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The Boy with the Butterfly Mind
Jamie Lee just wants to be normal. But ADHD doesn't make that easy. If only he could control his butterfly mind then he'd be able to have friends, keep out of trouble—and not be sent away to stay with his dad.
Elin Watts just wants to be perfect. If she can be the best student and daughter possible, then maybe her dad will come back to live with her and her mum. When their families blend, these polar opposites collide. But as their lives spiral out of control, Jamie and Elin discover that they're actually more alike than different....
Elin Watts just wants to be perfect. If she can be the best student and daughter possible, then maybe her dad will come back to live with her and her mum. When their families blend, these polar opposites collide. But as their lives spiral out of control, Jamie and Elin discover that they're actually more alike than different....
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First published September 12, 2019
45 people are currently reading
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About the author
Victoria Williamson
30 books81 followersA lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
September 11, 2019
So an interesting story happened to me regarding this book.
First of all, the reason I downloaded it from Edelweiss as a review copy was because it mentioned OCD rep - an ADHD step-brother and OCD step-sister. Interesting dynamic! Plus, I am OCD and there's never any rep - I had to grab it.
And I read it. And I didn't enjoy the rep. I posted a review. And the next morning... I got a message.
Turns out, there was no OCD whatsoever intended in the book. The author wrote me a sensitive message about never meaning to represent OCD, because if she had, she would have never made the character look so... well, evil. (That's why I was so upset about it!) Turns out, someone in the publishing department (or other...) has two left feet instead of hands, I guess, and blurbed the book wrong, and put it up on Edelweiss (you'll notice the book doesn't even seem to have a blurb on Goodreads... at least it doesn't as I'm writing this!) The author had no idea where the OCD came from. Granted, the character in question DOES have some OCD tendencies, but it's all out there, never zoomed in on or commented about too much (that's also part of why I felt like, hey, where's the rep?)
And this is why I'm redacting my review that I had posted about this book on Goodreads yesterday. In light of no OCD rep, this book is great (the wrong blurb made it seem like it was demonizing the OCD character). In short, this is a book about several things:
- blended families
- divorce and how kids react to it
- kids with ADHD and how medication isn't always your enemy
- emotional trauma and coming of age
The character that has some OCD-like characters tries to be perfect all the time and has tics and obsessive thoughts (for example, she balances lies with truths and that's kind of an OCD thing), but since it wasn't intended rep and it isn't labelled, it becomes a totally different thing. She is suffering from abandonment and loss, and tries to be perfect because she believes she can get her old life back, and her new "monstrous" brother is ruining everything. The girl does a lot of bad things to get this new family out of her life, and of course there's a lesson in that.
As for the boy and ADHD rep, I can't comment because I don't have ADHD and have not had any experience with it, but he was depicted both as a parents' nightmare and yet a truly kind-hearted, hurt kid. He needed help and understanding, and the world wasn't willing to give it. There's also that whole "medication can sometimes help" thing in there, which I think is good, because a lot of ADHD sufferers probably benefit from the right dosage and it makes them feel better about their lives. The message was that medication is not a demon and it doesn't have to make you a zombie, which is a good message, in my opinion.
I really hope the publisher solves the blurbing issue, because the author said no such thing is even on the blurb of the book for the UK edition, but it's unclear about the US edition. Shame on the publisher.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This didn't affect my opinion.
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First of all, the reason I downloaded it from Edelweiss as a review copy was because it mentioned OCD rep - an ADHD step-brother and OCD step-sister. Interesting dynamic! Plus, I am OCD and there's never any rep - I had to grab it.
And I read it. And I didn't enjoy the rep. I posted a review. And the next morning... I got a message.
Turns out, there was no OCD whatsoever intended in the book. The author wrote me a sensitive message about never meaning to represent OCD, because if she had, she would have never made the character look so... well, evil. (That's why I was so upset about it!) Turns out, someone in the publishing department (or other...) has two left feet instead of hands, I guess, and blurbed the book wrong, and put it up on Edelweiss (you'll notice the book doesn't even seem to have a blurb on Goodreads... at least it doesn't as I'm writing this!) The author had no idea where the OCD came from. Granted, the character in question DOES have some OCD tendencies, but it's all out there, never zoomed in on or commented about too much (that's also part of why I felt like, hey, where's the rep?)
