"A joy to read, a book with a big heart that delves into acceptance, openness, mental health with the main character having ADHD and the complexity of family dynamics"
Jamie is chaotic and impulsive, he wants to be normal but his ADHD makes him feel like his brain is full of butterflies, like his brain’s about to explode and come fizzing out of his ears. Elin has a perfect reputation; if she is more helpful and hardworking, surely her dad will return to them?
When Jamie and Elin’s families are thrown together it seems doomed to fail…but maybe not? The depiction of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is both sensitive and honest by former primary school teacher Victoria Williamson who has a great knack of featuring the real voices of children she has met through her work.
As they grapple with their differences, as Elin’s tries to distance herself from her new stepbrother Jamie the Monster who she sees as her enemy, her fairy-tale life moves further out of reach.
This is a compelling book about acceptance, openness, mental health and family dynamics. I couldn’t put it down.
Jamie Lee just wants to be normal but his ADHD isn't making it easy. If only he could control his butterfly mind then he'd have friends, be able to keep out of trouble, live with his mum and not be sent to stay with his dad. Elin Watts just wants to be perfect. If she could be the best student and daughter possible, then maybe her dad would leave his new family and come back to Glasgow to live with Elin and her mum, happily ever after. When Jamie and Elin's families blend, the polar opposites of chaotic Jamie and ordered Elin collide. As their lives spiral out of control, Jamie and Elin discover that they're actually more alike than they'd admit. Maybe there's no such thing as normal, or perfect. And perhaps, just like families, happy-ever-afters come in all shapes and sizes. Uplifting and moving, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind is an inspiring story of acceptance, blended families, and discovering that in the end, being yourself is more than enough.