A review by tensy
Praise Song for the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden

3.0

A harrowing story of a young girl, Abeo Kata, who lives in West Africa with her parents and brother when her grandmother moves in and begins to change her idyllic life. Abeo's story of betrayal and life as a trokosi, where young girls are given in ritual servitude to a priest in order to atone for the crimes of their ancestors, is often difficult to read. However, in simple prose McFadden illustrates an account of real practices in Africa that show a different kind of slavery. We read about Abeo's struggles and endurance and the power of love to heal deep wounds. My one issue with the book is that in order to move the plot along, there were often too many improbable things written into the story. The book was strong until about the last section and then one trite situation after another, not to mention the ending, fell flat.