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Nobody's Butterfly
Cobweb ghosts are so inconvenient—especially grumpy ones with bad breath. Don’t they know silence is golden?
Johnny Strong is the expert; he hasn’t spoken in two years. Not one word to anyone except the ghost. The main purpose of life is to avoid people and being noticed. Friends? He doesn’t need them; and certainly nobody wants him despite what the ghost says.
Until a new boy appears—Finn Lyons, teenage wizard. He eats frogs, concocts potions, and is always hungry. Not only does Finn stand up for Johnny; he actively seeks his company and soon becomes part of life.
First love; family and words; a heady mix to go in the potion but how will it all turn out?
Hubble bubble; Johnny Strong’s in trouble! Silence is not always golden in this sweet, zany story of purest magic.
Johnny Strong is the expert; he hasn’t spoken in two years. Not one word to anyone except the ghost. The main purpose of life is to avoid people and being noticed. Friends? He doesn’t need them; and certainly nobody wants him despite what the ghost says.
Until a new boy appears—Finn Lyons, teenage wizard. He eats frogs, concocts potions, and is always hungry. Not only does Finn stand up for Johnny; he actively seeks his company and soon becomes part of life.
First love; family and words; a heady mix to go in the potion but how will it all turn out?
Hubble bubble; Johnny Strong’s in trouble! Silence is not always golden in this sweet, zany story of purest magic.
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 30, 2017
4.5
This was just adorable.Once again I'm blown away by these Authors words.Their writing is so engaging and their characters are so endearing.
Johnny Strong hasn't spoken in two years.Living in a children's home his only friend is a ghost ,a shadowy figure in a cobwebbed corner of his room.But his world is about to be rocked by a tornado of a boy who crashes into his life and won't let go.Finn believes Johnny called for him......
Finn Lyons is a true force of nature,a whirlwind who has Johnny's head spinning as he slowly starts to put the light back in Johnny's life.I absolutely adored Finn,his wit,his determination,his optimism, even though his young life has been far from perfect.
There's laughter and tears and two boys who find each other at just the right time in their lives.I could have read about Johnny and Finn forever but I think their story ended perfectly.
Highly Recommended.
I received an Arc of Nobody's Butterfly from the Authors,in exchange for an honest review.
This was just adorable.Once again I'm blown away by these Authors words.Their writing is so engaging and their characters are so endearing.
Johnny Strong hasn't spoken in two years.Living in a children's home his only friend is a ghost ,a shadowy figure in a cobwebbed corner of his room.But his world is about to be rocked by a tornado of a boy who crashes into his life and won't let go.Finn believes Johnny called for him......
(...)"I am Finn Lyons,and I came because you called."
Finn Lyons is a true force of nature,a whirlwind who has Johnny's head spinning as he slowly starts to put the light back in Johnny's life.I absolutely adored Finn,his wit,his determination,his optimism, even though his young life has been far from perfect.
There's laughter and tears and two boys who find each other at just the right time in their lives.I could have read about Johnny and Finn forever but I think their story ended perfectly.
Highly Recommended.
I received an Arc of Nobody's Butterfly from the Authors,in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2017
~4.5~
Thank you to my not-so-secret Elf (you know who you are!) for gifting me this lovely book. I don't read YA, but I will always make an exception for Al & Claire.
This story broke my heart. It made me cry and it made me smile. I cheered when Johnny found his voice!
There are ghosts in cobwebs, spells & wizards, pies of kindness, and lists of things lost.
Also things found: Finn
There is no magic here.
Unless you count friendship and cuddles and someone hearing you even when you don't say a word.
We all deserve to be somebody's butterfly.
Thank you to my not-so-secret Elf (you know who you are!) for gifting me this lovely book. I don't read YA, but I will always make an exception for Al & Claire.
This story broke my heart. It made me cry and it made me smile. I cheered when Johnny found his voice!
Inside, Johnny shone so brightly that probably astronomers thousands of miles away thought he was a star.
There are ghosts in cobwebs, spells & wizards, pies of kindness, and lists of things lost.
Also things found: Finn
There is no magic here.
Unless you count friendship and cuddles and someone hearing you even when you don't say a word.
We all deserve to be somebody's butterfly.
December 1, 2017
~5+++ stars!~
I have a small list of LGBTQ YA books I want my son to read when he's a teenager himself. This book made it to the top of that list, and this is the best recommendation a book will ever get from me.
This book addresses young adults like Johnny, who feel lost, alone and voiceless. It addresses brave teenagers like Finn, who power their way through life's unfairness. And it addresses me too because sometimes I get caught up in my disappointment about the system I work in, but I don't want to become Greg.
Johnny Strong lost everything, including his voice, before ending up in a kids' home. His only friend is the cobweb ghost on his bedroom window. He latches onto that ghost, because it's the only thing that's left of what used to be.
Finn is the new boy in Windybank, and he's a force of nature. Fierce and wise, Finn will become Johnny's wizard! The one who will get him to find his voice, open up and move on.
There is fun and laughter and teenage adventures, like spying on the weird guy next door and making dog food pies. There is first love and that mixture of innocence and heat, that you never forget. And there are a lot of tears too. When we find out what Johnny's list is about. When Johnny finds his voice. When Finn shows him that there's magic all around, and a lot of cobwebs to be found. When Greg finally realises.
The ending scene, straight out of a classic Christmas tale, left me with a tearful smile and a full heart. This is YA, yes, but somehow I just know that Johnny and Finn will always be each other's butterflies.
I'm always stunned by the authors' seamless, evocative, narrative. This one was no exception. It's my personal favorite Christmas story so far this year, and I hope everyone gives it a chance.
Highly recommended!
*Review posted on Gay Book Reviews.*
I have a small list of LGBTQ YA books I want my son to read when he's a teenager himself. This book made it to the top of that list, and this is the best recommendation a book will ever get from me.
