Chasing Butterflies

Gr 9 Up—Even though Nia Daniels lost her mother when she was young, she still has her beloved father to support her. She lives a blessed life in Long Beach, CA, where she goes to high school and writes poetry. That is, until her daddy dies suddenly and she discovers that he isn't her real father. Her biological father has been in prison the last 16 years and is ready to have her in his life again. When she is sent to live with him for the summer in the New Jersey projects, it's a jarring experience. This book contains a lot of slang, and supporting characters engage in a number of sexual encounters. The lingo is easy to understand most of the time, and Nia herself has to acclimate to her new environment and the vernacular that it requires. The N-word is never uttered but is suggested and replaced with other terms. Drug use is present throughout. The work authentically portrays the tragedy of losing a cherished parent and how a teen copes with such an event. Some plotlines could have been wrapped up more effectively, but overall this title is unputdownable. The poetry written by Nia is particularly wonderful.