Paper Butterflies

Product Information

It broke my heart over and over. Destined to be one of THE most important books this year.' - Melinda Salisbury, author of The Sin Eater's Daughter.

PAPER BUTTERFLIES | Kirkus Reviews PAPER BUTTERFLIES | Kirkus Reviews

She doesn’t want a boyfriend UNTIL she realizes something about her childhood friend, son of a preacher Neil has changed since last year. Neil and Olivia might have been best friends when they were 8, but now at almost 18 they were so different, yet still like magnets. These two main characters had me feelings all the feels of young, first love. The butterflies, the confusion, and the all consuming infatuation that makes you re-evaluate your life choices up to that point. What is interesting, however, is the way the book examines cycles of violence and abuse, asking us to consider at the book's darkest moments: what horrors must have happened to Kathleen to make her this way? How much fear must Megan live in to assist her mother in abusing her stepsister? We are reminded that no one is born evil. I devoured this novel in just two sittings as the beauty of the writing and the poignancy of the tale compelled me to keep going until I discovered the light at the end of the tunnel. This tale wasn't sad in its entirety however. The sadness was alleviated by June's happiness when with her only friend, Bliss. Seeing their relationship progress gave me real joy and a hope for a better ending to her miserable existence. The plot took an unforeseen turn, however, that still gives me chills to think about. To open this book is to step into a disturbing world – June’s world. June is a young girl who lives with her step-mother and step-sister. Her dad lives there too, except he’s away a good deal, working. June’s mother died, she drowned.TW: heavy depiction of abuse, including force-feeding, gaslighting, racially charged abuse, a lot of not believing victims, favoritism. Heavy discussion of the death penalty. Your life is precious. Every day that you’re on earth is precious. You have a place. You’re wanted.” – Lisa Heathfield, Paper Butterflies

Paper Book Butterflies - Etsy UK Paper Book Butterflies - Etsy UK

June's life at home with her stepmother and stepsister is a dark one - and a secret one. Not even her father knows about it. She's trapped like a butterfly in a jar.Ugh. Gag me and choke me in my sleep. Things were slipping way too fast into somewhere way too unchartered and unfamiliar, but the worst part? I didn’t think Neil had the slightest clue. As the book goes on things escalate and escalate and as you see June grow. Then something comes along to strike her down again. Anyone who has read Seed will know that it’s not only Lisa’s writing that’s powerful but Lisa’s endings are just as powerful and will make any reader a huge hot blubbering mess of tears…..a bit like me after I finished reading this book. I also really loved the concept of June forgive herself without becoming overly preachy. This is so important to me in survivor books & Heathfield gets this done right. Overall just such an important book & most recommended. If there's ONE YA book to read this year- it's this one. And although I would love to see more of these characters, I'm not sure if a sequel would be needed, because this is just PERFECT as it is. Heathfield wrote a good story, pinging my heart and soul, while tearing at my anger. She created harrowing scenes I wished to skip, but could not. Trigger warning: Some scenes set clear and bleak instances of abuse, especially if one's experienced similar mistreatment. I felt I witnessed these abuse while standing behind June. While I did not cry, I yearned to help a fictional character I know truly was not fictional. I kept screaming (to myself), "Speak up! Stop suffering." Alas, nothing's ever simple. I never truly spoke up myself and saw myself projecting what I should have done in my past.

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield - LoveReading4Kids

Though this book successfully crafted a relationship in which the love interest is kind, caring, and not at all a source of drama, I did crave more. Thank you to Netgalley, Egmont Publishing and Lisa Heathfielf for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review. Paper Butterflies is Olivia and Neil’s story. Told from Olivia’s perspective we learn she’s a tough talking, hot Cheeto loving, no nonsense, who needs a boyfriend girl. I would’ve thought Neil took offense to my rudeness if it weren’t for his soft and amused laughter that scraped along the last of my sanity. Laughter that tattooed itself right into my brain. All words that can be used to describe this powerful novel from the lovely Lisa Heathfield. Paper Butterflies made me feel irrationally angry and left me feeling broken hearted whilst simultaneously filling me with hope. I think it is safe to say that Lisa Heathfield is a master of pulling on our heart strings whilst dealing with the most sensitive and difficult of topics.If you make a larger version of these butterflies, then construction paper should be ok. But personally, I find origami paper or ordinary “printer paper” better! It allows for neater creases and makes that contrast between shadow and light more effective. I find construction paper is “flatter” and somehow absorbs the light more! How do you make a pleated butterfly? The point is that I understand why this was written. I just didn't personally get very much out of it.