Trauma In Paper Butterflies By Lisa Heathfield

Looking at society today, one is frequently reminded to keep one’s head held high, to push through, and trust the process. In Paper Butterflies, a novel beautifully written by Lisa Heathfield, tells the reader a story of trauma over the course of 14 years. Lisa Heathfield published Paper Butterflies, her second novel, in 2016, which focuses on the main character, June Kingston. June tells the reader of her difficulty speaking up for herself, as well as years of mistreatment. The use of a first person narrative from Before until After the incident of the fire impacts the reader’s understanding of June processing her abuse, trauma, and resilience with a spark of hope. Intentionally, Lisa Heathfield forms connections through knowledge of the character. One learns about June living an abusive life from her

Imminently, one feels unsettled, feeding someone against their will sends chills through the bones. Yet, going on 14 years old, June sits with Mrs. Andrews, her school principal, in a meeting with Kathleen to face a minor consequence for hitting her classmate, Cherry. Little did Mrs. Andrews and Kathleen understand that Cherry was laughing at June, “Her (Kathleen) hand grabs me roughly. Kathleen tilts me forward and I cough them out”(page 94). How Kathleen’s mistreatment goes unnoticed, one cannot begin to understand; this happens simply after a minor mistake on June’s part. As June takes on being 15 years old, she rides on her bike, gifted by her dad, to escape Kathleen by going to where her mom, Lorette, passed away. Having gone through years of physical and verbal abuse, Kathleen is relentless and accuses “So you’ve been coming here. Kathleen drops my mom’s broken heron on the grass”(page 168-169). The reader can feel the utter cruelty intended in the words articulated by Kathleen as well as the actions that follow towards June, pain would scorch through anyone by experiencing and being the victim of the wrath of someone