And this is why I'm redacting my review that I had posted about this book on Goodreads yesterday. In light of no OCD rep, this book is great (the wrong blurb made it seem like it was demonizing the OCD character). In short, this is a book about several things:
- blended families
- divorce and how kids react to it
- kids with ADHD and how medication isn't always your enemy
- emotional trauma and coming of age
The character that has some OCD-like characters tries to be perfect all the time and has tics and obsessive thoughts (for example, she balances lies with truths and that's kind of an OCD thing), but since it wasn't intended rep and it isn't labelled, it becomes a totally different thing. She is suffering from abandonment and loss, and tries to be perfect because she believes she can get her old life back, and her new "monstrous" brother is ruining everything. The girl does a lot of bad things to get this new family out of her life, and of course there's a lesson in that.
As for the boy and ADHD rep, I can't comment because I don't have ADHD and have not had any experience with it, but he was depicted both as a parents' nightmare and yet a truly kind-hearted, hurt kid. He needed help and understanding, and the world wasn't willing to give it. There's also that whole "medication can sometimes help" thing in there, which I think is good, because a lot of ADHD sufferers probably benefit from the right dosage and it makes them feel better about their lives. The message was that medication is not a demon and it doesn't have to make you a zombie, which is a good message, in my opinion.
I really hope the publisher solves the blurbing issue, because the author said no such thing is even on the blurb of the book for the UK edition, but it's unclear about the US edition. Shame on the publisher.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This didn't affect my opinion.
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December 29, 2019
I chose this book from the library for my son and we read the first 8 chapters together before he decided he wasn't interested. I, on the other hand, was riveted. So in terms of a book that's aimed for kids, this one was too intense for MY kid, but his tastes err towards adventures and generic kid series, so take that for what it's worth. The story, though, about two 11-12 year olds dealing with divorce, school bullies, the blending of families and finding their way through- often realistically and poorly- while coping with struggles, is a great read for adults. The chapters from the POV of Jamie, who has ADHD, are rendered with what feels like excellent accuracy in terms of jumbled and distracted trains of thought that illustrate his kind heart. I wound up finishing the book in a sitting and really loved it. Excellent writing, flawed characters, and depictions of universal struggles and growth. 4 stars.
January 28, 2023
Elin has never been in trouble for anything in her whole life. She is smart, respectful, and helpful. A perfect princess determined to get her divorced parents back together…even though her mother is in a relationship and her father is married. Elin has everything under control, but she doesn’t have any friends. After all, it’s lonely being so perfect all the time. Then there’s Jamie who seems to be a magnet for trouble. He has ADHD and is easily distracted, forgetful, and messy. His parents are also divorced and Jamie blames himself…as he often does for most things that go horribly wrong. It would be nice if he had a friend to talk to, but it’s lonely being bad all the time. When these two very lonely and different worlds collide, order and chaos not only meet, but they end up living together in a house that seems to grow smaller by the minute.
The Boy with the Butterfly Mind is told from the alternating viewpoints of Elin and Jamie—both eleven. Although you understand the internal and emotional struggles of both characters, it is far easier to be sympathetic towards Jamie. Although he is completely aware of his challenges and limitations, he still absorbs an unfair amount of guilt and blame while managing to maintain a trusting and forgiving attitude. His journey is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and just when we think his life is getting easier, the rug is mercilessly pulled out from him. With so much against him, we can’t help but cheer on this perpetual underdog.
Williamson is a primary school teacher with a Master’s Degree in special needs education. She’s worked with children requiring additional support needs and this real-world experience is evident in her writing. We see it as Jamie details his struggles and feelings and especially when he describes his interactions with his mother who is completely overwhelmed and emotionally drowning. These occurrences are raw and ugly and uncomfortably accurate. When Jamie hurts, we hurt, which makes this book all the more thought provoking and poignant.
By focusing on Jamie, I don’t mean to downplay Elin and her feelings. She, too, is struggling with her own demons as she feels that the only way to win her father back is to maintain a level of perfection that is both unrealistic and impossible. She puts undue pressure on herself and the introduction of an imperfect and unwanted addition to her family just adds to her burden. It’s a lose-lose situation for everyone and we can’t help but wince as we witness the walls around these people come tumbling down. However, the measures that Elin takes in her own personal “war” against these unwanted intruders are both cruel and dangerous and under these circumstances it is difficult to extend her any mercy or grace although she is keenly aware and witnesses the consequences of her actions.
Using data from 2016-2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 6 million children—between the ages of 3 to 17—were diagnosed with ADHD, which is why books like this one are so important and valuable. To show the bullying and isolation that children with this diagnosis experience is just the first of many steps that need to be taken to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.
There’s a quote about friendship that I’ve used before in a review that’s from an anonymous source. It’s one of my favorites: A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. Although Jamie felt broken and just wanted to be “normal”, he was lucky enough to find such a friend who made him realize that you don’t have to be perfect in order to be a perfect friend. I think the world would be a much better place with more people like that in it and I’m glad that Elin eventually realized this, too.
