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Description
June's home life is a dark one. But then she meets Blister, a boy in the woods, and in him she recognises the tiniest glimmer of hope that she can find a way to escape. Contains scenes of bullying and child abuse; mature themes.
Quick Summary
June's life is a dark, sometimes terrifying reality where she faces abuse and bullying, but when she discovers a secret friend named Blister hiding in the woods, everything shifts she finds a tiny glimmer of hope that she can cling to and a reason to imagine a different future. The story is told in a voice that feels both painfully honest and surprisingly tender, making the heavy themes of child abuse and bullying feel real without being gratuitous, and the small moments of kindness and imagination (like the paper butterflies June makes) linger long after the last page. If you're into realistic YA that doesn't flinch from tough topics but still offers a ray of hope, especially readers who appreciated the raw emotional honesty of *Speak* by Laurie Halse Anderson or the unflinching look at trauma in *The Hate U Give*, this one will grab you. Parents should know the book contains explicit scenes of abuse and bullying, so it's best for teens who can handle mature content and who might benefit from a supportive discussion after reading. If you're looking for a story that shows how even the smallest acts of friendship can light up a dark world, this one will stay with you.