LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
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.
LoveReading4Kids
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About
The Boy with the Butterfly Mind Synopsis
Jamie Lee wants to be normal. But his ADHD makes him feel like his brain is full of butterflies.
Elin Watts wants to be perfect. If she can be, surely her dad will come home.
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.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781782506447 |
| Publication date: |
19th March 2020 |
| Author: |
Victoria Williamson |
| Publisher: |
Floris Books |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
253 pages |
| Series: |
Kelpies |
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Press Reviews
Victoria Williamson Press Reviews
'An insightful and touching insight into life with ADHD... Knee-jerk assumptions and mis-perceptions are gradually eroded in this rousing tale of friendship and understanding which will have your junior readers cheering on the good guys with gusto and, hopefully, an invigorated compassion.' -- The Big Issue, Kids Books of the Year 2019
'An honest insight into a boy's life with ADHD, with as much heart as [R.J. Palacio's] 'Wonder'.' - Children's Books Ireland Recommended Reads
'Although Elin and Jamie are vastly different, the author deftly shows the trauma of divorce on children. Achingly realistic, yet hopeful.' -- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
'A compelling and affecting book about acceptance, openness, mental health and the intricacy of family.' -- BookTrust
'We like the story because the children are our age and have problems like the ones we have. It's a really nice book because it tells you that you don't have to be perfect or normal, it tells you to be yourself... It has a lesson to teach and sometimes made us feel sad. It tells you that if someone you care about leaves it could change who you are on the inside. We like the book and hope you do too.' -- Pupils of St Mary's Primary School, for the Dundee Evening Telegraph
'This heartbreaking book about the pain of divorce is a must-buy for all elementary libraries. Elin and Jamie's alternating first-person chapters help the reader understand both perspectives. Jamie's perspective is sure to help increase understanding about the difficulty of living with severe ADHD. The plot flows quickly and readers will likely find themselves experiencing strong emotions throughout this powerful novel.' -- Youth Services Book Review
'This sensitive and affirming novel deals with loss and change in a poignant and yet optimistic way. The complex but positive representation of neurodiversity is an important part of the story, and we love the thoughtful and realistic way Jamie is portrayed.' -- Seven Stories
'Williamson's character-driven novel presents an honest, introspective portrayal of the adolescent psyche amidst multiple family upheavals, and it is both heartbreaking and hopeful.' -- Booklist
'The Boy with the Butterfly Mind is an excellent story for any young reader who has ever felt that they are the cause of their family's problems.' -- Foreword Reviews
Author
About Victoria Williamson
Victoria Williamson is an award-winning children’s author and primary school teacher from Scotland. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures and taught children and trained teachers in Malawi, Cameroon, and China and worked with children with additional support needs in the UK. She previously volunteered as a reading tutor with The Book Bus charity in Zambia and is now a Patron of Reading with CharChar Literacy to promote early years phonics teaching in Malawi.
Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see themselves reflected. Her books have won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award in 2020/2021, have been shortlisted for the James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award in 2021, the Trinity Schools Book Award in 2021, the Yaldi Glasgow School Libraries’ Book Award in 2023, and have also been longlisted for the Branford Boase Prize and Waterstones Children’s Prize.
More About Victoria Williamson
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