Semi Finalist

Assessment:

Plot: Haunted by his mother’s death and the emotional hole she’s left him with, Alexander Romanovsky’s life is detailed across the 1980s. Throughout the novel, Alexander experiences both the typical and the atypical of the time period and exacerbates his discomfort in order to understand himself deeper.

Prose/Style: Jordan’s descriptions—particularly of settings—are lyrical and vivid. Readers familiar with these locales will find enjoyment in Jordan’s descriptions and those unfamiliar will be offered superb detail for scene-building. 

Originality: Jordan’s imagery of Russian wolves as a metaphor for Tatiana’s mental illness is powerful, and the culmination of what Alexander learns of his family’s past is gripping. Jordan is clearly knowledgeable of Russian history and the human psyche. Themes of grief and loss, love, and how the past can set one free run throughout.

Character Development/Execution: Tatiana and the Wolves is truly a character-driven story and Jordan has done a lovely job expressing the complications of life and questions so many have about their past and lineage. Jordan displays his own emotional intelligence through the depth of his character development.

Blurb: A book to not judge by its cover, Tatiana and the Wolves is an exploration into relationships and family history with rich characters and storyline.

Date Submitted: August 29, 2021