This book addresses young adults like Johnny, who feel lost, alone and voiceless. It addresses brave teenagers like Finn, who power their way through life's unfairness. And it addresses me too because sometimes I get caught up in my disappointment about the system I work in, but I don't want to become Greg.
Johnny Strong lost everything, including his voice, before ending up in a kids' home. His only friend is the cobweb ghost on his bedroom window. He latches onto that ghost, because it's the only thing that's left of what used to be.
Finn is the new boy in Windybank, and he's a force of nature. Fierce and wise, Finn will become Johnny's wizard! The one who will get him to find his voice, open up and move on.
There is fun and laughter and teenage adventures, like spying on the weird guy next door and making dog food pies. There is first love and that mixture of innocence and heat, that you never forget. And there are a lot of tears too. When we find out what Johnny's list is about. When Johnny finds his voice. When Finn shows him that there's magic all around, and a lot of cobwebs to be found. When Greg finally realises.
The ending scene, straight out of a classic Christmas tale, left me with a tearful smile and a full heart. This is YA, yes, but somehow I just know that Johnny and Finn will always be each other's butterflies.
I'm always stunned by the authors' seamless, evocative, narrative. This one was no exception. It's my personal favorite Christmas story so far this year, and I hope everyone gives it a chance.
Highly recommended!
*Review posted on Gay Book Reviews.*
December 1, 2017
Muchas veces me pasa que cuando una historia me gusta mucho es cuando menos sé qué decir, porque por mucho que diga nunca podré ser fiel a lo escrito, y fundamentalmente nunca podré ser fiel a lo que he sentido leyendo. Esta es una de esas veces.
Pocas cosas me emocionan tanto como un YA, una historia para adolescentes, probablemente porque he estado muy cerca de ellos durante toda mi vida profesional. Pienso en cuando yo era adolescente y me sentía perdida, confusa o sola, o en todos esos adolescentes a los que he conocido y se han sentido igual, y pienso en el bálsamo que habría sido leer un libro como este. Porque este tipo de libros no solo te entretienen, te acompañan, te hablan, te escuchan...
Nobody´s Butterfly es la historia de Johnny y Finn, es un cuento navideño lleno de magia, pero también de realidad donde los lectores vemos cómo dos personas se encuentran cuando más se necesitan, cómo todos anhelamos compañía, que nos escuchen, nos quieran, y cómo aunque la vida está llena de cosas feas, entre ellas, surgen a veces cosas muy bonitas que nos llenan de esperanza. En una atmósfera que en un muchos momentos me ha recordado a Dickens con esa casa, esos niños, esas puertas, esas ventanas, ese fantasma, esos trabajadores sociales, esos personajes llenos de ternura; con unos personajes principales adorables y a los que es imposible no querer proteger; con un fantasma personificación de todo lo que Johnny anhela. Me gustaría hacer una mención especial, el trabajador social, lo fácil que es para algunos de nosotros ponerse en su piel, cómo a veces perdemos el sentido y la importancia de lo que estamos haciendo porque otras cosas nos lo nublan y necesitamos un empujón para ver la realidad otra vez.
Como suele pasar con estos autores es un relato muy emocional, en el que todas las palabras tienen un por qué y a veces no estás seguro de dónde te quieren llevar. Además, en este caso, es una lectura muy sensorial, es imposible no ver la tela de araña, imposible no oler a Finn, oir a Johnny, notar el sabor del queso junto con Finn o tocar a los dos para abrazarlos.
Un YA muy emotivo, si a mi me lo ha parecido, me abruma el pensar lo que sentiría un público YA. Muy recomendable, yo he llorado con hipos y después he abrazado mi kindle al terminar.
Pocas cosas me emocionan tanto como un YA, una historia para adolescentes, probablemente porque he estado muy cerca de ellos durante toda mi vida profesional. Pienso en cuando yo era adolescente y me sentía perdida, confusa o sola, o en todos esos adolescentes a los que he conocido y se han sentido igual, y pienso en el bálsamo que habría sido leer un libro como este. Porque este tipo de libros no solo te entretienen, te acompañan, te hablan, te escuchan...
Nobody´s Butterfly es la historia de Johnny y Finn, es un cuento navideño lleno de magia, pero también de realidad donde los lectores vemos cómo dos personas se encuentran cuando más se necesitan, cómo todos anhelamos compañía, que nos escuchen, nos quieran, y cómo aunque la vida está llena de cosas feas, entre ellas, surgen a veces cosas muy bonitas que nos llenan de esperanza. En una atmósfera que en un muchos momentos me ha recordado a Dickens con esa casa, esos niños, esas puertas, esas ventanas, ese fantasma, esos trabajadores sociales, esos personajes llenos de ternura; con unos personajes principales adorables y a los que es imposible no querer proteger; con un fantasma personificación de todo lo que Johnny anhela. Me gustaría hacer una mención especial, el trabajador social, lo fácil que es para algunos de nosotros ponerse en su piel, cómo a veces perdemos el sentido y la importancia de lo que estamos haciendo porque otras cosas nos lo nublan y necesitamos un empujón para ver la realidad otra vez.
Como suele pasar con estos autores es un relato muy emocional, en el que todas las palabras tienen un por qué y a veces no estás seguro de dónde te quieren llevar. Además, en este caso, es una lectura muy sensorial, es imposible no ver la tela de araña, imposible no oler a Finn, oir a Johnny, notar el sabor del queso junto con Finn o tocar a los dos para abrazarlos.
Un YA muy emotivo, si a mi me lo ha parecido, me abruma el pensar lo que sentiría un público YA. Muy recomendable, yo he llorado con hipos y después he abrazado mi kindle al terminar.
November 28, 2017
This novella was chock full of every bit of the fun, quirky goodness that I've come to expect from Claire and Al's collaborations.
As the story began, it was immediately apparent that Johnny had suffered great loss, as he hadn't spoken a single word to anyone at Windybank in the two years since he'd arrived. Well, anyone other than the ghost that lived in a cobweb outside of his room, that is.
Then we met Finn, who blew in like a force of freaking nature, with his claim that Johnny was a seeker and Finn came after hearing Johnny's call. Because he's Johnny's own personal wizard, after all. And unlike everyone else, he actually heard what Johnny was thinking, without a single word uttered, so he had to be magical, right?
I absolutely loved the easy camaraderie between Johnny and Finn, after Finn had insinuated himself into Johnny's life, much to Johnny's initial horror.
But this story wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, as the pair began to bond, then transform their easy friendship into something 'more'.
Johnny's loneliness and isolation were evident on every single page, as was the fact that Finn's past had included confinement and starvation. Finn seriously never stopped eating and hoarded food under his bed, like regular feedings would stop on a moment's notice.
In spite of those darker elements, I found this story to be an absolute delight, as Johnny finally began to overcome his fear of abandonment, and Finn at last had a true friend in his corner, fighting for him, where others had previously failed him so miserably.
I realize that this was part of the mystery and charm of the story; however, when I finally got to the last page, I was still left with so many questions that I *really* wanted answered.
Such as...
GAH! I'm a complete sucker for actually *knowing* everything when all is said and done, so those open-ended details nearly made me mental.
I'd rate this one at around 4.25 stars and highly recommend it to fans of Al and Claire's previous fantastical tales.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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December 14, 2017
I had to think on this for a bit. It’s not because I was indecisive on how to rate this story. It is extremely well written, lyrical and quite beautiful really. That is the easy part.
The hard part? Putting into words how I feel about Johnny and Finn. It is part of the reason why I do not normally read books where the characters are teenagers. I made an exception here because it’s Claire and Al and I knew it would be extraordinary, and it was.
You see, this is a story of finding your voice, making peace with the past and learning to move forward. Johnny and Finn, through friendship, caring, laughter and love, find their voice. It is a wondrous sight to see.
Why is this hard for me? Because I know Johnny and Finn, and a hundred more boys and girls like them. Their stories do not normally end as well. I feel the pain of their reality, every single day. It saddens me. How we weep for the children on the island of misfits. The unplaceable, the unreachable. It hurts.
We do the best that we can for Johnny and Finn. Hoping that they find their voice and their way in the world.
I took great comfort here in seeing the possibility of new growth, butterflies spreading their wings and learning to fly. It gives me some peace in knowing that I have not hardened to the idea. My empathy is as strong as it ever was. We misfits must stay united after all.
Highly recommended. I wish it were on every bookshelf in the school library.
For Johnny and Finn and the kids whose voices have been silenced. Let us hear what you have to say. Some day, you will also take flight.
Hope. There is always hope.
The hard part? Putting into words how I feel about Johnny and Finn. It is part of the reason why I do not normally read books where the characters are teenagers. I made an exception here because it’s Claire and Al and I knew it would be extraordinary, and it was.
You see, this is a story of finding your voice, making peace with the past and learning to move forward. Johnny and Finn, through friendship, caring, laughter and love, find their voice. It is a wondrous sight to see.
Why is this hard for me? Because I know Johnny and Finn, and a hundred more boys and girls like them. Their stories do not normally end as well. I feel the pain of their reality, every single day. It saddens me. How we weep for the children on the island of misfits. The unplaceable, the unreachable. It hurts.
We do the best that we can for Johnny and Finn. Hoping that they find their voice and their way in the world.
I took great comfort here in seeing the possibility of new growth, butterflies spreading their wings and learning to fly. It gives me some peace in knowing that I have not hardened to the idea. My empathy is as strong as it ever was. We misfits must stay united after all.
Highly recommended. I wish it were on every bookshelf in the school library.
For Johnny and Finn and the kids whose voices have been silenced. Let us hear what you have to say. Some day, you will also take flight.
Hope. There is always hope.
January 4, 2018
These two authors have a knack for giving me unusual characters - the guys who are damaged, lost, neuroatypical, down on their luck, and pushed into uncomfortable roles. And yet they manage a tone that has light touch, a matter-of-factness to it, a determination and warmth, that wrings the heart but is not manufactured angst. They make these men multifaceted, rounded, fascinating, heart-breaking, and ultimately uplifting. With this YA book they have done it again.
Johnny is an older teen who is in a care home. We don't ever get all the details of why his past life fell apart, but what happened has left him without family, bruised at heart, and so lost that he hasn't spoken aloud since he arrived two years before. The other kids in the home come and go, and none of them have tried to get close to weird Johnny who freaks out and hates sports and is an easy target at school. His best moments are in his room, talking to the "ghost" in the spiderweb outside his window, finally spilling his hurts and fears and questions to the only confidant he trusts.
Enter Finn, a boy his age who first arrived very ill in a wheelchair. Now healthier, Finn pushes into every part of Johnny's life, teasing him, supporting him, calling himself Johnny's wizard. He's funny and skinny and crazy and hoards food, and sees things that may or may not be there. But he also hears the words Johnny can't manage to say, and wants to be around him. Finn is a gift to a very isolated boy who desperately needs someone on his side, someone who sees the ordinary in him more than the extraordinary. Finn in his playful off-kilter way, just assumes Johnny will be along for the ride. And Johnny can't help warming his heart at the flames of Finn burning bright in his drab world.
This is lovely, heartwarming, and the villains here turn out to be human too. Highly recommended tale of two damaged sixteen-year-olds finding new life through their connection to each other.
Johnny is an older teen who is in a care home. We don't ever get all the details of why his past life fell apart, but what happened has left him without family, bruised at heart, and so lost that he hasn't spoken aloud since he arrived two years before. The other kids in the home come and go, and none of them have tried to get close to weird Johnny who freaks out and hates sports and is an easy target at school. His best moments are in his room, talking to the "ghost" in the spiderweb outside his window, finally spilling his hurts and fears and questions to the only confidant he trusts.
Enter Finn, a boy his age who first arrived very ill in a wheelchair. Now healthier, Finn pushes into every part of Johnny's life, teasing him, supporting him, calling himself Johnny's wizard. He's funny and skinny and crazy and hoards food, and sees things that may or may not be there. But he also hears the words Johnny can't manage to say, and wants to be around him. Finn is a gift to a very isolated boy who desperately needs someone on his side, someone who sees the ordinary in him more than the extraordinary. Finn in his playful off-kilter way, just assumes Johnny will be along for the ride. And Johnny can't help warming his heart at the flames of Finn burning bright in his drab world.
This is lovely, heartwarming, and the villains here turn out to be human too. Highly recommended tale of two damaged sixteen-year-olds finding new life through their connection to each other.
January 24, 2021
Re-read January 2021
I love this book.
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“Once, he said, ‘I am nobody’s butterfly,’ and it made me cry because it’s such a lonely thing not to be lovely to anyone.”
This book! This is why I read. What a beautiful story. I absolutely love the writing of these two authors. I loved how magical this story felt. How subtle we learn about the characters and how everything fell into place.
Johnny lives in Windybanks, a home for children in between foster parents. Johnny has been living there for 2 years and hasn’t spoken a word since. He only talks to the ghost who lives in the cobweb in his room.
One day there is a new boy at the home. Finn is loud and weird and is always eating. And tells Johnny he is his wizard. Finn is there to help Johnny, or so he says.
And somehow Johnny finds himself going along with Finn, making potions, going on quests. But Johnny still doesn’t like Finn. Right…?
I so loved this. I’ve read several books by these authors and they always get me with their beautiful words. I loved the myserious vibe when I wasn’t quite sure what was going on at first. But slowly we learn more about these boys and why they are the way they are. And it was wonderful. Especially the bond Johnny and Finn end up forming. They would have done anything for each other.
This is not your regular YA, with 2 boys meeting and falling in love. No this is about forming a connection when both boys have endured a lot in the past. This is about finding that person who will make you feel alive again.
It’s is never mentioned how old Johnny and Finn were but implied they were around 16/17 (I think). And there is no sex. But there is enough kissing and there is talk of sex. Totally appropriate for their age and their background.
Such a beautiful story. I can’t wait to reread.
I love this book.
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“Once, he said, ‘I am nobody’s butterfly,’ and it made me cry because it’s such a lonely thing not to be lovely to anyone.”
This book! This is why I read. What a beautiful story. I absolutely love the writing of these two authors. I loved how magical this story felt. How subtle we learn about the characters and how everything fell into place.
Johnny lives in Windybanks, a home for children in between foster parents. Johnny has been living there for 2 years and hasn’t spoken a word since. He only talks to the ghost who lives in the cobweb in his room.
One day there is a new boy at the home. Finn is loud and weird and is always eating. And tells Johnny he is his wizard. Finn is there to help Johnny, or so he says.
And somehow Johnny finds himself going along with Finn, making potions, going on quests. But Johnny still doesn’t like Finn. Right…?
I so loved this. I’ve read several books by these authors and they always get me with their beautiful words. I loved the myserious vibe when I wasn’t quite sure what was going on at first. But slowly we learn more about these boys and why they are the way they are. And it was wonderful. Especially the bond Johnny and Finn end up forming. They would have done anything for each other.
This is not your regular YA, with 2 boys meeting and falling in love. No this is about forming a connection when both boys have endured a lot in the past. This is about finding that person who will make you feel alive again.
It’s is never mentioned how old Johnny and Finn were but implied they were around 16/17 (I think). And there is no sex. But there is enough kissing and there is talk of sex. Totally appropriate for their age and their background.
Such a beautiful story. I can’t wait to reread.
November 27, 2017
5+++ because...
Johnny dear sweetheart Johnny..... Johnny with his beautiful mind.... Johnny who sees the world how it is... Johnny... my heart swells thinking of Johnny
He sees the new boy arrive ...Finn... fragile....Finn... magic...Finn...my heart is chanting "Finn"
"I didn’t want the big things—Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon—just the rain and snow.”
I always peek at the last page....but not with these authors...I'm so afraid to kill the magic... because there is always magic...their stories light me up and make me glow for weeks
“Danger is ever around us, my seeker. Feel it and enjoy.”
What a graceful moment to meet your kindred spirit... Johnny and Finn thank God they found each other. With finding the other they found so much more than their future.
They are so wonderful together. These boys....so precious....they made me laugh and cry...
"People make no sense to me. They really don’t.” He flung his head back. “At least you’re normal.”
It may look it's written in a sort of fluffy way....but be aware.... ghad I cried my eyes out.
Of course you can read it as the words put on paper... but if you can FEEL it....
For me it was about the magic of life...feathering light and heavy as lead...about surviving, about the awkwardness and awareness of the world against a complicated hurt spirit. About growing up, break free.... without losing yourself and your magic, your heart and the love....
There are just a few stories who makes me howl from out my toes...this story did.
Claire and Al ...masters with words, masters with feelings, masters with magic.
Best story toward Christmas everrr...
Kindly received an ARC from the authors and you know...when i opened this book... I swear sparkling glitter flew up into the sky...
For the ones who don't know about these authors.... start right now...like yesterday!!
Johnny dear sweetheart Johnny..... Johnny with his beautiful mind.... Johnny who sees the world how it is... Johnny... my heart swells thinking of Johnny
He sees the new boy arrive ...Finn... fragile....Finn... magic...Finn...my heart is chanting "Finn"
"I didn’t want the big things—Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon—just the rain and snow.”
I always peek at the last page....but not with these authors...I'm so afraid to kill the magic... because there is always magic...their stories light me up and make me glow for weeks
“Danger is ever around us, my seeker. Feel it and enjoy.”
What a graceful moment to meet your kindred spirit... Johnny and Finn thank God they found each other. With finding the other they found so much more than their future.
They are so wonderful together. These boys....so precious....they made me laugh and cry...
"People make no sense to me. They really don’t.” He flung his head back. “At least you’re normal.”
It may look it's written in a sort of fluffy way....but be aware.... ghad I cried my eyes out.
Of course you can read it as the words put on paper... but if you can FEEL it....
For me it was about the magic of life...feathering light and heavy as lead...about surviving, about the awkwardness and awareness of the world against a complicated hurt spirit. About growing up, break free.... without losing yourself and your magic, your heart and the love....
There are just a few stories who makes me howl from out my toes...this story did.
Claire and Al ...masters with words, masters with feelings, masters with magic.
Best story toward Christmas everrr...
Kindly received an ARC from the authors and you know...when i opened this book... I swear sparkling glitter flew up into the sky...
For the ones who don't know about these authors.... start right now...like yesterday!!
January 30, 2021
3.5 Stars
Whimsical with a touch of magic, this writing duo always seems to do YA quite right.
Johnny lives in a foster/orphan home, and due to his many losses, has escaped into self inflicted mutism. When a whirlwind of energy in the form of new resident Finn, imposes on Johnny ‘s isolated life, he doesn’t dare to hope for any sort of lasting happiness.
Good thing Finn is stubborn and resilient, worming his way into Johnny’s heart.
Emotional with a satisfying win for both these boys who’ve been through a lot of tragedy. Happily, their Christmas wishes come beautifully true as they fall in love!
Whimsical with a touch of magic, this writing duo always seems to do YA quite right.
Johnny lives in a foster/orphan home, and due to his many losses, has escaped into self inflicted mutism. When a whirlwind of energy in the form of new resident Finn, imposes on Johnny ‘s isolated life, he doesn’t dare to hope for any sort of lasting happiness.
Good thing Finn is stubborn and resilient, worming his way into Johnny’s heart.
Emotional with a satisfying win for both these boys who’ve been through a lot of tragedy. Happily, their Christmas wishes come beautifully true as they fall in love!
January 29, 2018
Another beautiful story from my favorite author-duo! Loved it!!
A BIG thank you to the mysterious elf Catch Me If You Can for gifting me this book!! I love these two authors and can't wait to read their newest work!
A BIG thank you to the mysterious elf Catch Me If You Can for gifting me this book!! I love these two authors and can't wait to read their newest work!
November 26, 2017
Nobody's Butterfly is a story about finding a friend, finding your voice, and realizing you don't have to be alone.
Johnny doesn't speak to anyone except the ghost in his window. It's been that way for years. Finn, who is new at the school, always knows what Johnny says even though Johnny only thinks the words. Finn says he's Johnny's wizard and that Johnny called for him, so he came.
I do enjoy this duo's quirky writing style. Their stories may be fairly short, but I've never found them lacking. They write with such whimsy, I can't help but fall in love with the worlds they create. Nobody's Butterfly is a wonderful addition to their arsenal. It's a little magical and a lot sweet and it left me with a silly grin on my face.
I'd call that a success.
Recommended.
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ARC of Nobody's Butterfly was generously provided by the authors, in exchange for an honest review.
Johnny doesn't speak to anyone except the ghost in his window. It's been that way for years. Finn, who is new at the school, always knows what Johnny says even though Johnny only thinks the words. Finn says he's Johnny's wizard and that Johnny called for him, so he came.
I do enjoy this duo's quirky writing style. Their stories may be fairly short, but I've never found them lacking. They write with such whimsy, I can't help but fall in love with the worlds they create. Nobody's Butterfly is a wonderful addition to their arsenal. It's a little magical and a lot sweet and it left me with a silly grin on my face.
I'd call that a success.
Recommended.
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ARC of Nobody's Butterfly was generously provided by the authors, in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2017
There's magic in the air this evening...
Magic in the air
The world is at her best, you know
When people love and care...
"One More Sleep 'Til Christmas" from 'A Muppets Christmas Carol'
'Nobody's Butterfly' is probably the most unusual Christmas story that I've read this year but it's also the most magical story that I've read this year.
In the two years that he's been at Windybank, Johnny Strong hasn't said a word to a living soul...emphasis on 'living' because he has spoken with Napoleon. As a matter of fact Napoleon is the only person he has spoken. Which wouldn't be so unusual if Napoleon wasn't a ghost. Johnny just wants to go unnoticed, fly under the radar.
For Johnny the status quo is blown to pieces when Finn Lyons arrives at Windybank. Finn's a wizard and he's looking for Johnny because Johnny's a seeker and Finn's his wizard. Finn actively seeks out Johnny and while Johnny initially seems resistant to Finn's company...Finn is a force of nature and one that's not to be denied.
This one was a bit of a slow start for me and I really wasn't sure that I was going to warm up to it but to be honest the combination of Johnny and Finn ended up being pure magic...not of the explosive kind, no for me it was subtle, slow, smooth and it just wrapped itself around my heart without me even realizing it. I went from 'this is cute and sweet' to 'ohmygod, these boys? No child should have their lives...please can I feed them milk and cookies and wrap them up in love.' And yet in spite of how tragic each of their lives were they found each other and they gave their hearts to each other.
Along with the darker side of things and the sadness of what each boy endured there is a story about coming of age, finding a friend and yes, someone to love there are some pretty entertaining adventures happening as well.
'Nobody's Butterfly' isn't a story that wraps things up with a neat little bow because there are some things that can't really be explained...things like ghost, things like people or ghost knowing things that it doesn't seem like they should know...things like magic.
There's a lot of magic in this story and it's a lovely reminder that magic exist for all of us...it just comes in different forms whether it's a ghost who talks to us and gives us the strength to get through a day, a friend who hears us...really hears us or gives us a hug when we need it most...magic is out there waiting to touch our hearts and our souls if we'll only let it.
'Nobody's Butterfly' is a sweet story that's low on sex and filled with a story that's warm and touches the heart.
*************************
An ARC of "Nobody's Butterfly" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Magic in the air
The world is at her best, you know
When people love and care...
"One More Sleep 'Til Christmas" from 'A Muppets Christmas Carol'
'Nobody's Butterfly' is probably the most unusual Christmas story that I've read this year but it's also the most magical story that I've read this year.
In the two years that he's been at Windybank, Johnny Strong hasn't said a word to a living soul...emphasis on 'living' because he has spoken with Napoleon. As a matter of fact Napoleon is the only person he has spoken. Which wouldn't be so unusual if Napoleon wasn't a ghost. Johnny just wants to go unnoticed, fly under the radar.
For Johnny the status quo is blown to pieces when Finn Lyons arrives at Windybank. Finn's a wizard and he's looking for Johnny because Johnny's a seeker and Finn's his wizard. Finn actively seeks out Johnny and while Johnny initially seems resistant to Finn's company...Finn is a force of nature and one that's not to be denied.
This one was a bit of a slow start for me and I really wasn't sure that I was going to warm up to it but to be honest the combination of Johnny and Finn ended up being pure magic...not of the explosive kind, no for me it was subtle, slow, smooth and it just wrapped itself around my heart without me even realizing it. I went from 'this is cute and sweet' to 'ohmygod, these boys? No child should have their lives...please can I feed them milk and cookies and wrap them up in love.' And yet in spite of how tragic each of their lives were they found each other and they gave their hearts to each other.
Along with the darker side of things and the sadness of what each boy endured there is a story about coming of age, finding a friend and yes, someone to love there are some pretty entertaining adventures happening as well.
'Nobody's Butterfly' isn't a story that wraps things up with a neat little bow because there are some things that can't really be explained...things like ghost, things like people or ghost knowing things that it doesn't seem like they should know...things like magic.
There's a lot of magic in this story and it's a lovely reminder that magic exist for all of us...it just comes in different forms whether it's a ghost who talks to us and gives us the strength to get through a day, a friend who hears us...really hears us or gives us a hug when we need it most...magic is out there waiting to touch our hearts and our souls if we'll only let it.
'Nobody's Butterfly' is a sweet story that's low on sex and filled with a story that's warm and touches the heart.
*************************
An ARC of "Nobody's Butterfly" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2021
3.5 Stars
Davis and Stewart may be two distinct authors, but their combined voice is like no other.
Once again, these authors have managed to deliver a very beautiful and emotionally arousing story about two very damaged teenaged boys, who manage to find hope and healing in each other’s company.
If it wasn’t for my befuddlement in the first half, as I scrambled to understand what was even happening, then this would have been a much higher rating for me, because that second half was pretty damn lovely.
Davis and Stewart may be two distinct authors, but their combined voice is like no other.
Once again, these authors have managed to deliver a very beautiful and emotionally arousing story about two very damaged teenaged boys, who manage to find hope and healing in each other’s company.
If it wasn’t for my befuddlement in the first half, as I scrambled to understand what was even happening, then this would have been a much higher rating for me, because that second half was pretty damn lovely.
December 1, 2017
Think that says everything....thanks Claire and Al...ooh, and Finn and Johnny for the smiles and the laughter. Loved it.
February 24, 2018
Brilliant writing. I have come to expect nothing less from these authors.
Johnny and Finn have both endured things no one, particularly at their age, should have to experience. Meeting each other saves them both, and their story is heart-breaking, adorable, funny and very very moving, all rolled together in one fabulous, intriguing and ingenious package.
Needless to say I would have loved more.
Highly recommended.
Johnny and Finn have both endured things no one, particularly at their age, should have to experience. Meeting each other saves them both, and their story is heart-breaking, adorable, funny and very very moving, all rolled together in one fabulous, intriguing and ingenious package.
Needless to say I would have loved more.
Highly recommended.
December 2, 2017
4.5 stars
Beautiful and heartwarming!
Beautiful and heartwarming!
December 8, 2017
sweet, poignant and beautifully written.
Review is coming up on blog soon
In the meantime, highly recommended
Full review at the blog
https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...
Review is coming up on blog soon
In the meantime, highly recommended
Full review at the blog
https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...
December 6, 2017
4.5/5.0
Nobody's Butterfly hit me like The Invasion of Tork did when I read it last year. I loved it. It was heart wrenching and thought provoking. The characters are powerful. Johnny and Finn are survivors, young men who have lost so much and experienced so much pain, yet they have developed their own coping mechanisms, while helping them, also casts them as other, eccentrics, those to be picked on. My heart broke for them, yet their moments together brought light to the story. Hope. A boy wizard who hears Johnny's thoughts and a ghost in a cobweb. Moments that felt like magic may be real. There are many questions that I would love to see answered or explored in more detail. That said, I enjoyed the book and the lovely ending. I do hope there is a second book. Recommended read. <3
Nobody's Butterfly hit me like The Invasion of Tork did when I read it last year. I loved it. It was heart wrenching and thought provoking. The characters are powerful. Johnny and Finn are survivors, young men who have lost so much and experienced so much pain, yet they have developed their own coping mechanisms, while helping them, also casts them as other, eccentrics, those to be picked on. My heart broke for them, yet their moments together brought light to the story. Hope. A boy wizard who hears Johnny's thoughts and a ghost in a cobweb. Moments that felt like magic may be real. There are many questions that I would love to see answered or explored in more detail. That said, I enjoyed the book and the lovely ending. I do hope there is a second book. Recommended read. <3
December 27, 2017
4.5 stars. Lovely and sweet, left behind a true, warm glow inside. <3
December 1, 2017
Editor's Review:
I've rewritten this review twice already - far many more times than that in my head. I think this happens when something is important to you. Survival mode kicks in and you think...I really shouldn't share this with the rest of the world. It's a bit like when cats bury their poop - not to hide it from predators, but so they don't challenge more dominant cats.