We’re now posting videos of some of our book reviews! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thedustyjacket or on Instagram @tdjreviews and join in on the fun!
The Boy with the Butterfly Mind is told from the alternating viewpoints of Elin and Jamie—both eleven. Although you understand the internal and emotional struggles of both characters, it is far easier to be sympathetic towards Jamie. Although he is completely aware of his challenges and limitations, he still absorbs an unfair amount of guilt and blame while managing to maintain a trusting and forgiving attitude. His journey is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and just when we think his life is getting easier, the rug is mercilessly pulled out from him. With so much against him, we can’t help but cheer on this perpetual underdog.
Williamson is a primary school teacher with a Master’s Degree in special needs education. She’s worked with children requiring additional support needs and this real-world experience is evident in her writing. We see it as Jamie details his struggles and feelings and especially when he describes his interactions with his mother who is completely overwhelmed and emotionally drowning. These occurrences are raw and ugly and uncomfortably accurate. When Jamie hurts, we hurt, which makes this book all the more thought provoking and poignant.
By focusing on Jamie, I don’t mean to downplay Elin and her feelings. She, too, is struggling with her own demons as she feels that the only way to win her father back is to maintain a level of perfection that is both unrealistic and impossible. She puts undue pressure on herself and the introduction of an imperfect and unwanted addition to her family just adds to her burden. It’s a lose-lose situation for everyone and we can’t help but wince as we witness the walls around these people come tumbling down. However, the measures that Elin takes in her own personal “war” against these unwanted intruders are both cruel and dangerous and under these circumstances it is difficult to extend her any mercy or grace although she is keenly aware and witnesses the consequences of her actions.
Using data from 2016-2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 6 million children—between the ages of 3 to 17—were diagnosed with ADHD, which is why books like this one are so important and valuable. To show the bullying and isolation that children with this diagnosis experience is just the first of many steps that need to be taken to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.
There’s a quote about friendship that I’ve used before in a review that’s from an anonymous source. It’s one of my favorites: A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. Although Jamie felt broken and just wanted to be “normal”, he was lucky enough to find such a friend who made him realize that you don’t have to be perfect in order to be a perfect friend. I think the world would be a much better place with more people like that in it and I’m glad that Elin eventually realized this, too.
We’re now posting videos of some of our book reviews! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thedustyjacket or on Instagram @tdjreviews and join in on the fun!
August 20, 2024
evde bi okul öncesi öğretmeni olduğu için okuduğum ikinci kitap… yalan yok kitabı sevdim tatlı ve baya akıcıydı
June 9, 2025
Dağılmış iki ailenin çocukları olan Elin ve Jamie’nin ortada kesişen çocuksu hikayesini anlatıyor kitap. Anlatıcılar da bu iki çocuk olduğu için dil de mümkün olduğunca çocuksu bir anlatıma sahip. Eski ailesine sahip olabilmek için mükemmel olması gerektiğine inanan Elin ve diğer çocuklardan farklı olduğu için “normal” olmayı dileyen Jamie’nin hikayesi kesiştiğinde işler değişiyor. Oldukça tatlı ve su gibi akan bir hikaye olsa da ortalarda sürekli tekrar etti de sonrasın da her şey apar topar toparlandı hissiyatı aldım biraz. Ama kesinlikle okunması gereken bir kitap olduğumu düşünüyorum. Boşanmış ebeveynlere veya “özel çocuklara” sahip kişileri ve başta tabii ki bu çocukları anlayabilmeye yardımcı olabilecek kısa ama tatlı bir hikaye.
October 26, 2023
A great book that I think anyone who works with SEN kids should read
March 23, 2025
Really enjoyed this book , it opens your eyes to children with ADHD. Made me teary in parts too. A well written story of how these children cope with day to day life. Would recommend this highly.
January 26, 2020
After having read and thoroughly enjoyed this author's first book, I was looking forward to reading this one too. It is a really sensitive look at blended families, coping with difficulties and difference in schools and also had a really nuanced portrayal of ADHD- hence the reason I have recommended this book to several teachers in my school already!
I liked getting the story from both Elin and Jamie's perspective as well as the complexity of the issues discussed. The book doesn't pull any punches, but it does leave space for the reader to really consider their own biases and prejudices, as well as how easy it is to judge people from the outside looking in.
I liked getting the story from both Elin and Jamie's perspective as well as the complexity of the issues discussed. The book doesn't pull any punches, but it does leave space for the reader to really consider their own biases and prejudices, as well as how easy it is to judge people from the outside looking in.
