I wish the author's note was at the front (I did read an eARC so who knows if this will change) or just a brief overview of the time period. Maybe I'm at fault for not being aware of the history?

I recommend this book, but feel my lack of understanding for the scenario they were in made me to confused to enjoy it completely.

Oh man, this book is incredible!

I typically don’t read fiction set in the past, even in the late 90’s, but A PLACE FOR WOLVES had such a unique atmosphere given that I have never read a story like this before. For starters, it takes place in war torn Kosovo. The main characters are two gay POCs. So yeah, pretty different than your average story set in the 90’s.

From the first chapter, I was completely immersed in James’ life in Kosovo. It shows how much research was done to bring the setting to life, and it sucked me in. It was so fresh!

Then you have James and Tomas, who are two fantastically paired characters with unique perspectives and belief systems. They’re also stuck in a predominantly white, war torn country, and Jackson portrays their experiences in a way that makes me feel like I’ve know the two boys my entire life.

This book broke me free of a reading slump. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Definitely preorder this one!

Jackson's debut novel was a wild ride that I am still shaken from. If you are hungry for a historical LGBT novel with a teenaged black protagonist then this is the book for you. As a black queer woman, this hit close to me. I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up. As an educator, I can only imagine the resounding impact this will make a black youth out there. The author's prose is so potent and raw. This is absolutely amazing!

Great debut for Jackson! This is not what I’d normally read but I am very glad I read it! I loved James as a narrator and I loved the structure of this book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for sending me a review copy of A Place For Wolves! I was eager to read this one, because a historic fiction YA novel starring POC LGBT+ protagonists? Count me in! Kosoko Jackson has a very distinct voice; he had me rooting for his characters the entire time, and I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know if James succeeded. I was NOT a fan of the letters throughout the entire novel, as I felt they didn’t sound natural and flashbacks probably would have worked better for me, but the present narration was extremely gripping. And while the whiplash speed of the reading experience was engaging, the ending happened just as quickly for me; too quickly. Personally, I think I needed a lengthier epilogue, showing exactly how James, Tomas, and the parents went on after these events. As you can see, I have a lot of critiques on this one, but either way I definitely enjoyed reading it, and I’ll try another from Jackson in the future! 4/5 stars, with an I-can’t-put-it-down reading experience and fantastically diverse protagonists.

There will be a review of this in Foreword Reviews' March issue!

But for now, my thoughts: really serious book, don't be fooled by the Young Adult label -- intense and violent, for good reason. Could have used more detail about the Kosovo War itself but really felt for the characters and their plight. A really unique piece of YA that isn't like much else of the genre right now.

I really tried hard with this book, but I could not finish it. The description, comparing it to Code Name Verity and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, made me super excited to read it, because I loved both those books. But I just couldn’t get into it. Choppy writing and an unbelievable plot (and not in a good way) made this a forgettable read for me. I tried a few times to get into it, and I just couldn’t. I knew I just needed to call it a day and shelf it. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The summary on goodreads is really vague about this, but this book is set in 1998 during the Kosovo War. I don't know why this isn't mentioned but I thought you should know since I didn't know until after I read some reviews. I initially thought it was a spec fic dystopian book which put me off reading it. (I guess my mind blanked on the mentions of historical thriller)

This books was a damn ride. An excellent story to read in one sitting (which I didn't do because I read super slowly) but I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if I did do that. This book had me stressed while reading it.

A place for wolves is compared to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Code Name Variety but since I haven't read either of those books I don't know how accurate it is. However this book did remind me of History is all you left me by Adam Silvera, not so much by the content but because of the structure and writing style.

Like in History is all you left me, A Place for Wolves has chapters which alternate from the present and the past, the past taking the form of letters James sends his sister Anna while he's in Kosovo. The letters were my favorite part since they were much lighter and fluffier and gave some time to breathe between the more thrilling parts of the story. I loved reading about James and Tomas falling in love and dating but it made them suffering more upsetting to read. This is written in first person present tense from James' pov, the writing itself was straight forward but very emotive and powerful. It was perfect for the story it was trying to tell.

I don't want to talk much about the plot (because spoilers) but it was intense, like shit went down. Some parts were pretty hard for me to read (CW: death, murder, violence) but the pace was fast and consistent and the chapters set in the past helped make the story as a whole a bit lighter and easier to process.

I had no idea what I was falling into when I started reading Kosoko Jackson’s A Place For Wolves. I knew it was a story about love between two teenage boys and that it was set during the start of a war, brimming with danger and violence in the stark Kosovo winter. I had no idea how breathtaking and riveting this book would be, nor how much it would make me think and feel.

A Place For Wolves is about James, a black gay teenager who moves from America to Kosovo with his adoptive, do-good parents in the late 90’s, leaving behind his sister and best friend, who has just started university. In Kosovo, James meets Tomas, who he never expects to fall for, but they fall for each hard. At the height of their romance, a slowly brimming war finally comes into force and James and Tomas are forced to fight for survival and the path back to their families together.

What I didn’t know before reading this book is that it’s set before and during the Kosovo War in 1998. A war I knew nothing about until because it was not something I was ever taught about or came onto my radar in the news. Now that I do know about it, I am grateful to Kosoko Jackson for reminding me that in ignorance we as a people forget about the horrors of war whether in the past or the present, that the deaths of thousands of people in war should not be forgotten or taken for granted. War is a terrible, brutal construction of power and violence and it is happening every day. Always be thankful for the life you have and for your family. Thank you, Kosoko, for reminding me of that and educating me on an horrific event that occurred in my lifetime that I had no idea existed.

