When the Butterflies Came - Hardcover

Little, Kimberley Griffiths

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0545425131 ISBN 13: 9780545425131

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2013

Synopsis

A moving story of a young girl's struggle with love, loss, family, and magic from the beyond, from critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little.

Everybody thinks Tara Doucet has the perfect life. But Tara’s life is anything but perfect: Her dear Grammy Claire has just passed away, her mom is depressed and distant, and she and her sister, Riley, can’t agree on anything. But when mysterious and dazzling butterflies begin to follow her around after Grammy Claire’s funeral, Tara knows in her heart that her grandmother has left her one final mystery to solve. Tara finds a stack of keys and detailed letters from Grammy Claire. Note by note, Tara learns unexpected truths about her grandmother’s life. As the letters grow more ominous and the clues harder to decipher, Tara realizes that the secrets she must uncover could lead to grave danger. And when Tara and Riley are swept away to the beautiful islands of Chuuk to hear their grandmother’s will, Tara discovers the most shocking truth of all, one that will change her life forever. Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a magical, breathtaking mystery full of loss and love, family and faith.

About this title

About the Author

Kimberley Griffiths Little is the author of THE HEALING SPELL and CIRCLE OF SECRETS, as well as dozens of short stories that have appeared in numerous publications, and the novels BREAKAWAY, ENCHANTED RUNNER, and THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER. She is the winner of the Southwest Book Award. Kimberley lives near the banks of the Rio Grande in New Mexico in a solar adobe house with her husband and their three sons.

From Booklist

Twelve-year-old Tara’s chaotic life has always be steadied by one person—her beloved Grammy Claire. Now Grammy Claire is gone, and the Louisiana home that has sheltered Tara’s family for generations may be repossessed. In the midst of her grief, Tara’s heart is lightened when an extraordinary butterfly flies through her bedroom window and lands on Tara’s finger. Then a mysterious letter arrives for Tara—from Grammy Claire! This is the first clue in a secret mission that Grammy Claire seems to be directing from beyond the grave. Tara receives a set of variously shaped keys, each one unlocking the next clue, always written in Grammy Claire’s handwriting. In many ways this is an old-fashioned mystery that depends on Tara’s wits, not, refreshingly, from magical solutions and supernatural powers. While sophisticated readers may find the sequence of keys and clues somewhat unbelievable, young mystery lovers will enjoy the chance to test their own detection skills. Recommend this to readers who have enjoyed books by Andrew Clements or Blue Balliett. Grades 5-8. --Diane Colson

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0545425131
• ISBN 13: 9780545425131
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336