March 19, 2022
3.5 stars? As the parent of an ADHD child I sought this out as a book with an ADHD child as a main character. I’m not sure how to give words to my reactions. Much of this rang true for me but parts of it felt more like the author was just taking a composite of the ADHD experience and ramming it into one character. I liked the characters and how the author gave voice to what was motivating the actions that adults see. I did feel that there was a lot of nuance missing. My child is older now. I wish we’d had them when we were reading together. It would have been a great discussion tool for them to put words around their own ADHD experience.
October 12, 2019
I don’t know that I can entirely put into words how this book made me feel, but I absolutely adored it. Any book that can make you cry so early on and evoke such depth of feeling is surely going to be a page turner.
The author provoked feelings of empathy for both characters despite some pretty awful behaviour, although hope wins out in the end.
For me, the book spoke to me on a personal level and made me realise just how much my daughter deals with on a daily basis that others take for granted.
I would 100% recommend this moving and emotional read.
The author provoked feelings of empathy for both characters despite some pretty awful behaviour, although hope wins out in the end.
For me, the book spoke to me on a personal level and made me realise just how much my daughter deals with on a daily basis that others take for granted.
I would 100% recommend this moving and emotional read.
December 17, 2021
Gerçekten beklentilerimin üzerine çıkan bir roman. Benim için özel bir yeri olduğundan dolayı bukadar beğenmiş de olabilirim ama dikkat eksikliği ve hiperaktivite bozukluğu olan bir çocuğun yaşadıklarını bukadar iyi bir şekilde aktarılabileceğini düşünmezdim. Başka zihinlerin nasıl hissettiğini anlayabilmek için çok güzel bir kitap olmuş.
Kitap önerisi için teşekkür ederim, muhtemelen bu kitabı gözden kaçırmış olurdum.
Kitap önerisi için teşekkür ederim, muhtemelen bu kitabı gözden kaçırmış olurdum.
June 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and it was nice to see 2 different perspectives, a girl trying to reunite her family by being perfect. And a boy trying to deal ADHD and trying to live in the real scarey world through his eyes.
November 3, 2022
Amazing insides into a child's ADHD mind. Mine said with every page: That's me! some parts are laugh out loud because it captures real life so well.
August 28, 2024
age rating: 8+
November 5, 2024
A good insight for young people into the mind of someone with ADHD and also how hard adjusting to parent break ups are.
April 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this story because it's about this boy and girl who are trying to get their family back together after thier divorce. The two main charecters are Jamie Lee and Elin Watts. Jamie can never concentrate in school due to his ADHD and he always just wants to feel normal. When he starts at the same school as Elin in the same class things get worse than ever. Elin just wants to be perfect to get her Dad to come home. At first she is really mean to Jamie and she calls him a monster which is not nice. There is a school science fair which both Elin and Jamie want to enter. They both do a project for it but right before the fair Elin breaks Jamie's experiment so she could get a spot in the science fair not Jamie. Elin dosent make a place in it anyway. When Jamie see's what she has done he is so angry that when he got home he breaks Elin's room to pieces. I would recommend it to 9 years and over because there are lots of words on the pages and some tricky vocabulary in the book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2019
Fractured families, blended families, school and social issues, ADHD... this book is an honest look at how all these things affect 11 year olds Elin and Jamie as they are forced to live under the same roof. I particularly found the writing of Jamie to be moving.
June 21, 2020
The Boy with the Butterfly Mind by Victoria Williamson, 253 pages. Kelpies (Floris), 2019. $15.
Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Jamie Lee has severe ADHD. His mind goes 100 miles an hour and he has a hard time concentrating on any one thing, making his brain feel like it is full of butterflies. Elin Watts, 12yo, wants to be perfect. She is sure that if she is, she can repair her family and bring her parents back together. Told in alternating chapters, Jamie’s and Elin’s lives collide as they discover that through pain and chaos, maybe their goals are similar and that striving to be “normal” might be an elusive goal, especially when liking yourself is difficult.
A great read for kids dealing with the effects of divorce. Jami’s ADHD makes you weep for him and cringe at the same time. Elin’s character, though trying to be perfect, is highly flawed. Relatable themes of not fitting in, dealing with adversity, self-discovery, and relationships, make this relevant for teens.
Michelle in the Middle
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Jamie Lee has severe ADHD. His mind goes 100 miles an hour and he has a hard time concentrating on any one thing, making his brain feel like it is full of butterflies. Elin Watts, 12yo, wants to be perfect. She is sure that if she is, she can repair her family and bring her parents back together. Told in alternating chapters, Jamie’s and Elin’s lives collide as they discover that through pain and chaos, maybe their goals are similar and that striving to be “normal” might be an elusive goal, especially when liking yourself is difficult.