I'm not going to share the personal reasons why Nobody's Butterfly is important; what I will say is what other readers have said: I wish there had been stories like this when I was an adolescent. I'll also admit that I cried many tears as I edited, and when I went back and read it again. And I'll read it again.
My tears were not because the story is sad or 'angsty'. I despise the use of the word 'angst' in relation to young adults. It makes their problems sound petty and irrelevant when they're not, especially for young adults like Johnny and Finn - the central characters in Nobody's Butterfly. In England alone, there are 17,000 young people like Johnny and Finn. I can't even comprehend that figure.
I'd say my tears were 50% desperation (Johnny's - I felt all of it) and 50% relief that something good came out of it. That's the wonder of fiction - the possibility of a happy ending, not only in the story we're reading - Nobody's Butterfly has a wonderful conclusion - but that we can make those happy endings happen for real. And we can.
We still need more stories written for young adults - really for young adults. It's not about the age of the characters, nor the omission of explicit content. It's about power and empowerment. Young adult fiction needs to empower young adults and portray the world through their eyes. It takes a great deal of skill to do that as an adult author, no matter that we were all young adults once.
Claire Davis and Al Stewart have those skills by the bucket load. Nobody's Butterfly delves into some of the uglier things young people have to deal with, most of which come from adults exercising their power over adolescents and children. That's the way society is set up - those over the age of 18 are automatically responsible for those under the age of 18, and a lot of adults confuse responsibility with power. The trouble is, how do we make them understand?
Putting power in young people's hands means not turning a blind eye or assuming we understand, not imposing our own agenda. It's hard, especially for anyone working with young people. Targets, evidence, policies, procedures...the paperwork is worse than pointless; it's counterproductive because it stops us doing our job - to teach, to care. To listen.
I can't put into words how much I love this story - for its magic, its wonderful fuzzy happy Christmas-ness, and for how brilliantly it illustrates what can happen when a young adult speaks up and for once someone takes notice. Our responsibility as adults is not always to fix problems, but to stand by, just in case, while young adults fix those problems for themselves. That's empowerment.
I've rewritten this review twice already - far many more times than that in my head. I think this happens when something is important to you. Survival mode kicks in and you think...I really shouldn't share this with the rest of the world. It's a bit like when cats bury their poop - not to hide it from predators, but so they don't challenge more dominant cats.
I'm not going to share the personal reasons why Nobody's Butterfly is important; what I will say is what other readers have said: I wish there had been stories like this when I was an adolescent. I'll also admit that I cried many tears as I edited, and when I went back and read it again. And I'll read it again.
My tears were not because the story is sad or 'angsty'. I despise the use of the word 'angst' in relation to young adults. It makes their problems sound petty and irrelevant when they're not, especially for young adults like Johnny and Finn - the central characters in Nobody's Butterfly. In England alone, there are 17,000 young people like Johnny and Finn. I can't even comprehend that figure.
I'd say my tears were 50% desperation (Johnny's - I felt all of it) and 50% relief that something good came out of it. That's the wonder of fiction - the possibility of a happy ending, not only in the story we're reading - Nobody's Butterfly has a wonderful conclusion - but that we can make those happy endings happen for real. And we can.
We still need more stories written for young adults - really for young adults. It's not about the age of the characters, nor the omission of explicit content. It's about power and empowerment. Young adult fiction needs to empower young adults and portray the world through their eyes. It takes a great deal of skill to do that as an adult author, no matter that we were all young adults once.
Claire Davis and Al Stewart have those skills by the bucket load. Nobody's Butterfly delves into some of the uglier things young people have to deal with, most of which come from adults exercising their power over adolescents and children. That's the way society is set up - those over the age of 18 are automatically responsible for those under the age of 18, and a lot of adults confuse responsibility with power. The trouble is, how do we make them understand?
Putting power in young people's hands means not turning a blind eye or assuming we understand, not imposing our own agenda. It's hard, especially for anyone working with young people. Targets, evidence, policies, procedures...the paperwork is worse than pointless; it's counterproductive because it stops us doing our job - to teach, to care. To listen.
I can't put into words how much I love this story - for its magic, its wonderful fuzzy happy Christmas-ness, and for how brilliantly it illustrates what can happen when a young adult speaks up and for once someone takes notice. Our responsibility as adults is not always to fix problems, but to stand by, just in case, while young adults fix those problems for themselves. That's empowerment.
October 6, 2019
Absolutely beautiful.
January 19, 2018
What can I say about those authors other than thank you for another beautiful, unique story!
December 1, 2017
Johnny Strong hasn't spoken for two years unless you count the ghost living in the cobweb by his window, of course. But then Finn comes - Finn who's always there, who is loud and eats all the time, Finn who claims to be Johnny's wizard. Finn makes potions and he knows what Johnny is thinking. And then there is the neighbour...
I know many reviewers say Davis and Stewart's writing style is quirky, and it might be, but I'm always thinking it's poetic. No one paints a picture like the two of them do, few highlight the little things the way they do, and Nobody's Butterfly is just as magical as the other stories they've written...it even has a wizard...and a butterfly.
