Stand By Me meets We Were Liars- a heartbreaking and stunning breakout novel for teenagersfrom the award-nominated author of Seed. One of the cons about avid reading involves venturing into tales with repugnant subjects. Depending on the story line, separating fiction from reality triggers a toll on one's heart, if they're unprepared. For me, child abuse remains number one on the subjects I find difficult to experience. 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. that you then push down and flatten. I call this the triangle house shape fold or corner folds – as this is used to make a simple origami house too! (Bottom left image).

PAPER BUTTERFLIES | Kirkus Reviews PAPER BUTTERFLIES | Kirkus Reviews

No, literally. Neil was holding up two paper butterflies. But there it was—butterflies in both the literal and figurative sense. 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. Tara is from Derry, Faith is from Armagh; their lives are very different, but they look exactly the same - they just don't know why... 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. Will she still love me?’ ‘Of course.’ ‘Even after what I did?’ ‘Yes.’ He looks at me. ‘You are loved, June. You are precious.”

After teaching, she ran a café in Brighton for seven years. In the middle of the general chaos of her lovely children, baking for the café and stumbling through running her own business, she wrote her first novel. Your whole body aches for June, I just can't take some of it in. Megan must have been scared out her witts also and these are children who really don't know much better and if someone puts the fear in them and no one will listen, how do we expect them to talk? Flip/ turn round, so that the fold is at the top edge and the open “flap” at the bottom point (Image 2) You can love someone deeply, but somehow not always do the right thing by them. People have flaws. We get so much wrong. Maybe if you try to understand him as a human being with faults then you can move forward.” Take the other piece of paper you cut and fold it in half lengthwise. Place the 2 longer edges on top of each other. Then create a crease by pressing down along the fold. [11] X Research source

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield – The Bibliophile Girl Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield – The Bibliophile Girl

This is the story of mental and physical child-abuse experienced through the eyes of the victim. June is a girl of mixed race who finds herself in an entirely white family after the tragic, early death of her mother and her father's remarriage. This is a classic tale of the evil stepmother but there was nothing dated about the heartrending and harrowing depiction of her ordeal.

Blister’s family were the complete contrast to June’s and I loved them so much. They welcome June with open arms and make her feel welcome and like she is part of their family. This was a super cute easy read for YA Romance! I enjoyed reading both characters self discovery and find what they truly want out of life outside of high school. They truly brought out the best in each other which is so important in a relationship! And I love the idea of the paper butterfly’s. It's a book about how family members, teachers, society, all authority figures can fail someone so entirely. It's about how the truth can be grossly twisted, to devastating effect.

Paper Butterflies by Michelle Chamberland | Goodreads Paper Butterflies by Michelle Chamberland | Goodreads

Time was doing that sort of pause and halt thing again, too, and there was this odd feeling in my stomach, like…Sadly, the abuse never stopped. School, a respite for abused children, failed to provide the breath required to get through each day (She had friends - two girls, but children can only provide so much when they do not know what you're experiencing at home). Bullied and ignored by students and teachers alike, they inflamed her pain. Lisa lives in Brighton with her husband and three sons. Before becoming a mum, she was a secondary school English teacher and loved inspiring teenagers to read. This book made me cry so hard I almost threw up. This is not an exaggeration. It freaking gutted me. From start to finish. The story is not an easy read. I couldn't put it down because I was so anxious about the outcome, but it isn't the kind of book you'll ever want to read again. I mean that in the best way possible- it's because it will shatter your soul so much the first time around, you'd never need to. This article was reviewed by Amy Guerrero. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield | Goodreads Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield | Goodreads

No adults or teachers or her own father believe June's call for help. They believ Paper Butterflies is an unforgettable read, perfect for fans of Lisa Williamson's The Art of Being Normal, Jandy Nelson, Sarah Crossan and Louise O'Neill. Are the best books those where the author is so convincing that it becomes hard to separate the book you are reading from reality? If so, Paper Butterflies deserves all the stars. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't real for the sake of my sanity. I recently said in my review of Allegedly that the best books are those that make me furious for the characters, but this book made me beyond furious - I felt terrified.You have to start by forgiving yourself.’ His words fall heavily around me. ‘That’s not possible.’ ‘It is. It takes strength and courage and you have those, June.” If I can control my emotions for a second I'll try to tell you a bit about it. The story follows June from her young childhood to early adult years, moving between the "Before" and the "After". During her childhood and teen years, she lives with her abusive stepmother, Kathleen, who plays vindictive mind games; her stepsister - Megan - who acts as an accomplice; and her completely clueless father who refuses to see what is right in front of his eyes. Bring the right and left creases together, creating a triangle. With the paper laying flat in front of you, press the right horizontal crease to the left one. As you do this, the paper should collapse onto itself in a triangle shape along the diagonal creases you made. [3] X Research source And I know the book revolves around June, but can I just say how much I loved Blister? He is just the sweetest! June meets Blister in the woods & they begin a friendship that proves to be crucial especially towards the end when...let's just say June gets something she doesn't deserve. (No pesky spoilers, I'm trying!) Blister is such an amazing character; I would love to see a standalone or something with him, & I rarely say that about anyone. If one could take a life, a pretty devastating one, but all the more real for all the suffering therein, and distill it such that it took the form of a novel instead, Paper Butterflies would be that book. Not since The Enchanted have I read anything so painful, so upsetting, so hopeless but yet somehow framed in hope. Breathtaking.