A great read for kids dealing with the effects of divorce. Jami’s ADHD makes you weep for him and cringe at the same time. Elin’s character, though trying to be perfect, is highly flawed. Relatable themes of not fitting in, dealing with adversity, self-discovery, and relationships, make this relevant for teens.
Michelle in the Middle
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
May 28, 2021
Jamie ve Elin, birbirlerinden tamamen farklı iki çocuklardır. Hayatları ansızın birleşince bu iki çocuk aynı çatı altında kalmak zorunda kalıyorlar. Elin'in tek dileği mükemmel olmak ve eskisi gibi ailesiyle mutlu olmak. Jamie'nin dileği ise normal olmak çünkü hastalığından ötürü okulda canavar olarak tanınıyor ve bu durum onun minik kalbini yaralıyor.
Bu iki güzel çocukların hayatlarını okumak keyifliydi, kitaptan çıkaracağım ders insanları dış görünüşleriyle yargılamadan önce durup düşünmek çünkü büyük olsun küçük olsun fark etmez, herkesin kendisine has bir özelliği ve kişiliği vardır. Böyle biriyle karşılaşınca onunla alay etmek yerine, yanına pozitif ve güler yüzle yaklaşmak her iki taraf içinde olumlu bir sonuca yol açabilir. Benim düşüncem her zaman bu yönde.
Güzel bir kitaptı, okumanızı öneririm. Hayata bakış açınızı değiştirmede yardımcı olacağına eminim 🌸
Bu iki güzel çocukların hayatlarını okumak keyifliydi, kitaptan çıkaracağım ders insanları dış görünüşleriyle yargılamadan önce durup düşünmek çünkü büyük olsun küçük olsun fark etmez, herkesin kendisine has bir özelliği ve kişiliği vardır. Böyle biriyle karşılaşınca onunla alay etmek yerine, yanına pozitif ve güler yüzle yaklaşmak her iki taraf içinde olumlu bir sonuca yol açabilir. Benim düşüncem her zaman bu yönde.
Güzel bir kitaptı, okumanızı öneririm. Hayata bakış açınızı değiştirmede yardımcı olacağına eminim 🌸
December 14, 2024
Simple, heartwarming, but a good representation of ADHD (in boys at least!) & how it leeches into all aspects of life. The way most of Jamie’s life mirrors my own made it hit extra hard. A must-read for anyone with an ADHDer in their life, who wants to understand how it’s like from their POV
July 9, 2023
[3 stars ⭐️.]
November 25, 2022
I love this story. I’ve no doubt it will come to be regarded as a children’s classic for its unflinching portrayal of blended families. It tells the story of Elin and Jamie, children who are both thrown into new family situations they hadn’t wanted or planned for. Elin and Jamie take it in turns to narrate their own (quite different) version of events in alternating chapters.
Jamie suffers from ADHD and is moving far from home to be with his dad who now lives with a woman Jamie has never met. The woman has a daughter, Elin, who desperately wants her mum to get rid of this new man and for her real dad to come home so their old family life can be restored. Elin feels it’s her fault her family fell apart. She thinks she wasn’t good enough to make them all want to stay together. She imagines that if she can be seen to be faultless in her behaviour then maybe her dad will want to come home again. Her impossible wish causes her to become manipulative and scheming and contrary to her nature. She just wants to feel whole again but everything she does to achieve this seems to have the opposite effect.
Jamie also wishes his parents hadn’t separated and found new partners but he is trying hard to make the best of things and get along with everyone. He is partly correct in believing that the trouble caused by his ADHD was the reason for his parent’s breakup. This provokes some degree of self-hatred and self-reproach in his character and the desire to just be ‘normal’ like other kids.
It’s so easy to fall in love with Jamie’s character because of his good-hearted nature and his eagerness to get along with everyone. As he narrates he is full of eccentric fun and energy. The insight we get into his chaotic mind reveals a beguiling fragility and humour behind all his frustrations, anxieties and conflict. From the very first page it’s easy to sympathise with, and root for Jamie, the eponymous ‘boy with the butterfly mind'.
Elin is harder to love because of her refusal to accept the new direction her family life has taken. She has hardened her heart with the aim of sabotaging Jamie’s effort to settle into his new home. Her thoughts become wicked and jealous. Despite her complex character being harder for the reader to warm to I think Elin’s story is the true triumph of this story. Elin’s character challenges the reader to empathise with someone who, on the surface, seems harder to like; someone whose deep suffering is obscured by a veil of mean and jealous behaviour. But Elin is just a child with a broken heart. The immense effort and bravery it takes for her to make a change of heart and finally start to work with Jamie rather than against him, is epic. She begins to accept the changes in her world and the results are truly triumphant.
