Code Name: Butterfly

by أحلام بشارات, Nancy Roberts (Translator)

Should you feel bad if your dad works for the Israeli occupiers? What if he loses his job? And how are you supposed to cope when someone close to you dies?

Butterfly is smart. Some people even say she’s shrewd, but that doesn’t make life any less confusing. Every day throws up new questions and some are too big for her to handle alone. Squirrelling away the difficult ones in her treasure chest, Butterfly creates a place of strength in her imagination. While her classmates turn to protest and violence, Butterfly finds her own form of resilience, her own secret way to find peace in a world of conflict and uncertainty.

Written with ironic humour and touching idealism, Butterfly looks back at a turbulent summer in her early teens, drawing us into her world of adult hypocrisy, sibling rivalries, power struggles with her school friends, unrequited love... and the daily tensions of Palestinian life under military occupation. A teenage perspective on one of the most protracted conflicts of our times, Code Name: Butterfly is a story for all teens grappling with friendship, family and the emotional storms ahead.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Middle East, Contemporary, Historical Fiction

97 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[ala' · Rating 4 out of 5]

واحد من كتبي المفضلة ، رغم عدم امكانية ملمح ما للفراشة التي تتحدث عنها الكاتبة . الرواية تدور كلها في جو الاسئلة التي لا تكف البطلة عن سؤالها ، السؤال عن الوطن عن الحب عن الانثى ، كل تلك الاسئلة التي تراود الفتيات في تلك المرحلة الحرجة من اعمارهم

كانت مشكلتي الوحيدة أحيانا ، أني كنت أضيع بين صديقتي البطلة حين تحدثهم ، كما أنني لم استوعب سبب لموت نزار - ولن يستوعبه القارىء ما لم يقابل احلام بشارات ويتحدث معها كما فعلت أنا - ،

هناك هنة روائية سرعان ما تدراكتها الكاتبة ، ما عدا هذا يبقى الكتابم ن كتبي المفضلة فعلا :)

[Røbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the perspective of an adolescent girl in Palestine, this book packs a huge amount in less than 100 short pages. There is the standard fare of teen books -- family, friendship, puberty -- albeit in some ways unfamiliar to Western teens. As well as the inevitable background of the wider politics and conflict of the region which intrudes on daily life in ways small and large. There is a lot in the characters which will resonate with readers everywhere, and this combined with the fast-moving writing make for a very engaging book.

The length and teen protagonists might put this in the YA bracket, but there is plenty here to interest the adult reader. Indeed, this book has somewhat dispelled my prejudice against reading YA books as an adult. I think the difference is that it unflinchingly engages with the wider political world without resorting to fantasy worlds. A frank, thoughtful and engaging read which I'd recommend for all ages.

[Maroua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Butterfly, go flying over the water like a seagull. I'd love t have a sean to float over. Palestine used to have twwo seas--thee Mediterranean and the Dead sea-- but both of them have been stolen. It also had a lake, Lake of Tiberias, and that was stolen, too.

Butterfly is a book about a young girl (unnamed) with endless questions on different topics which she prefers to keep in what she calls' treasure chest'. Questions on family, friends, growing up and the settler, "... Is Baba siding with the occupation the way Haya and Mays want me to believe?" (54)

If the protagonist was an adult under the Isreali occupation everything would be clear. There would be more of answers, explnatation nd history about the question of Palestine, but because she is young, she does not know what is going, yet she keeps on wondering and that was my FAVOURITE part.
Written in a sarcastic way, Butterfly is another truer voice from Palestine, a person whose mind has not been sharpened.

[Amy Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

(By an Arab woman for reading women challenge)
I hadn't heard of this before doing some research into the prompt but this sounded great. A child's view from occupied Palestine 🇵🇸, we see normal teenage issues like high school crushes rub up against child 'martyrs' killed in plain sight. All while she's trying to discern which questions she's allowed to ask without disrupting her perceived 'honour'. Very powerful.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, straight-forward YA writing that gives a cultural glimpse into Palestinian life. There's still not a lot of Arabic YA writing, so it ends up being on the top end of quality by default. But even despite that it's still an interesting, enjoyable story written by capable hands. And for Arabic learners, this is a lot easier to understand than most of the literature I've come across as a student of Arabic.

