The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor is an enchanting and highly original debut novel from writer Stefanie Parks. The book is categorized as a middle-grade read but can easily be enjoyed by all ages because of its emotionally moving, magical storyline. The story also includes some more serious subject matter, including loss, neglect, guilt, anxiety, heartbreak, and family conflicts.

The main characters in this story are well developed and memorable. Amy is first presented as a highly intelligent girl, haunted by something in her past, and has been sent to her aunt’s home to recover. The author brilliantly unfolds the story by revealing Amy’s issues and secrets through major plot points, making for a very captivating story. Amy’s relationship with her aunt is the polar opposite of her relationship with her mother and father. While her parents neglect her and show her no affection or support, her aunt is eager to get Amy communicating again and make her feel at home. Many of their conversations are filled with humour, intriguing dialogue, and magical words of wisdom. For those who have lost people close to them, this may be a very relatable and emotional read. By the end of the story, Amy is forced to confront her grief, false beliefs, and self-imposed guilt, and her story transforms from one of tragedy to one of hope. That being so, readers of all ages will be able to take a lot away from Amy’s journey and lessons.

The real enchantment of this story is Amy’s relationship with the magical glass butterflies. Each type of butterfly had a distinguishing attribute that assisted Amy in giving her the answers she needed and helping her heal. The butterflies are definitely a metaphor that all the answers we seek are within—it’s a matter of healing all the parts of ourselves that have been taken into shadow for us to find the answers. The author intricately describes all the different butterflies with all their glorious colours and abilities, making for a very vivid and compelling listening experience. Unfortunately, after such a magical and emotionally moving story, the ending felt quite rushed and unsatisfying. Some of the secondary characters were reintroduced at the end, but not enough resolution or plot was given. There is definitely more story to tell here, and this provides a great opportunity for another adventure at Meadow Hill Manor!

Narrator Josie Charles provides very compelling narration in this audiobook. Her portrayal of Amy is very authentic and captivating, as she eloquently emotes all of the character’s inner monologues, emphasizing all the inner turmoil she’s experiencing. With the character not speaking for much of the story, Charles still maintains to keep listeners fully engaged, using an enchanting tone for all the story plot points and distinct, appealing voices for the secondary characters. Charles creates a magical listening experience, especially when describing the amazing attributes of the mystical butterflies and their interactions with Amy. Charles’s narration is reminiscent of listening to a classic, beloved story in the likes of The Secret Garden. Her tone and wonderful accent are very pleasing, and her pacing allows listeners to fully appreciate all the special nuances of the story. Seeing as there’s potential for a sequel, it would be wonderful for Charles to return to the world of Meadow Hill Manor and portray Amy once again!

Overall, this is a story that could be enjoyed by all types of readers, especially those who are fond of magical, meaningful stories. If you’re not persuaded to pick up this book by its gorgeous cover art or its alluring title, then surely this review will sway you! The audiobook, so expertly and beautifully narrated by Josie Charles, gives the feel of a classic story, in the same vein as The Secret Garden, that will stay with you long after you’ve finished listening!