Next the moving setting and historical aspects, Kosoko Jackson’s writing skill is astounding. His story that depicts humour, love and family in the face of fear, brutality and survival in such a whimsical and clever style of prose. The book is written in alternate chapters that offer us different perspectives of the story. Letters from James to his sister Anna engage readers with the story up until the war began and the remaining chapters told from James’s perspective reveal the present, as James and Tomas run for their lives. Both storytelling techniques were equally engaging to read, the letters lighthearted in comparison with the other chapters, which were heavier and depict the war. The contrast in both of these perspectives, were just that: a powerful way to deliver the perspective of how James’ life changed when war was thrown onto his life’s path.

Alongside Kosoko’s brilliant weaving of history and storytelling, the third thing I loved about A Place For Wolves were the characters. James is a smart, brave and clever teenager and as a black gay guy he knows what life is like under the gaze of judgement and discrimination. I thoroughly enjoyed his narration and the journey he went on throughout the book. James’s relationship with Tomas was strong and adorable, I loved reading their scenes together and thought Tomas was the grounding force that James needed at such a scary time. There are many other memorable characters in the book, including James’s parents and some that, through James’s perspective, you are drawn to hate because of their part in the story.

If I could have asked for one more thing from this book, it would’ve been to spend more time with Anna. I loved James’s letters to her and it would’ve been just an extra special thing if we’d actually been able to see more of her.

To sum up, I would definitely recommend this novel and definitely intend to buy a copy of it for myself when it is released in April, 2019. A Place For Wolves is a tremendous, memorable book about the conflict of war and about holding on to your life and your loved ones with all that you’ve got. Thanks again Kosoko Jackson, your book is a true gem.

Excellent read. Out and proud gay narrator who does not shy from any issue, violence and war, and strong bonds of familial and romantic love. Pick it up y’all.

Started off a bit slow but quickly evened out. It was a good book with interesting characters. The story itself was very unique and i look forward to kosoko's next book.

I really enjoyed this! It's pacy and well-crafted with a very likeable main character, and totally unique within YA. It was genuinely really refreshing to read a book that, as well as having a gay Black protagonist, is set in such a different location and has such an international outlook, featuring characters of lots of various nationalities and including lots of languages in a way that felt natural and realistic. I also liked that it didn't shy away from the brutality of the situation in which James and Tomas find themselves: sometimes they have to take actions they would rather avoid, but it adds to the realism, and the reader is on their side throughout. A really great read!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Place for Wolves by Kosoko Jackson is a brilliant work by a debut author. Taking place in 1997-1998 in Kosovo, the story begins with James writing a letter to his sister Anna, admitting that he may die there. James’ parents work for USAID and have been placed in Kosovo in 1997 right before the start of the Kosovo War. As the book begins, James and his boyfriend Tomas are working on getting to the embassy to be able to escape after James’ discovers that his parents have left, presumably involuntarily, and a note left from his mother instructing him to get to the embassy as soon as possible.

But it’s not that easy. Quickly, James finds himself thrust into the middle of the war, and Tomas finds him to make a hasty escape through the veil of night away from the bombs.

After a chance encounter in a hastily abandoned town, James realizes that this situation is far more dire than he realized. Can he and Tomas make it to the embassy and out of Kosovo alive?

This book was absolutely brilliant. I had not previously read a YA book set in the 1990s that had a specific reason for being set there, but this one explores a conflict in the 1990s that I knew nothing about prior to reading this book. Additionally, the main character is black, and he is actually adopted into a white family. While the story doesn’t completely focus on that, James’ thoughts about this at one point become a point of contention. However, it’s made explicitly clear that he does absolutely love his parents. In addition to that, James is also gay. He has had other relationships in the past prior to Tomas, but this seems to be his first truly meaningful one.

One of the things that this book does well is the letters after each chapter. After each chapter, we find out more about James’ relationship with his sister Anna who is attending Georgetown. We find out more about how James and his family came to be in Kosovo to begin with and how the relationship between Tomas and James started. Because these are written from James and the story is told from the perspective of James, these do not draw you out of the story but rather draw you deeper in.

This story is absolutely spectacular and is a must read.

A Place for Wolves by Kosoko Jackson comes out on April 2, 2019.

James has begrudgingly followed his parents country to country all his life. And suddenly, he's separated from sister and has never felt so alone. Then comes, Tomas. And then comes the war. A historical fiction set during the Kosovo War, James and Tomas must survive life on the run and face unspeakable choices to return to their family.  

This book took a while to hook me in. I didn't exactly understand what was happening in the first chapter. But once I understood, the story began to unravel in a good way. A tale of survival for these two boys who were willing to do anything to survive the war and return to safety. Together, they escape the cruel world until they're both unwillingly yanked back into danger. It's actually a shorter read than I expected but a strong one that carried itself all the way through.

James and Tomas are both on the run after James's parents disappear, and are forced to make their way to safety before they're captured too. There's letter addressed to James's sister at the beginning of each chapter, dated long before the war breaks out and shows a closer look into the relationships James had with his parents, sister, friends and how he meets Tomas. It was a good way of introducing their relationship and how they met and fell in love without taking away from the journey they're on in the main story. 

Overall, Kosoko Jackson has delivered brilliantly on his debut. A Place for Wolves has found its own place in my heart.

This book was EVERYTHING I never knew I needed. The description didn’t do it justice, except when saying it was great for fans of code name verity and Aristotle and Dante... it’s definitely a great read for people who enjoyed those 2.

Wow. This book hit me right in all the feels. I gasped, I sobbed, and I rooted for James & Tomas and their families. The ending blew me away, but was somehow perfect. Definitely a must read.