Hello Everyone,
I randomly picked up a copy of The Butterfly Lion, and reviewed the title on Goodreads. Below are my thoughts.
The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The back cover intrigued me to find out why a boy would promise to always remember a lion. There are actually two boys in the story. A nameless narrator runs away from his boarding school in England and seeks shelter from the rain in the home of an elderly lady. She fascinates him with the story of her childhood friend Bertie who was raised in Africa and adopted a white lion cub, only to have him sold to a circus before Bertie leaves for boarding school. The girl and Bertie exchange letters as they grow up and eventually marry after World War 1. Does Bertie ever find his white lion?
Note: it seems the author is the nameless narrator, since he is addressed at the end of the book by his last name. The explanation of what happened to the elderly lady was very strange for me, as it seemed like the boy was conversing with a ghost. The ending was also a little weird in that he was hearing their voices tell him to take care of the sculpture. Overall, a pretty good historical read, with some potential fantasy thrown it. Some mention of adults drinking, and slight graphic depictions of war. It would be a fine recommendation for upper elementary and middle school wanting a fast read. I think I’ll investigate more from this author.