With themes of family, friendship and change at the forefront of this moving, passionate and engrossing tale of a mother and daughter Last Kiss of the Butterfly will hook you in to its pages and take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will bring about a greater maturity both in the protagonist and the reader.
Jaz is one determined teenager. Whether it's getting that Tae Kwon Do move just right, or investigating the latest cancer treatment to help her mum, giving-up just isn't in her vocabulary. But when her mum announces that she and Jaz will spend the summer staying in a cottage on the marshes, just the two of them, Jaz may have to realise that there are some things she can't control. Away from her friends and urban lifestyle, Jaz struggles, but slowly begins to tune into her environment and embrace her alternative summer. Jaz begins to see her mum differently. She starts to see the other sides to her mum -- as a woman, not just a mother or a wife -- and their relationship and understanding deepens. Jaz's outlook on life changes, as she develops strength and maturity.
Jill lives and works by the sea near Brighton. As well as being a children’s author, she has written for children’s TV and the stage. She is currently working on her third book for young teens. ‘Deeper Than Blue’ won the 1066 Schools’ Book award and was shortlisted for the Bolton Children’s Book award and the Cumbrian Spellbinding award. It was also long-listed for the Branford Boase award for an outstanding first novel for children. Since launching her website, she has had many lovely messages and many of them are for Zack, her Golden Retriever!
Here's an interview with Jill, talking about If I Could Fly:
