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Calling B for Butterfly
Four teenagers must fend for themselves and two babies when the space liner on which they are traveling is destroyed by an asteroid.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Louise Lawrence
39 books58 followersElizabeth Holden, better known by her pen name Louise Lawrence, is an English science fiction author, acclaimed during the 1970s and 1980s.
Lawrence was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, in 1943. She became fascinated with Wales at a young age, and has set many of her novels there. She left school early on to become an assistant librarian. She married and had the first of her three children in 1963. Her departure from the library, she recalls, gave her the potential to turn toward writing: "Deprived of book-filled surroundings, I was bound to write my own."
Lawrence was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, in 1943. She became fascinated with Wales at a young age, and has set many of her novels there. She left school early on to become an assistant librarian. She married and had the first of her three children in 1963. Her departure from the library, she recalls, gave her the potential to turn toward writing: "Deprived of book-filled surroundings, I was bound to write my own."
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 5, 2023
Oddly enough, I read this book as a class assignment and, surprisingly, I *loved* it. I loved it so much I asked the professor if I could keep it!
It's science fiction, but it has drama, angst, mystery and a group of teens surviving after an asteroid shower hits their ship, leaving them to care for two very young children (a baby and a 3-4 year old), while a mysterious entity lives amongst them, but not in contact with them.
The ending? Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I found it very fitting and, probably no one but me will see it that way, and that's okay.
Some important notes that bear mentioning: reviews are highly subjective, including mine. My opinion is meant to give an overview of what I saw/felt when I read it. What I see might not be what you see, and what I like might not be what you enjoy, which is fine. My advice to anyone looking into a book? Read the premise; if it interests you enough, give it a chance, and it may surprise you—or not, but at least then, you'll know.
It's science fiction, but it has drama, angst, mystery and a group of teens surviving after an asteroid shower hits their ship, leaving them to care for two very young children (a baby and a 3-4 year old), while a mysterious entity lives amongst them, but not in contact with them.
The ending? Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I found it very fitting and, probably no one but me will see it that way, and that's okay.
Some important notes that bear mentioning: reviews are highly subjective, including mine. My opinion is meant to give an overview of what I saw/felt when I read it. What I see might not be what you see, and what I like might not be what you enjoy, which is fine. My advice to anyone looking into a book? Read the premise; if it interests you enough, give it a chance, and it may surprise you—or not, but at least then, you'll know.
September 17, 2011
One of my absolute favorite books as a kid, I checked it out from the library probably a hundred times.
October 19, 2020
Liked this book, the ending was amazing. Give it a go.
August 2, 2022
Calling B for Butterfly by Louise Lawrence
Louise Lawrence is probably best known for Children of the Dust, a post-apocalyptic young adult novel which was first published in 1985. Judging by the comments readers have made about that book, it is unforgettably harrowing in its realism. Louise Lawrence also wrote fantasy and science fiction novels, which were generally well received and are remembered fondly by people who were teens in the 1980s and 1990s.
Calling B for Butterfly is the first book by this author that I have read, and I must say that I was suitably impressed by both the writing style and the content.
This is a story about four very different teenagers who are traveling on a colony-bound starship, but who end up having to take care of a baby and a hyperactive toddler when the vessel is ripped apart by an asteroid. Glyn is a disgruntled and inexperienced young steward from Wales who is forced to take charge. Ann is quiet and timid, avoids conflicts, but displays sincerity and inner strength. Matthew is bookish, thoughtful, and gentle, and Sonja is spoiled, impulsive and uncooperative.
All that remains after the disaster is one small area of the main ship and its attached lifeboat. As if that is not enough, after opening the viewing ports on this escape craft, they discover that they are being drawn inexorably toward Jupiter by the planet’s enormous gravitational field.
These four young people, who would under any circumstances experience a clash of personalities, are thrown together in a highly pressurized and seemingly impossible situation. The author handles the characters and the dynamics of their interactions intelligently and realistically, even though Glyn and Sonja may eventually grate on the mind of the reader as they become more and more annoying. It clearly shows that certain personalities are more capable of self-reflection than others, and that people act in various ways under stress and mature at different rates.
