When The Butterflies Came

When The Butterflies Came

Product Description A moving story of a young girls 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 Taras 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, cant agree on anything. But when mysterious and dazzling butterflies begin to follow her around after Grammy Claires 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 grandmothers 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 grandmothers 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. From Booklist Twelve-year-old Taras chaotic life has always be steadied by one personher beloved Grammy Claire. Now Grammy Claire is gone, and the Louisiana home that has sheltered Taras family for generations may be repossessed. In the midst of her grief, Taras heart is lightened when an extraordinary butterfly flies through her bedroom window and lands on Taras finger. Then a mysterious letter arrives for Tarafrom 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 Claires handwriting. In many ways this is an old-fashioned mystery that depends on Taras 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 Review Praise for CIRCLE OF SECRETS Littles rich, vivid prose and characterization create an intriguing universe in which realism and mysticism intertwine as the storys secrets unravel. --SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred review Readers will revel in the literary journey through a rare and unusual way of life. --BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDRENS BOOKS Praise for THE HEALING SPELL An incantational tale of Cajun magic and gators in the bayou and of the love and silence between mother and daughter. --Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A YEAR DOWN YONDER Little explores the extremes of childhood guilt and its consequences in this harsh yet well-crafted story about fully drawn people. The bayou, with its rich culture, is an atmospheric character that overlays the story with mystery and dread. A special offering for readers seeking a challenge of the heart as well as the mind. --BOOKLIST 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.