Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield (16+ recommendation, trigger warnings for abuse, force-feeding, racism, death penalty discussion, gaslighting).

I do NOT recommend this book if you are not feeling emotionally or mentally secure. In fact, I was very close to not reviewing it because it could be extremely triggering. BUT I think it’s an incredible book, if you are in a good place, and wanting to explore the topic of abuse. It is not an escape or a remedy: it is a looking-monsters-right-in-the-face type of book, and that’s really not an exaggeration. 

June’s mother died, and while her father is away for work, she stays with her step-mother and step-sister, where she is subjected to horrible abuse. But she finds a friend, Blister, and suddenly there is a little bit of hope in her life. You follow her story, from childhood into her teen years, and watch the way she deals with — and is backed into a corner by — horrific trauma. And then, a very unexpected plot twist. 

“I've learnt that if you're careful, you can hold a butterfly in your hand. And that even if it's been trapped, frightened, in a jar, it still has a chance to survive. Because a butterfly with a broken wing can still fly.”

This book is for exploring #emotionalabuse, #gaslighting, #racism and the #deathpenalty. Approach it with caution.

Video review here