BUTTERFLY

Plum Coyle hopes her fourteenth birthday will bring her popularity, beauty, and maturity, and she’s willing to do almost anything to make her wishes come true. Narrator Rebecca Macauley conveys the full range of adolescent emotions depicted in Plum's coming-of-age story. Macauley skillfully avoids stereotypes while delivering the dialogue of teenage girls with authenticity. Her Australian accent orients listeners to the novel’s setting, and her characterizations—from that of the meddling woman next door to those of Plum's friends and older brothers—are spot-on. As Plum's poor decisions collide with events beyond her control, Macauley ups the tension, making it difficult to turn away from the inevitable moment when Plum's world crumbles. As listeners empathize with Plum's pain and feelings of betrayal, they’ll be rooting for her to find the strength to stand on her own. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]