Butterfly triggers memories

We chose to read Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett based on good reviews, and didn’t realize it was a young adult novel. It’s a well crafted story of 13 year old Plum living in Australia in 1980. She is lonely and angry and worships her two older brothers. Having difficulty socially at school, she makes friends with a young mother living next door.


Hartnett poetically conveys the isolation of being a teenager. This novel threw me back into the anxiety that was high school. Hartnett has skillfully balanced the elements of a novel. There is a solid plot for those who like a compelling story. The characters are vivid and memorable. The language is rich and evocative for those who enjoy the sounds, images, and rhythms of the words.

Most of my book club enjoyed this choice. There was some debate about whether the ending was appropriate for teens. I should point out that Butterfly does not qualify as a “happy” book in either the characters or plot, but that book clubs will be happy with this evocative, short and interesting read.