An emotional rollercoaster that will have you shouting and crying the whole way, but loving the stormy ride.
“I’d known it was going to be awful when Mom died, but I never imagined things could slide to these depths.” Chloe Vanderbrooke has more on her plate than most sixteen-year-olds could ever imagine. Besides watching her mother fight a prolonged and losing battle with cancer, she’s got the never-ending looks of pity from classmates, the grating optimism of her well-meaning aunt, and an unrelenting amount of school work. But beyond these headaches and heartbreaks, something malicious is waiting for her. Chloe is just looking for anything normal in her topsy-turvy life: normal food, normal friends, normal communication that doesn’t revolve around her mom’s death. All of this comes wrapped in a charming package when Andrew, her aunt’s sometimes-live-in brother, saunters into her life. Sure, he’s a little older, but Andrew’s got an awesome personality, has done so many things, and really seems to get her. Easy conversation transforms into seemingly harmless flirtation over the course of time, but when Andrew forcibly kisses Chloe, a dangerous line is crossed. With her heart clouded by fear and guilt, Chloe deals with the vile imposition by ignoring it. The constant threat of Andrew, relentless grief for her mother, and the stress of living with emotionally distant family members contribute to some bad choices, setting Chloe on a path she may not recover from.
Swatting at Butterflies is a heart-wrenching story about a strong girl backed into an unforgiving corner. The vividly descriptive nature of Fanning’s writing makes it easy to form an instantaneous bond with Chloe, feeling as though you already know so much about her, even though you’ve only just met. As Chloe makes her decisions, some good and some truly awful, readers will react with empathy or frustration, but will definitely be moved by her plight. There are so many familiar moments and charming anecdotes, making the relationship between Chloe and her mom feel authentic and warm. One sweet memory, about the two of them listening to reggae music together through an open window, made me well up, thinking of the tender bond that had been severed when cancer demanded its price. It is this love and devotion that makes a book with such mature themes not only bearable, but enjoyable. Her closest friends prove to be a repository of encouragement and support, rounding out an exceptional cast of multi-faceted characters. Unreserved and honest, Swatting at Butterflies is an emotional rollercoaster that will have you shouting and crying the whole way, but loving the stormy ride.