Due to Williamson’s first-rate writing which seamlessly weaves the narratives, it’s easy to overlook the subtle complexity of this book. There is so much food for thought. The supporting characters have important story arcs of their own- the most touching being that of poor, downtrodden Paige Munro, who first strikes up a friendship with Jamie, and shows that all that glitters is not gold.
This book scores ten out of ten for me. I’d recommend it for any 10 to 15 year old, but adults would enjoy it too. Brill.
Jamie suffers from ADHD and is moving far from home to be with his dad who now lives with a woman Jamie has never met. The woman has a daughter, Elin, who desperately wants her mum to get rid of this new man and for her real dad to come home so their old family life can be restored. Elin feels it’s her fault her family fell apart. She thinks she wasn’t good enough to make them all want to stay together. She imagines that if she can be seen to be faultless in her behaviour then maybe her dad will want to come home again. Her impossible wish causes her to become manipulative and scheming and contrary to her nature. She just wants to feel whole again but everything she does to achieve this seems to have the opposite effect.
Jamie also wishes his parents hadn’t separated and found new partners but he is trying hard to make the best of things and get along with everyone. He is partly correct in believing that the trouble caused by his ADHD was the reason for his parent’s breakup. This provokes some degree of self-hatred and self-reproach in his character and the desire to just be ‘normal’ like other kids.
It’s so easy to fall in love with Jamie’s character because of his good-hearted nature and his eagerness to get along with everyone. As he narrates he is full of eccentric fun and energy. The insight we get into his chaotic mind reveals a beguiling fragility and humour behind all his frustrations, anxieties and conflict. From the very first page it’s easy to sympathise with, and root for Jamie, the eponymous ‘boy with the butterfly mind'.
Elin is harder to love because of her refusal to accept the new direction her family life has taken. She has hardened her heart with the aim of sabotaging Jamie’s effort to settle into his new home. Her thoughts become wicked and jealous. Despite her complex character being harder for the reader to warm to I think Elin’s story is the true triumph of this story. Elin’s character challenges the reader to empathise with someone who, on the surface, seems harder to like; someone whose deep suffering is obscured by a veil of mean and jealous behaviour. But Elin is just a child with a broken heart. The immense effort and bravery it takes for her to make a change of heart and finally start to work with Jamie rather than against him, is epic. She begins to accept the changes in her world and the results are truly triumphant.
Due to Williamson’s first-rate writing which seamlessly weaves the narratives, it’s easy to overlook the subtle complexity of this book. There is so much food for thought. The supporting characters have important story arcs of their own- the most touching being that of poor, downtrodden Paige Munro, who first strikes up a friendship with Jamie, and shows that all that glitters is not gold.
This book scores ten out of ten for me. I’d recommend it for any 10 to 15 year old, but adults would enjoy it too. Brill.
July 20, 2019
This one is a 3.5 for me. It broke my heart at several points, and the author managed to evoke empathy for both of the main characters even though most of my concern was for Jamie. Both Jame lie and Elin Watts are 11, and while they couldn't be more different on the surface, they actually have some things in common. Both find it hard to fit in and be accepted on their own merits by their classmates, and both just want to have things go back to the way they were before their families fell apart. In Jamie's case, his mother's move to the United States with her new partner, Chris, results in Jamie coming to live with his father in Scotland since Chris doesn't really like Jamie or have patience for his ADHD. Elin is a perfectionist to an extreme degree, convinced that if she is perfect enough and does well enough in school, her father will return. But he's already moved on with his new wife, and they have a daughter. Elin, her mother, and Jamie's father all live together, but Elin is sure the arrangement is only temporary. Once Jamie comes to stay with them, though, she is increasingly frustrated by his behavior and the changes in her life. Eventually, the doctors find the right amount of medicine that helps keep him stable but still allows for his creativity to flourish, and he starts doing better at home and at school. Elin simply cannot stand to see all her plans to reunite her parents fail, and she takes several steps intended to harm Jamie. The descriptions of the bullying that both Elin and Jamie endure at school as well as the war being fought at home are well-crafted reminders to teachers and caregivers that things aren't always as they seem to be. I loved watching Jamie's relationship with Paige develop over the course of the book. Reading it may provide some satisfaction for youngsters dealing with their own fractured or combined family as well as encouraging increased understanding of someone life Jamie--or Elin, for that matter. In the end, readers will finish the book with an awareness that no one gets to define what is normal and that perfectionism is not the best goal to have for oneself. While these characters aren't perfect and they do make changes, in the end, what matters is that they figure out whom they are and be happy with that.
September 19, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for this wonderful book that will help increase understanding of severe ADHD and will also be a comfort to students who have experienced divorce.
