Ashley Hope Perez, The Knife and the Butterfly, Carolrhoda Books/Walker Books Australia, 1 June 2016, 216pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781467716246
The Knife and the Butterfly is an ambitious book inspired by real life events in Houston in 2006. However, narratively, the choice of Then and Now chapters drag the pacing of the writing down and make for a boring read.
This is the story of Azael, who wakes up in juvie after a knife fight unable to remember how he got there. The blurb at the back of the book mentions Lexi too, but she is seen through Azael’s eyes, and her purpose in the novel is nothing more than an object of observation for Azael and his story.
The worst part about the choice of the Then and Now chapters is the exploration of Azael’s life – a Latino kid growing up in an area of Texas with drugs and gangs and not much chance for anything else – is a powerful story that needs to be told in at a time when readers are craving diverse books and stories. It’s clear the care and detail the author has given to her research in these chapters, and your heart will break for Az, for the tough exterior he wears. I wanted more.
The problem is the Now chapters. Locked in a cell and tasked with observing Lexi, these chapters drag on for far too long with little to no explanation of events. Secondary characters in these chapters are unnecessary, colourless, drab additions to the narrative. Lexi is the only person with a hint of character, but even that is not enough. Azael is reduced to remembering his past (the Then chapters) and how he got to be in the cell.
Spoiler alert: the book ends with him realising he was killed in the knife fight, and Lexi was the one that killed him. But, this “twist” doesn’t elevate the narrative, and instead highlights the weakness of the book. Beyond this “twist”, I firmly believe this is a story that needs to be told and that there are readers who will absolutely love this novel and see themselves in these pages.
Reviewed by Verushka Byrow
