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Butterflies in the System

By

Loved it! 😍

A powerful story about tough, resilient kids dealing with the hand they were dealt, for better or worse.

I had never read a story about teens in the youth protection system, so it instantly piqued my interest. This is one of those books that covers important topics that aren't always easy to read about but are necessary to know because it's the reality for many of these adolescents. What I truly loved about this book is that it's a character-driven story and that, regardless of the decisions that they make, you still can't help but root for these teenagers from beginning to end. Because they are kids dealing with hard circumstances that not everyone can relate to. No matter how terrible their choices are or how unreasonable their thoughts may have been in my mind, I just wanted them to be okay. And that's what they wanted for each other too. Making your own found family is a big component of this book, which I deeply appreciated.


The main issue I had with the book was the multiple chapters that covered a lewd money-making scheme that the main characters had concocted. When I read the idea for their "business," I was like . . . huh? It was so over the top and off-the-wall that there is no way that someone would fall for it in the real world. But in the end, it felt like dark humor, which I'm a sucker for.


Jane Powell does a beautiful job of walking us through the lives of multiple teenagers in a situation that even if you can't relate to their circumstances, you can relate to their complex feelings and emotions. Being misunderstood, lost, angry, like you don't have a voice in your own life. We've all been there. Taking a peek behind the heartbreaking stories of living in the system is something that I'm happy I was able to experience through this incredible writing.

Reviewed by

As both a freelance writer and a bookworm, being a reviewer is a massive career goal of mine! I'm also interested in expanding my range of genres. My extensive experience in writing and journalism allows me to use words in a way that has an effect on the reader.

The Morning After

About the author

I am an avid writer, with two published YA novels, short stories, a children's book, and several opinion pieces. I'm also an alumna of youth protection services in Montreal, of which inspired my latest novel, "Butterflies in the System." view profile

Published on October 30, 2020

Published by

90000 words

Contains mild explicit content ⚠️

Genre: Young Adult

Reviewed by