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Jamie and Elin are completely different except that they are both children of divorce. Jamie is forgetful, impulsive, and scatterbrained because of his severe ADHD. He lives with his mother and her boyfriend, Chris in England, but he misses his dad everyday. Elin is a perfectionist who refuses to meet her new half sister because she’s convinced she can get her parents back together by being the “Perfect Princess.” Elin lives in Scotland with her mother and her boyfriend, Paul...who is also Jamie’s dad. She When Jamie moves in with his dad, Elin and her mom, things get difficult. Elin’s convinced Jamie’s terrible behavior will get he and Paul kicked out, but then Jamie’s behavior improves when he starts ADHD medication for the first time. The entire time Elin is secretly trying to wreak havoc on the blended family, Jamie is attempting to win Elin and her mother over with mixed results. Elin is MEAN -- she interferes with Jamie’s medication, destroys his science project and allows him to be blamed for things he didn’t do in school. Elin eventually realizes Jamie isn’t the threat to her parents reunifying; it’s never going to happen anyway. .
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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. .
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
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〰️
〰️
Jamie and Elin are completely different except that they are both children of divorce. Jamie is forgetful, impulsive, and scatterbrained because of his severe ADHD. He lives with his mother and her boyfriend, Chris in England, but he misses his dad everyday. Elin is a perfectionist who refuses to meet her new half sister because she’s convinced she can get her parents back together by being the “Perfect Princess.” Elin lives in Scotland with her mother and her boyfriend, Paul...who is also Jamie’s dad. She When Jamie moves in with his dad, Elin and her mom, things get difficult. Elin’s convinced Jamie’s terrible behavior will get he and Paul kicked out, but then Jamie’s behavior improves when he starts ADHD medication for the first time. The entire time Elin is secretly trying to wreak havoc on the blended family, Jamie is attempting to win Elin and her mother over with mixed results. Elin is MEAN -- she interferes with Jamie’s medication, destroys his science project and allows him to be blamed for things he didn’t do in school. Elin eventually realizes Jamie isn’t the threat to her parents reunifying; it’s never going to happen anyway. .
〰️
〰️
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. .
〰️
〰️
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
January 21, 2022
Ending scene:
Everyone looks happy tonight, and that's all I care about. I've got a family that accepts me for who I am, and that makes me smile even when I lose.
Life with me is never going to be perfect, but I'm doing my best. I know I'm not broken, and I don't need to be fixed. I might be different, and seem a bit weird at first...maybe if people give me a chance, they'll find they like me...
-Jamie
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This was an adorable story of two very different children, each suffering in their own way. One with ADHD ( and sensory issues). The other with perfectionism.
Oil and water!
Elin (perfectionist) is beyond mean-girl to poor Jamie (ADHD) as she lies, cheats, even messes with his meds! Grr.
But what is in the center of this story is how very similar they actually are.
Both children want their real family back together. Each child thinking they're the reason their parents divorced. Thus if they could just be "Good enough" they could bring the family unit back together.
(Their connection is that Jamie dad is dating/living with Elin mom, thus they're unofficial step-siblings.)
But as a child of a divorce family, that wish isn't always the right one.
There's many reasons couples separate, but the children is rarely -if ever?- one of them.
But a child's mind doesn't think that way.
The beauty of this book is that after MUCH mean-spirited antics, high-octane temper tantrums, and pages of false fantasies, both children see how the family they have, together, is just right.
As well as how happy their parents are in their new lives.
When families separate, often times we get more. As dad and mom move on, it's simple division, more get added to the family tree.
If my parents never divorced I'd not have 3 more sisters! 💓😘
It ends so beautifully with Elin loving Jamie for all he is, both children giving themselves a break to be who they are, and each family living their lives together with those they truly love.
It's a different kind of HEA.
Because neither gets what they "want", but instead get exactly what they longed for: being loved for who they are, while loving one another just the same.
Everyone looks happy tonight, and that's all I care about. I've got a family that accepts me for who I am, and that makes me smile even when I lose.
Life with me is never going to be perfect, but I'm doing my best. I know I'm not broken, and I don't need to be fixed. I might be different, and seem a bit weird at first...maybe if people give me a chance, they'll find they like me...
-Jamie
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This was an adorable story of two very different children, each suffering in their own way. One with ADHD ( and sensory issues). The other with perfectionism.
Oil and water!
Elin (perfectionist) is beyond mean-girl to poor Jamie (ADHD) as she lies, cheats, even messes with his meds! Grr.
But what is in the center of this story is how very similar they actually are.
Both children want their real family back together. Each child thinking they're the reason their parents divorced. Thus if they could just be "Good enough" they could bring the family unit back together.
