I Lived on Butterfly Hill

by Marjorie Agosin

Other authorsLee White (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2014

Status

Available

Call number

T F AGO

Publication

Atheneum Books for Young Readers (2014), Hardcover, 464 pages

Description

When her beloved country, Chile, is taken over by a militaristic, sadistic government, Celeste is sent to America for her safety and her parents must go into hiding before they "disappear."

Barcode

3793

Awards

Sydney Taylor Book Award (Mass Import -- Pending Differentiation)
National Jewish Book Award (Finalist — Children’s and Young Adult Literature — 2014)
Massachusetts Book Award (Must-Read (Longlist) — 2015)
Rhode Island Latino Books Award (Winner — Grades 6-8 — 2016)

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member brangwinn
Reading children’s historical fiction I am always amazed at how much I don’t know about other countries. Celeste’s family is torn apart by a dictator’s rule in Chile. Although never mentioned by name, Pinochet is the model. History does repeat itself, as evidenced in her grandmother’s
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memories of escaping the Nazis in Germany. Agosin’s description of the dictatorship as an “earthquake of the soul” is poetic language for a horrible event. Eleven-year-old Celeste’s account of the disruption of school and family puts a real face to history. Both her parents go into hiding and she emigrates to Maine, living with an aunt until the dictator is deposed. Excellent historical fiction.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Very interesting and sad. Celeste is living in Chile with her family when the president is assassinated and a general takes over. The book covers the disappearances, Celeste's exile in Maine, the search for her parents and the attempt of the country to return to some sense of normalcy with the
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death of the general. The spanish text was well integrated into the rest of the text. The characters were all interesting and distinct although some less well developed than others. My only critique about the book was that there were about 4 places where the book could have ended naturally.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Very interesting and sad. Celeste is living in Chile with her family when the president is assassinated and a general takes over. The book covers the disappearances, Celeste's exile in Maine, the search for her parents and the attempt of the country to return to some sense of normalcy with the
Show More
death of the general. The spanish text was well integrated into the rest of the text. The characters were all interesting and distinct although some less well developed than others. My only critique about the book was that there were about 4 places where the book could have ended naturally.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Very interesting and sad. Celeste is living in Chile with her family when the president is assassinated and a general takes over. The book covers the disappearances, Celeste's exile in Maine, the search for her parents and the attempt of the country to return to some sense of normalcy with the
Show More
death of the general. The spanish text was well integrated into the rest of the text. The characters were all interesting and distinct although some less well developed than others. My only critique about the book was that there were about 4 places where the book could have ended naturally.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Very interesting and sad. Celeste is living in Chile with her family when the president is assassinated and a general takes over. The book covers the disappearances, Celeste's exile in Maine, the search for her parents and the attempt of the country to return to some sense of normalcy with the
Show More
death of the general. The spanish text was well integrated into the rest of the text. The characters were all interesting and distinct although some less well developed than others. My only critique about the book was that there were about 4 places where the book could have ended naturally.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Celeste's story takes place during Pinochet's takeover which hugely impacts her family and community. Her doctor parents flee into hiding and Celeste is sent to live in exile with her Tia Graciela in Maine. Neighbors and friends disappear without a trace.
Intriguingly, the story doesn't end after
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the General's death and happy reunions; we see how events continued to emotionally affect how people lived, with lingering fear and mistrust. It's a hopeful story and Celeste's voice is poetic and florid (at times there is a touch of telenovela drama to her exclamations). The portrayal of her family and friends is warm and loving, and wouldn't everyone want to live on her bustling, friendly Butterfly Hill with its sparkling ocean vista and air scented with flowers and pastries?
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LibraryThing member GayWard
Celeste shares a richly sensorial world in Valpariso where she has rich multi-generational relationships with family, neighbors, friends and teachers. She is already a write at 11 and sits on her roof recording the events of her world. There is an abrupt change to her circumstances when a dictator
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assumes control, repressing all arts and culture and forcing her parents into hiding and Celeste into a few year exile in Maine. This is a wonderful realistic fiction of a talented young girl coming of age with influences from her experiences in two cultures. This work has detailed descriptions and credible dialogue that makes it a very engaging read. Particularly suitable for ages 11 and up.
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LibraryThing member billsearth
What a nice novel of friendships, among both adults and kids.
The author's writing style is wonderful and graphic.
I like how the main character develops and matures emotionally during the 5 years of the story.

I would have preferred to hear more of an ending on some of the secondary characters than
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what the author left us with. But overall, it was a nice refreshing story among a backdrop of temporarily hard times for the participants.
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ISBN

1416953442 / 9781416953449
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