[إسراء قراقع · Rating 2 out of 5]

أنهيتها ولم أجد فيهاهدفاً معيناًَ!
أعطيتها نجمتان رغم خلوها من الهدف ومن عنصر التشويق؛ لأن فيها وصفاً لطيفاً لحياة أهل القرى البسطاء.. ستكون مسلية لو قرأت خلال سفرٍ قصير أو خلال العودة من الجامعة

[Kathleen McKim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read by a Palestinian author about growing up in Palestine, Code Name: Butterfly by Ahlam Bsharat, fluttered across my desk yesterday. I had been eagerly awaiting this one for two reasons. The first, it was written by a non-diasporic Palestinian, and two, it is a young adult novel written both in Arabic and English. It's very hard to find young adult lit in Arabic. There isn't much out there. I had high hopes for this one since it is on the IBBY Honour List. Bsharat gives the reader a glimpse into the world of teenage girls, in general. Their peer relationships, their sibling and family relationships, their naughtiness. These things are universal. What is not universal, however, is that every character in the book knows someone who has been killed, jailed or humiliated by the rule of another country's law. In Palestine, it's not unusual for a new husband to die and the bride then wed to a younger brother. It's not unusual for your crush to be killed by a soldier. It's not unusual to visit your grandparents who live on the outskirts of town in a tent village. Most distressing is the book's motif. The protagonist, who we only know as butterfly, is never allowed to give voice to the questions she has about growing up under conflict and oppression. She puts her questions in a metaphorical box and then seems to fly above them in the final chapter, which is poetic narrative. Butterfly has a fragile freedom, light and colorful, but governed by wind and gravity, forces beyond her control.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially Butterfly - we only get to know her code name, not her real name - seems like your average teenager. Rowing with her siblings and friends, mocking the adults, fussing about boys and asking herself tons of questions. She doesn't get to keep a diary but a treasure chest. In this treasure chest she keeps the questions she's asking herself but that she finds to awkward to pose to another.
What I liked about this book is the way the main character is maturing. Life is not easy for a Palestinian girl living in occupied territory. For starters when her sister is being married off to someone living in Saudi Arabia. Seeing her sister off at the airport (in Jordan) makes her realise she's in fact misses Palestine when she's away.
But life carries on. The family gets to endure some hardship. Her dad, workin for settlers gets sacked and detained when something goes wrong. Butterfly's love interest becomes a martyr.
Butterfly finds out she's stronger than she thought: happiness seems to come from within as we learn as the book ends.

[MyBooksWorldM · Rating 2 out of 5]

عن الكتاب: تحكي لنا الكاتبة عن فتاة مراهقة فلسطينية، مع عائلتها من اخوانها و والديها في المدينة الى الجدين في المخيم. من خلال هذه الرواية القصيرة تسرد لنا بعض من يومياتها في المدرسة مع صديقتيها لميس وهيا، مع اسرتها في البيت.... عن محفظتها السرية أين تُخفي جميع أسئلتها التي لا إجابة لها أو تخاف السؤال عنها، و عن المشكلة التي تعاني منها ألا و هي الضحك في المواقف غير المناسبة منذ فترة المراهقة الى يوم تخلصها منها بفصل أبيها عن العمل في حقول المستعمر، و استشهاد حبيبها السري "نزار" المكنى أبو عمار (يستخدم الفلسطينيون أسماء غير أسمائهم كنوع من حماية المناضلين من الاحتلال) و نزوحها من المدينة الى المخيم عند جدّيها و لماذا أطلقت على نفسها اسم حركي (الفراشة)!!
_________________________
رأيي الشخصي: تندرج هذه الرواية في الرواية القصيرة لليافعين، تصدرت هذه الرواية لائحة الشرف للمجلس العالمي لكتب اليافعين (مرر الصورة الى 👉🏼👉🏼)، ارادت من خلال هذه الرواية ان تعطينا لمحة عن يومياتها في بلد مستعمَر، شخصيا لم أقرأ لهذه الكاتبة (أحلام بشارات) من قبل، استعملت اسلوب لغوي جدّ سهل مع وجود معجم في الأخير و شرح للكلمات العامية، أنصح بها المبتدئين

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Butterfly never lets us know her real name, but her perceptions and observations make her a character that's larger than life. Set in Palestine, Butterfly experiences a summer of ponderings, unrequited love, and the meaning of 'honor.' Her world is a treasure chest full of unexplored secrets, ranging from why her sister Zaynab needs blankets and hot tea every month to questions about the Israeli occupation in Palestine. It's raw and heartfelt - when Nizar starts a relationship with Mays instead of Butterfly, who has been standing at the door watching him pass by every day, you feel the heartbreak and anguish the same way you mourn for Butterfly's world full of confusion, doubt, and loss. The fact that it's common for someone to be a martyr or discriminated by the Israelis (like her father, who lost his job) adds another layer of sorrow that masks Butterfly's innocence and her opinion on how her world is shifting.