If you like YA, you'll love this. If you don't, read it anyway. If you're looking for erotica, this is not for you!
I know many reviewers say Davis and Stewart's writing style is quirky, and it might be, but I'm always thinking it's poetic. No one paints a picture like the two of them do, few highlight the little things the way they do, and Nobody's Butterfly is just as magical as the other stories they've written...it even has a wizard...and a butterfly.
If you like YA, you'll love this. If you don't, read it anyway. If you're looking for erotica, this is not for you!
December 22, 2017
Claire Davis and Al Stewart write so beautifully. It's this mixture of poetry and social-consciousiness, but it's so much more than that. Very few writers can invoke such emotion in me. I honestly envy the hell out of their talent.
Nobody's Butterfly is everything I love in a Christmas Story. It has the darkness of reality, but that darkness is illuminated by the magic and the hope and the beautiful language, and a perfect happy ending.
A magicical, YA romance for the holiday.
And proceeds going to Children In Need.
Recommended for romance readers of all ages.
Nobody's Butterfly is everything I love in a Christmas Story. It has the darkness of reality, but that darkness is illuminated by the magic and the hope and the beautiful language, and a perfect happy ending.
A magicical, YA romance for the holiday.
And proceeds going to Children In Need.
Recommended for romance readers of all ages.
November 27, 2017
⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
YA has to be an amazingly difficult genre to write. You're writing for teenagers (just kids, really) and yet there's such a huge adult audience that you have this delicate balance to pull off. It has to be right (relatable) for kids, and yet enjoyable for grownups. And God knows the older we get, the harder it becomes to remember the kids we were.
This felt perfect to me. Quirky, sweet, unselfconscious and hopeful. And there was a real kind of magic to it.
Johnny hasn't spoken a word to anyone in 2 years. Surrounded by grownups that don't understand, he only has his silent talks with his cobweb ghost. He doesn't know it, but Johnny needs magic more than anyone, and it comes in the form of Finn Lyons, a boy wizard there just for him.
This story does such a wonderful job of recreating that feeling of isolation and loneliness I remember from growing up.
But there is also the silliness, adventure, and that first scary but joyful and exhilarating exploration of love.
Really just wonderful.
Definitely recommended for those younger readers and the older YA audience.
I was kindly given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It had nothing to do with my puppy dog eyes.
YA has to be an amazingly difficult genre to write. You're writing for teenagers (just kids, really) and yet there's such a huge adult audience that you have this delicate balance to pull off. It has to be right (relatable) for kids, and yet enjoyable for grownups. And God knows the older we get, the harder it becomes to remember the kids we were.
This felt perfect to me. Quirky, sweet, unselfconscious and hopeful. And there was a real kind of magic to it.
Johnny hasn't spoken a word to anyone in 2 years. Surrounded by grownups that don't understand, he only has his silent talks with his cobweb ghost. He doesn't know it, but Johnny needs magic more than anyone, and it comes in the form of Finn Lyons, a boy wizard there just for him.
This story does such a wonderful job of recreating that feeling of isolation and loneliness I remember from growing up.
But there is also the silliness, adventure, and that first scary but joyful and exhilarating exploration of love.
Really just wonderful.
Definitely recommended for those younger readers and the older YA audience.
I was kindly given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It had nothing to do with my puppy dog eyes.
December 6, 2017
Review to follow on blog
January 2, 2018
It’s not that I don’t have words to express what I felt. I do. But I just don’t think they’re gonna do justice to what this story actually sums up. This happens sometimes with novels that make me blubber like an idiot. This sure did.
On the surface, it may seem like a cute bubbly story of two teens fighting battles of their own kind and how they connect. Sure. Now here’s the fucked up part. For a second I wanted to be them. For a second I wanted to be crazy, hurt and in pain just like them, to understand the depth of the intimacy they felt for each other. Because reading it felt almost like I can empathise with their pain but I haven’t lived it you see and I wanted to, to experience the whirl of emotions they felt exactly like in the book when they met each other. So, almost.
I loved the second half because that’s when everything starts to make sense and their little intimacies just killed me. And the buildup to Johnny’s outburst was so heart wrenching. Thank the lord I didn’t read it on the subway, or people would think me a fool crying like the way I did.
Read it. Experience it. And cherish it. Also, it’s a short so you don’t have to be sad for a long time.
On the surface, it may seem like a cute bubbly story of two teens fighting battles of their own kind and how they connect. Sure. Now here’s the fucked up part. For a second I wanted to be them. For a second I wanted to be crazy, hurt and in pain just like them, to understand the depth of the intimacy they felt for each other. Because reading it felt almost like I can empathise with their pain but I haven’t lived it you see and I wanted to, to experience the whirl of emotions they felt exactly like in the book when they met each other. So, almost.
I loved the second half because that’s when everything starts to make sense and their little intimacies just killed me. And the buildup to Johnny’s outburst was so heart wrenching. Thank the lord I didn’t read it on the subway, or people would think me a fool crying like the way I did.
Read it. Experience it. And cherish it. Also, it’s a short so you don’t have to be sad for a long time.
December 8, 2017
I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, I do have to say though if you've not read any books by these authors, you're missing out big time. I've read a multitude of Christmas stories this last month, and this is up there with the best. It's all about first love and family, it also deals with the issues of mental health and children in care.
As with all of their books, this was written beautifully and had an almost fairy tale quality to it. Ultimately, it's a story of hope, and magic at Christmas time.
As with all of their books, this was written beautifully and had an almost fairy tale quality to it. Ultimately, it's a story of hope, and magic at Christmas time.
January 19, 2018
This was soo beautiful. I can't believe how much I cried. It went all the way to the ugly cry stage. I wish these authors would write a full length novel... then again, I might not survive due to low water levels in my body.
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