A heartbreaking story that left my heart in pieces. The author did an outstanding job of delivering this story. A haunting reading experience that will stay with you long after you've finished.

My students who love abuse stories will love this one also, but it will break your heart in the process.

Talk about a sucker punch to the heart! Paper Butterflies was a breathtakingly terrifying, heart wrenchingly beautiful story. A story of race, abuse, lies, deception, and yet through it all- love. Readers will not be able to deny the raw emotional power this book holds. It may be fiction but it reads like a horrifying memoir. I have cried so many tears trying just trying to imagine how anyone could ever ever ever do to June what her stepmother did her. So many tears as I tried to wrap my mind around how June’s father could be so blinded by what was going on in his very own house while he was even in it. And I’ve come to the conclusion that you just can’t. You can’t wrap your mind around that kind of depraved evil. Yet, Lisa Heathfield did one heck of a job writing their stories in such a way that made the entire sordid tale come painfully to life.

To victims like June, I hope and pray you will find your Blister and your voice to call out for real help once and for all. Don’t allow yourself to be broken down so far that your world quits making any sense at all. Don’t fall victim to your own anger and hurt like June did.

To the author, publisher, and NetGalley I extend my deepest thanks for providing me with an advance review copy of this incredible book.

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.

There is a lot of abuse in this book, both emotional and physical, so if that is triggering to you, this may not be the book for you. But if you can handle it, this book has a ton to offer. Things like:

A gorgeous friendship
Some really important and heartbreaking messages that I can’t talk about because spoilers
Fabulous writing
A main character who will grab your heart from the start

So yes, I absolutely recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Carolrhoda Lab TM for the opportunity to read and review Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield! June lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister and, unbeknownst to her father, is abused by the other two. The story is told in June's point of view and describes the abuse she endures at home, the bullying she receives at school and her wonderful friend Blister and his loving family. Blister and his family are the only light in June's life and when tragedy strikes, they stand by her the entire time. At times both heartbreaking and hopeful, this story reminded me that things aren't always what they seem and how important it is to have someone believe in you. 4 stars for a story that starts out simple but builds in intensity and follows through with a punch. Realistic fiction that deals with abuse, tragedy, friendship and relationships.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.

This book was incredibly intense and very hard to read at times. I'm glad that I kept reading though. Very well written.

I loved this book. It was so different from other books that I've read. I don't know that I've ever read a perspective like this or heard a story like this. It's daring and heart-wrenching. Highly recommended for adults and teen alike looking for good contemporary fiction read.

This one was very good it grabbed me right off the bat and hooked me into the story. This book was a very compelling read. I would like to add the following trigger warnings.


This book has scenes of physical and mental/psychological abuse!

This book will crush your heart and I really don't know what to say about this one. This is one book that will mess with your mind. Make sure your up to that stress before you start this one. Just keep reminding yourself that its fiction! This one had a dual time setting of following June from childhood through her teen years. You really had to feel for her and the crap she went through. From having an abusive stepmother and stepsister as well as a father that just ignores everything that is happening to his daughter. I felt very upset that she was being treated this way and at times I felt like I really was on the verge of having to put this down just because of the injustice of it all.

This book's characters make you think about the pasts of the characters and how they ended up this way. During this book, you need to remember that people are not born hateful or evil that it is a learned behavior.

This is the first book I have read by this author and wow!! The secrets that this family kept not only from society but even from the people that lived in the same house is astounding. The author depicted the main character well and I can understand why she would have kept the secrets she did, even when she wanted to yell it from the tops of the trees. It's sad to think that there are children that go through this on a daily basis and this author definitely brought that to light. This book is gripping, sad, traumatic, and heartbreaking to say the least.

NetGalley Provided me an advanced copy of Paper Butterflies in exchange for an honest review....

I don't know if this makes me twisted, but I really enjoyed this novel despite the extremely dark content. Fair warning, this novel will break everything inside you to pieces, your hear, body and soul, destroyed on behalf of June. Pure frustration had me slamming my fists on my knee screaming curses at Kathleen for her cruel and unnecessary treatment. If you aren't in a healthy space in your head or abuse is a trigger, I would avoid this novel until better days.

As you can imagine, June suffered greatly in her young life. More than you will be able to understand through a review. Her life has mostly been shaded by dark clouds aside for one ray of light, Blister. Blister makes living life tolerable for June, who knows where she would be had she not found this life raft. Watching them grow together through the years, gave me a sense of hope that everything would turn out okay. Blister isn't only June's hope, he is the readers hope for better days too. Their relationship is one of the few good parts of the story. It is an aspect of the story that is required to make the story tolerable and not just heart wrenching. I'm thankful Heathfield gave June at the very least, Blister and the rest of the Wicks.

Meeting Blister and watching them grow, helped inspire the idea that there would be hope for June. That she would grow up and get the heck away from Kathleen and Megan. But Lisa Heathfield took us in a direction I didn't see coming. As an avid reader, who has read quite a few books on abuse, I could not have guessed the outcome that June would be lead too. Heathfield took me on a journey, which I have never experienced with a character or book. It was a shock and oddly intriguing. While I won't go into detail for fear of spoiling, it was an intense position to take in a young adults novel, although it was rather well received from this end.