(Their connection is that Jamie dad is dating/living with Elin mom, thus they're unofficial step-siblings.)
But as a child of a divorce family, that wish isn't always the right one.
There's many reasons couples separate, but the children is rarely -if ever?- one of them.
But a child's mind doesn't think that way.
The beauty of this book is that after MUCH mean-spirited antics, high-octane temper tantrums, and pages of false fantasies, both children see how the family they have, together, is just right.
As well as how happy their parents are in their new lives.
When families separate, often times we get more. As dad and mom move on, it's simple division, more get added to the family tree.
If my parents never divorced I'd not have 3 more sisters! 💓😘
It ends so beautifully with Elin loving Jamie for all he is, both children giving themselves a break to be who they are, and each family living their lives together with those they truly love.
It's a different kind of HEA.
Because neither gets what they "want", but instead get exactly what they longed for: being loved for who they are, while loving one another just the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed Victoria`s debut the Fox Girl and the White Gazelle last year, and I was delighted to find that her second book is just as good, if not even better. This one is also a dual narrative, this time telling the story of Jamie and Elin, who have just become part of the same blended family, and their rather complex relationship. The dual narrative format worked exceptionally well for the story, because it really allows you to get to know both of them and see both sides, as it makes it easy to empathise with them even when you don`t agree with what they`re doing at all- which is very vauge but the thing I`m referencing is a spoiler I really don`t want to give away. I also thought Victoria`s writing was even more amazing in this book than her last, because the viewpoints felt so much like getting into the characters` heads, and I felt like I really understood Jamie (who has ADHD) and Elin (who is a complete perfectionist who just wants her parents to get back together). I will admit to liking Jamie`s perspective slightly more, but only because I found him so utterly lovable; I adored Elin too. I loved the way this ended a lot and overall, I thought it was a moving and thought-provoking read that still manages to be immensely entertaining. 4.5/5
April 16, 2021
Not an easy read
This was the class novel for my 10yr old P6 boys. Teacher started reading it with them during the autumn/winter term but lockdown meant they had to read 2 chapters a week on their own at home. Following lots of complaints from 1 twin who refused to read it (and so then his brother) with comments like" I don't like the book", "didn't choose/want to read that book", I asked my mum if she would read it with them during their daily video calls. Glad I did as the author has tried to tackle many difficult issues - many of which I found upsetting and so too the boys - so it was good that they had the opportunity to discuss both the characters actions and feelings but also their own. It certainly isn't a book I would recommend for a child to read completely on their own - support definitely needed. On the plus side, the book does open up lots of opportunities for discussions on e.g. being different (incl autism), separation/divorce, new siblings, bullying, running away, friendships, tampering with medication. Yes, the book does cover rather a lot of issues - perhaps too many.
This was the class novel for my 10yr old P6 boys. Teacher started reading it with them during the autumn/winter term but lockdown meant they had to read 2 chapters a week on their own at home. Following lots of complaints from 1 twin who refused to read it (and so then his brother) with comments like" I don't like the book", "didn't choose/want to read that book", I asked my mum if she would read it with them during their daily video calls. Glad I did as the author has tried to tackle many difficult issues - many of which I found upsetting and so too the boys - so it was good that they had the opportunity to discuss both the characters actions and feelings but also their own. It certainly isn't a book I would recommend for a child to read completely on their own - support definitely needed. On the plus side, the book does open up lots of opportunities for discussions on e.g. being different (incl autism), separation/divorce, new siblings, bullying, running away, friendships, tampering with medication. Yes, the book does cover rather a lot of issues - perhaps too many.
February 2, 2020
This is an amazing story concerning two end-of-primary-school step siblings, Elin and Jamie, who clash dramatically. Both are undergoing family issues and Elin is efficient, tidy and a high achiever while Jamie has ADHD and is almost Elin's polar opposite although his talents are buried under the ADHD maelstrom in his head. Both main characters are believable and their motivations are honest and understandable while their behaviours are at times shocking. Told in alternate chapters through each of their points of view, we are able to get right inside their heads. I was so absorbed in the turmoil affecting the pair, their parents, their wider families, friends, school and communities, that I completed the book in two sittings and found it highly current, moving and satisfying.
My only thought is: I was surprised the author didn't use a different foodstuff for Jamie's 'Mad Jamie Specials' (peanut butter sandwiches) since most, if not all, schools are peanut-free zones these days due to the prominence of allergies. Might that alienate some?
My only thought is: I was surprised the author didn't use a different foodstuff for Jamie's 'Mad Jamie Specials' (peanut butter sandwiches) since most, if not all, schools are peanut-free zones these days due to the prominence of allergies. Might that alienate some?
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