Yes, this book is short, but it's full of food for thought. Most of it is contained in a little treasure chest underneath a tile in her bedroom - or so Butterfly says.

[Avery Fischer Udagawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A swift yet thought-provoking read, this novel unfolds in occupied Palestine where a girl comes of age, seldom finding the answers to her most pressing questions: Why does her older sister weep? Is her father collaborating with the occupiers? Does Nizar like her? Can she remain friends with Mays and Haya at school despite the storms their village must weather?

Code Name: Butterfly opens a window on Palestine through the musings of an observant, relatable main character whom readers will remember.

[Dr. Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good (not great) book from a Palestinian teen's perspective, but not for those who have no political history of the region. As a Native American, I liken it to the books on Pocahontas that are in every way whitewashed of her struggle and sacrifice. If an American teen were to pick it up and read that the men were imprisoned, one might easily jump to the conclusion that they stole something rather than gave something, e.g. their freedom for the cause. It would not take more than a page or two in the beginning to describe the short history of the scene.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little tale about a young girl growing up in Nablus, Palestine. The novella doesn't assume knowledge of Palestine and it also doesn't necessarily provide much context (it was translated into English so the original audience was an Arab one). That said, it's a glimpse inside a girl coming of age under occupation and coming to terms with her identity that young adult readers around the world can benefit from reading. It will certainly raise a lot of questions, and hopefully push young people to read more such novels about Palestine by Palestinian authors.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Code Name: Butterfly has a lot in common with many other coming-of-age novels I've read. The main character, who is unnamed apart from a code name "Butterfly" she has picked for herself, goes through a lot of experiences many other adolescent girls face. This book deals with topics such as puberty, friendship, boys, family, self-image, and so much more. However, set within Palestine, Butterfly also is constantly faced with other problems such as martyrs, death, and the constant threat of losing everything. This was such a unique read and I only wish it was longer.

[Bogi Takács]

Contemporary YA novella. I really appreciated this one, don't miss it!!

My Twitter thread about it:
https://twitter.com/bogiperson/status...
_____
Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library (who ordered it on my request - thank you!!)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story with normal childhood/family problems just set against a background of occupation. This story was TOO SHORT!!! I wanted to know so much more.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jennifer]

It struck me that in some ways this reads like so many YA dystopian novels. But it's earth, today. Very short book.

[Chava · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a shame that this book is filled with so much hate and inaccuracy because there are some lyrical lines, and the narrator is a complex and likeable character who is thoughtful and sensitive.

[Mikka Verneaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous little book. Great way to start the year

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine Cleary’s Margaret growing up in Palestine. Boobs, hormones, informants, and martyrs…

[Aizat Affendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful coming-of-age story set against a backdrop of conflict. Bisharat captures the innocence and resilience of youth beautifully. The narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. A poignant reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the continuous onslaught of suffering that Israel imposes into the Arabs not just in Palestine, but other neighbouring countries.

[Aisha Ayoosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but packs a punch

[Shahd Mohammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

استمتعت كثيرا وأنا اقرأ هذه الرواية لليافعين، وأحببتها جدا، فهي رواية آسرة ولطيفة، في الحقيقة هذا اللقاء الثاني لي مع احلام، اللقاء الاول في كتابها شجرة البونسيانا حيث لم يعجبني مطلقا، لكن هنا مزجت الرواية بسلاسة ونعومة لغة وفكرة، حيث كل الأحداث مترابطة ومتصلة، إضافة إلى ذلك كُتب بجرأة وتركيبه من العواطف المختلفة كالحزن والألم والفرح والخجل الشغف والحب والأمل والانتظار!.

[The Contented · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent Young Adult novel (novella, actually) that puts into perspective the normal growing up angst. A tragic but necessary story (for some, it’s their everyday). This should be shared widely.

[FOFO]

رائعة

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book! It’s very well written, seems not much of a story, but it goes straight to the heart. And I just loved that it was set in Palestine!

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it mean to grow up as an ordinary girl in Palestine? Boys, fashion, make up, body changes and school but also questions of difficult choices that are made when you live under an oppressive regime with little chance of a way out. Short but beautifully and sometimes poetically written but also gives you a real insight into life in Palestine.

[Sarah left GR]

From WTP's 2018 Summer Reading List:
https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/2018/05...