Butterfly by Sonia Hartnett

Butterfly by Sonia Hartnett

232 pages

I hate to say this, and I generally try to avoid saying negative things about a book, because I honestly believe there is a book for everyone, and some one for every book. But...I did not like this book at all. Plum's story is told around her 14th birthday, but she is so childish and mean and pouty, I keep thinking her age should be 10-12 years old. I felt there were gaps, or leaps, or something that kept this book from being complete, and was so totally glad to be rid of this book. My biggest complaint on this is the declaration of Plum very early on that she is not going to church again, she doesn't believe in God, he doesn't exist. And then it is dropped. No revelation, no more pondering...she's just done. Pretty hefty subject that was just dropped as if it were nothing.

(from jacket cover)

Here is Plum Coyle, on the threshold of adolescence, striving to be new. Her fourteenth birthday is approaching: her old life and her old body will fall away, and she will become graceful, powerful, at ease. The strength in the objects she stores in a briefcase under her bed-a crystal lamb, a yoyo, an antique watch, a penny-will make sure of it.

Over the next couple of weeks, Plum's life will change. Her beautiful neighbor, Maureen, will begin to show her how she might fly. The older brothers she adores-the charismatic Justin, the enigmatic Cydar-will court catastrophe in worlds that she barely knows exist. and her friends-her worst enemies-will tease and test, smelling weakness. They will try to lead her on and take her down.