The Butterfly’s Sting

Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Bo Clark navigates a harrowing existence under the guardianship of her abusive Uncle Jack after she and her younger siblings, Kate and Zach, are placed in his care. To secure their future and escape Jack’s control, Bo dedicates herself to winning an underground fight club tournament, aiming for a $25,000 prize that would fund her plan for legal guardianship. The narrative intensifies as Bo journeys through the brutal fighting world of adult men while trying to keep her personal life separate. This novel is an unflinching and visceral exploration of child abuse, resilience, and the sacrifices made for family. Bo’s first-person narration is raw and immediate, effectively conveying her deep love for her siblings and the constant tension of her abusive home life and the illegal fights. The fight scenes are exceptionally vivid and intense, placing the reader directly in the ring with Bo. While not featuring illustrations, the prose itself is highly descriptive, painting a clear and often disturbing picture of Bo’s physical and emotional landscape. The story’s pacing is relentless, reflecting Bo’s desperate race against time, and its emotional depth makes it a truly impactful read. This is a great addition to fictional sports books sections, especially because it is a boxing one featuring a female.