Lastly, there is a heavy theme of forgiveness. While June's situation won't apply to everyone, it still can inspire even the most stubborn young adults and adults into the idea of forgiving those who have torn us down and dragged us through the dirt. Many great quotes and lines really touched me deeply and got me thinking, which I believe was a goal or point of Lisa's writing.

I can't remember when a book touched me so deeply. This was heart-wrenchingly difficult to read but so worth it! June suffers abuse at home from her step-mother and step-sister but finds solace in quirky Blister and his family. Revenge seems simple, but of course it never is and has repercussions for June and her family. Usually when I love a book I read in one or two sittings; this one I had to put down just to ponder--and sometimes ugly cry a little. This will resonate with me for a long time; it has heartfelt and beautiful prose. Just be prepared for tears and emotions that will surely surface.

Everyone will be affected by this book. There were several points where I had to take a deep breath. June is a young black girl being physically and emotionally abused by her stepmother. Her father does not or chooses not to see. Her sister, Megan, close to her age is helpless to stop it and participates in it for fear that it will come back to her (though as readers find out later, but understand all along that Megan was also emotionally abused in ways that built a wall between the two girls).

The book is about discoveries. And mystery. But it is also about friendship and the innocence of childhood friendship since June has met Blister, a boy from a large family who connects with June over origami. June enjoys Blister's family and the ease of being one, allowing her to distance herself from the abuse at home.

What a painful but necessary story. Heathfield's attention to the gritty details and the idea that hope might be right around the corner plays with a reader's emotions and breaks our hearts.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

I absolutely loved and hated this book. I am pretty sure I cried, gasped, and laughed throughout this whole book. The main character, June, is a little girl who is abused physically and emotionally by her step mother and little step sister. Her dad and teachers have no idea about what is going on with her even though she has tried to tell them many times. Not only does she have a horrible life at home, but the other children at school bully her. Her one little beam of hope comes one birthday when her dad gives her a new bike. As she is out exploring one day, she meets her soon to be best friend, Blister. He is the only thing that gets her through her days.

The reader is taken on a sad journey of June's life up to her teenage years when the unthinkable happens! I am not going to reveal what happens, but I will just say that I did not see it coming.

This is a great book, but it is extremely sad. Don't read this book when you are not in a good state of mind.

This was really difficult and really amazing. Well written, heart-wrenching, horrifying, and necessary. It drove home, for me, the need to listen carefully when children talk. I would put this book in the hands of the quietly desperate children.

I was extremely intrigued when I read the synopsis of this book. Let me start by saying that the content of this book may not be for everyone. It focuses on abuse of a child and I know that that may be hard for some readers. And to be honest it was extremely hard for me. But the writing is excellent, and I continued reading hoping that June would prevail.

June's mother dies in a tragic accident and her father, Bradley, marries Kathleen who has a daughter (Megan) who is June's age (10 at the beginning of the story). June is half black and while her father tells her she is beautiful, Kathleen and her daughter tell her how ugly she is all the time. The level of abuse that June suffers at the hands of her step-mother is horrific and was hard to read. And the involvement of her step-sister was also hard to read. And while she makes some attempts to tell people what is happening to her, it falls on deaf ears to everyone, including her father. That is until she meets Blister.

Blister is her one true friend, and to see how their relationship blossoms throughout this novel was one of the few things that kept me reading. It was the light in a book that is littered with dark. Blister is the one person June can turn to, and even his family accepts her. But she knows she has to keep him hidden or her family will ruin the one positive thing she has in her life.

There were enough twists and turns in this novel to keep me turning the pages, my only complaint is that it seemed a little rushed at the end and not quite as detailed/fleshed out as I would have liked. But, other than that it was a great read with a hard topic.

Cool. I love a good cry at 1 a.m. Paper Butterflies broke my heart.

The book alternates between present day and the childhood of June, a mixed-race child now growing up in a white family. She suffers psychological and physical abuse from her vindictive stepmother and her stepsister, who acts as accomplice, while her biological father remains none the wiser. Desperate for a respite, she finds a friend in Blister and his family.

It's kind of obvious by now that books like this are kind of my bread and butter, and "Paper Butterflies" was so good. I felt a deep, visceral reaction to June and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her family and classmates.

If you can handle these kinds of books, "Paper Butterflies" is written so well and has a heartbreaking narrative to tell.

What a tough read, this one was. Still, compelling enough to keep me going.

June has it bad. Her mom's been dead for years, which is tragic enough. But her stepmom makes it even worse. She's an evil stepmom in the most horrible way. There's abuse, both physical and emotional. The saddest part is that her dad is oblivious to everything. Through it all, June retreats inside herself to escape.

And then she meets Blister. On a walk through the woods one day, he's just there. And he becomes the most important person in her life. His family becomes her safe haven as well. Still, she can't share her deepest darkest secrets with them. Because if she had, maybe tragedy would have been averted...

A good story, both sad and hopeful at times. Parts of it were hard to take, but it is what it is.

June's suffering at the hands of her stepmother and stepsister make life at home unbearable, and school is no better. Her mom is dead, her dad doesn't have any idea of what is happening to June, and her teachers ignore the bullying she suffers. Then one day June meets Blister in the woods, a boy who is home schooled nearby, and he provides an escape from her reality.

The alternating time periods were difficult to follow at first, but the intended effect was not lost. Beautifully written and heartbreaking.