The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor - Stefanie Parks - ★★★★.½

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AUTHOR: Stefanie Parks
GENRE: Middle-grade Fantasy.
RATING: 4.50 stars.

In a Nutshell: A beautiful middle-grade story combining magical realism and grief in a memorable way. Loved the plot, the setting, the themes, and the magic! Much recommended. 

Story Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Amy has not spoken to anyone since two years. To help her recovery, her parents send her to her paternal aunt, an eccentric woman named Wilma who lives in Meadow Hill Manor in the town of Belper in Derbyshire. Amy doesn’t miss London, or the stress her parents indirectly put on her to talk, but she does miss one thing… or maybe, one person… 
Her new abode is an ancient home, quiet and secluded, but at night, there are strange tinkling sounds coming from somewhere above. Who is making these noises? Is the house haunted? Should she confront whatever is making this nocturnal racket, or would it be better to hide away, as she has been doing in the last couple of years? Will Amy be able to find her voice again in Meadow Hill Manor? 
The story comes to us in Amy’s first person perspective. 


I love all kinds of children’s books, but middle-grade fiction has a special place in my heart. I love how this genre tackles difficult themes in a way its young readers can understand, while still giving its plots and setting enough depth to engage slightly advanced readers. (Something most YA authors need to work on.)

This book is no exception. Be it the themes or the writing or the setting or the fantastical elements, this 112-page novel hits the mark on almost all counts. Even if it has a greater proportion of tragic/serious content than is typical in this genre, the author handles it in an age-appropriate manner. (That said, better to give this novel to sensitive children only after the adults in their lives have whetted it.)

The title gives you an open hint of the two main components of the story – butterflies and Meadow Hill Manor. I will not elaborate on the first as I don’t want to get into a single spoiler. But suffice to say, there’s no way you aren’t going to love the titular butterflies. Most children love books with animals and magic, and this story has both of these elements in abundance and handles them in a fantastic way.  

As regards the house itself, the manor is brought alive by the lush writing. The imagery is so vivid that the entire house and everything in it is stunning to visualise. Though the story is set in the contemporary timeframe, Meadow Hill Manor adds a touch of history and mystery to the plot. Despite the elaborate descriptions, the pacing is still very fast and the plot tight enough to complete in a single sitting.

Amy is excellent as the central character. The impact of the past on her mental health is written realistically. While the initial part of the book feels a bit repetitive due to Amy’s monotonous thoughts, the plot soon explains why she behaves the way she does. A child struggling with past/present trauma might empathise more with Amy’s struggles. But even otherwise, little readers will be able to feel her pain and sense of loss.

I loved the representation of Amy’s selective traumatic mutism; her struggle with her voice feels so true to life. It is ironic that we “hear” the story in the voice of a character who doesn’t speak. So we are privy to all her thoughts and indecisions, and also to her grief and joy, but without direct spoken dialogues for most of the journey. The first-person perspective is put to excellent use in this novel, as we get to see her mental struggles directly.

Of the remaining characters, Aunt Wilma is the most impactful. Opening her home to a niece she has never met before cannot have been easy, but Wilma proves herself a trusting soul who is always ready to listen. Adults could learn much about effective communication and the healing power of love from Wilma’s behaviour. Amy’s new classmate Gillian is a fun character, adding some light moments when the going gets tough for our little narrator – the perfect friend. I wish Amy’s parents had been given a little more active role in the proceedings. 

The ending is just right for this tale: not perfectly happy, not perfectly complete, but perfectly hopeful. It might seem a bit ad hoc to some readers, but I love how it ends on an important turning point for Amy. 

All in all, a beautiful and meaningful story that was almost perfect for me, and will be outstanding for its target age-group of 8-12 year olds.

Strongly recommended, except to overly-sensitive little middle graders. If this author’s debut work is so powerful, I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

My thanks to Love Books Tours and author Stefanie Parks for a complimentary copy of 'The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor', and for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

PS: If you love this story, don't forget to sign up on the author's website to access a free prequel. Click on https://www.sparkswriting.com/freebies. 

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Blurb: 

Amy has been sent to live with her aunt at Meadow Hill Manor in Belper, Derbyshire, to help her ‘recover’. Rumours abound that the house is haunted, but Amy doesn’t care. It’s just another place to live and Amy is determined not to care about anything. What would be the point?
Amy’s obsession with shutting the world out is interrupted when she hears strange noises in the house. Here she finds herself drawn to a mysterious, magical power hidden within the building. Should she ignore it, or should she face her fears and embrace this strange, new magic?
Heart-warming and unique, The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor is a moving fantasy fiction which sensitively weaves themes of grief and anxiety along with friendship and discovery to deliver a truly magical story.


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Author Stefanie Parks: 

Stefanie Parks was born and raised in the beautiful county of Derbyshire which became the inspiration and setting for her stories. 
She trained as a teacher at Derby University and after working locally for five years, decided to explore the world with her husband. 
Together they worked their way around a handful of countries and are currently living in Christchurch, New Zealand. Stefanie has written consistently during her travels; her stories always linking her back to her homeland.
Her debut book is The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor. This children's fantasy weaves together themes of grief, healing and friendship to deliver a truly magical story.

Connect with her on:





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This has been a stop on the #TheButterfliesOfMeadowHillManor blog tour conducted by Love Books Tours. (@lovebookstours on Twitter and Instagram.) Thanks for visiting!

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