Review Detail

Best friends Agnes and Honey, both fourteen years old, live in Mount Blessing, a strict religious commune ruled over by the self-proclaimed leader, Emmanuel. Their stories, told in alternating chapters, begin in the aftermath of a punishment session in Emmanuel's "Regulation Room," where the girls are beaten with belts, and the word "Harlot" is written on Honey's back, all because she kissed a boy. These whippings are not at all unusual, and most of the Believers accept them gratefully. Honey, however, has a mind of her own in spite of her Believer upbringing. She hates Emmanuel and all that he stands for.

Agnes, on the other hand, is a devout Believer. She thinks she deserves Emmanuel's whippings, and she yearns to become a perfect person --- a saint, like the saints in her precious book, THE SAINTS' WAY. To that end, she fasts until she faints, and sleeps upon a bed filled with sharp rocks.

The two girls are so close that when Agnes's grandmother, Nana Pete, makes her scheduled visits, Honey is always included in the activities. Now, though, Agnes's parents are aghast because Nana Pete drops in without warning. When Honey secretly confides in Nana Pete about the whippings, the elderly woman, spurred by a tragic accident, is desperate to rescue the children. What follows is a gripping odyssey tale, combining an intriguing mystery with an exploration of the meaning of faith, friendship, and family ties.

This book is such a compelling page-turner that I finished it in two sittings; I absolutely had to find out what happened to Agnes and Honey. Along the way, I was blindsided by a stunning twist in the plot, and then satisfied with the not too tidy conclusion, which feels just right.

How much did I love THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES? It is definitely in the running for my own personal Best Book of 2008 award.