Apart from the human element, there is also an alien presence, which may or may not be malevolent. The ending is unexpected and poignant in a subtle and beautiful way. Calling B for Butterfly is definitely not a run-of-the-mill teenage science fiction story, but is unique and quite unforgettable. I have now gone on to read Moonwind by the same author, and right from the very beginning this book also seems to be highly unusual and powerfully imaginative.
Louise Lawrence is probably best known for Children of the Dust, a post-apocalyptic young adult novel which was first published in 1985. Judging by the comments readers have made about that book, it is unforgettably harrowing in its realism. Louise Lawrence also wrote fantasy and science fiction novels, which were generally well received and are remembered fondly by people who were teens in the 1980s and 1990s.
Calling B for Butterfly is the first book by this author that I have read, and I must say that I was suitably impressed by both the writing style and the content.
This is a story about four very different teenagers who are traveling on a colony-bound starship, but who end up having to take care of a baby and a hyperactive toddler when the vessel is ripped apart by an asteroid. Glyn is a disgruntled and inexperienced young steward from Wales who is forced to take charge. Ann is quiet and timid, avoids conflicts, but displays sincerity and inner strength. Matthew is bookish, thoughtful, and gentle, and Sonja is spoiled, impulsive and uncooperative.
All that remains after the disaster is one small area of the main ship and its attached lifeboat. As if that is not enough, after opening the viewing ports on this escape craft, they discover that they are being drawn inexorably toward Jupiter by the planet’s enormous gravitational field.
These four young people, who would under any circumstances experience a clash of personalities, are thrown together in a highly pressurized and seemingly impossible situation. The author handles the characters and the dynamics of their interactions intelligently and realistically, even though Glyn and Sonja may eventually grate on the mind of the reader as they become more and more annoying. It clearly shows that certain personalities are more capable of self-reflection than others, and that people act in various ways under stress and mature at different rates.
Apart from the human element, there is also an alien presence, which may or may not be malevolent. The ending is unexpected and poignant in a subtle and beautiful way. Calling B for Butterfly is definitely not a run-of-the-mill teenage science fiction story, but is unique and quite unforgettable. I have now gone on to read Moonwind by the same author, and right from the very beginning this book also seems to be highly unusual and powerfully imaginative.
June 13, 2014
This beautiful, heart wrenching book, had me in tears after I read it the first time. On route to a new colony, Glyn, Sonya, Ann and Matthew must learn to cope with a toddler and a baby after their star liner smashes into an asteroid, leaving them alone on the one remaining wing of the ship and it's Life ferry. It is a wonderfully moving tale, rich with depth and emotion. The final ending is so poignant and bittersweet that I hoped for a sequel. A must read for anyone.
November 14, 2008
painful, bittersweet, haunting, and strange. Good sci fi/ fantasy read, though not the usual fare. A bit psychological and reflective.
June 7, 2016
I loved this book as a kid, and wished for a sequel to let me know what happened next with these kids. As far as I know, one was never written.
September 16, 2021
Not perfect, but very good SF for young teens, intelligent tweens, and adults who like books for that audience. The other reviewers say it better. All I'll add is, read it with care. I happened to finish it in one night when I was having trouble sleeping, and had to skim it all over again before I could figure out how I felt about (esp. the rather quick ending).
March 5, 2015
What would you do if the starship you were traveling on was suddenly ripped to shreds? You now find yourself with 3 other teens, a girl about 4 and her 1 year old brother. You are drifting through space towards certain death on Jupiter, but there seems to be another presence on board your life boat.
I really enjoyed this book, but was left with many questions at the end. I actually thought about writing a sequel to answer those questions. Mmmm, maybe one day...
I really enjoyed this book, but was left with many questions at the end. I actually thought about writing a sequel to answer those questions. Mmmm, maybe one day...
October 29, 2024
lovely lovely book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews