Other editions of book Butterfly

"Exquisitely written . . . steeped in emotional clairvoyance." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)Plum Coyle is on the edge of adolescence. Her fourteenth birthday is approaching, when her old life and her old body will fall away, and she will become graceful, powerful, and at ease. Or so she desperately believes. Instead, over the next couple of weeks, the older brothers she adores court catastrophe in worlds that she barely knows exist, while Plum’s friends, her worst enemies, tease and test, smelling weakness. A powerful tale about the shifting bonds and psychological perils of adolescence.

Growing up during the 1980s in the safe complacency of the Australian suburbs, Plum Coyle should be happy. But on the cusp of her fourteenth birthday - and on the fringe of her peer group - she lives in terror of the disapproval of her cruel and fickle girlfriends, and most of all, she hates her awkward, changing body with a passion.So when Plum's glamorous next-door neighbour Maureen, a young wife and mother, befriends Plum, Plum responds with worshipful fervour. Plum feels herself reinvented. With Maureen, she becomes the girl she's always wanted to be. But Maureen has an ulterior motive for taking Plum under her wing . . .

In masterful prose, the author of Surrender tells a quiet but powerful tale about the shifting bonds and psychological perils of adolescence.Plum Coyle is on the edge of adolescence. Her fourteenth birthday is approaching, when her old life and her old body will fall away, and she will become graceful, powerful, and at ease. The strength of the objects she stores in a briefcase under her bed — a crystal lamb, a yoyo, an antique watch, a coin — will make sure of it. Over the next couple of weeks, Plum’s life will change. Her beautiful neighbor Maureen will begin to show Plum how she might fly. The older brothers she adores 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. Butterfly is a gripping, disquieting, beautifully observed coming-of-age novel by an acclaimed author at the top of her form.

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. Butterfly is a gripping, disquieting, beautifully observed coming-of-age novel by an acclaimed author at the top of her form. Advance praise for Butterfly: “Butterfly is a dreamy, lyrical, sad novel. It’s exquisitely written ― you end up rereading sentence after sentence ― and unforgettable.” - Nick Hornby, author of Slam, High Fidelity, and About a Boy “An extraordinary writer. . . . A heart-stopping representation of adolescent girlhood, as strange and riddling and true as fiction gets. . . . Dazzling.” ― The Age (Australia) “Full of insight and wit.” ― The Guardian (U.K.) “Blending the all-too-familiar with a more otherworldly, fairy-tale feel, Hartnett really has the ability to get inside the head of her dazzled teenage protagonist.” ― The Daily Mail (U.K.)

In masterful prose, the author of SURRENDER tells a quiet but powerful tale about the shifting bonds and psychological perils of adolescence.Plum Coyle is on the edge of adolescence. Her fourteenth birthday is approaching, when her old life and her old body will fall away, and she will become graceful, powerful, and at ease. The strength of the objects she stores in a briefcase under her bed a crystal lamb, a yoyo, an antique watch, a coin will make sure of it. Over the next couple of weeks, Plum s life will change. Her beautiful neighbor Maureen will begin to show Plum how she might fly. The older brothers she adores 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. BUTTERFLY is a gripping, disquieting, beautifully observed coming-of-age novel by an acclaimed author at the top of her form.

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.Butterfly is a gripping, disquieting, beautifully observed coming-of-age novel by an acclaimed author at the top of her form.

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.Butterfly is a gripping, disquieting, beautifully observed coming-of-age novel by an acclaimed author at the top of her form.

Growing up during the 1980s in the safe complacency of the Australian suburbs, Plum Coyle should be happy. But on the cusp of her fourteenth birthday and on the fringe of her peer group she lives in terror of the disapproval of her cruel and fickle girlfriends and, most of all, she hates her awkward, changing body with a passion. So when Plum's glamorous next-door neighbour Maureen, a young wife and mother, befriends Plum, Plum responds with worshipful fervour. Plum feels herself reinvented. With Maureen, she becomes the girl she's always wanted to be. But Maureen has an ulterior motive for taking Plum under her wing...

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. Butterfly is a gripping, disquieting, beautifully observed coming-of-age novel by an acclaimed author at the top of her form. Advance praise for Butterfly: “Butterfly is a dreamy, lyrical, sad novel. It’s exquisitely written ― you end up rereading sentence after sentence ― and unforgettable.” - Nick Hornby, author of Slam, High Fidelity, and About a Boy “An extraordinary writer. . . . A heart-stopping representation of adolescent girlhood, as strange and riddling and true as fiction gets. . . . Dazzling.” ― The Age (Australia) “Full of insight and wit.” ― The Guardian (U.K.) “Blending the all-too-familiar with a more otherworldly, fairy-tale feel, Hartnett really has the ability to get inside the head of her dazzled teenage protagonist.” ― The Daily Mail (U.K.)