The Butterfly Club
Cover Page
Name: G.Rao
Title of Book: The Butterfly club
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Date: November 2025
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Corgi Yearling
Copyright Year: 2014
Number of pages: 372
Ages: 7 - 13
Rating: * * * * *
About The Author
Jacqueline Wilson is a prolific author who has written over 115 books! That took her more than a couple of decades, she definitely has a lot of drive! She lives in Sussex, England and her favorite food is Pani puri. That is one of the most delicious Indian foods ever made and one of my favorites too. She loves cats and dogs and she implies in a couple of books that her favorite colors are purple, and blood red. She has won over 13 awards, such as the smarties prize, Children's Laureate 2005, and the Blue Peter People's Choice Award.
She is 79, and has suffered kidney disease and heart failure. Did you know that she wrote her 100th book with her right hand connected to the dialysis machine, and her left hand typing away like nothing happened? She works hard to make sure that the children of around the world read her books. She is my number one favorite author, and she will always be.
Book Summary
The story begins in the modern times where Tina is the main character. Her sisters are named Phil and Maddie. She is going to start junior school (which is elementary school for us Americans) and she wants to take her favorite doll, Baby. Tina’s mum doesn’t let her, but she takes Baby anyway. When she goes to school, her teacher Mrs. Lovejoy separates her from her sisters. Tina is stuck next to the bully Selma. The story follows Tina when Mrs. Lovejoy wants to make a butterfly garden. Tina is overjoyed, but her spirits sink when she realizes that Selma will be working with her. This collaboration project will change the lives of both characters, as they even become slight friends!
My Analysis
Tina is part of a triplet trio; her sisters are named Phil and Maddie. A couple of good qualities that Tina has is that she is always kind to everyone. She is even kind to Selma, the class bully. Tina has an indomitable spirit and never gives up. When she tries to use a shovel to dig, she doesn’t manage to do so, but she keeps trying anyway. Because she cries a lot, Tina comes off as immature. Then again, she is only in 2nd grade. You can’t expect more than that for a child so young.
The antagonist's name is Selma. Like I mentioned before, she is the meanest person in the class. She is always mean to poor Tina, though I can’t imagine why. Mrs. Lovejoy wants to organize a butterfly garden for the class, and she chooses Tina and Selma to be her helpers. Selma proves to be quite a nice girl once you get to know her. She invites Tina over to her house one day for tea, when Tina realizes that she stole her doll, Baby. Tina is infuriated. She asks Selma for Baby back, but Selma pretends that she doesn't have Baby. Tina decides to end her friendship with Selma because once trust is broken, people can’t continue being real friends.
I don’t want to be a spoiler, but let’s just say that something happens to Tina that will change her school year. Her sisters will protect her more than usual, and Selma will act differently towards Tina.
My Conclusion
This heartfelt book is a classic for 7 to 11 year olds. Hannah Fairweather from Australia said “ This book is amazing and I showed it to someone mean, they read it and they didn't want to be a bully like Selma so they stopped. It is an amazing book that inspires lots of people.” I agree with you Hannah! Let’s all give a big round of applause to Jacqueline Wilson for writing this incredible book.
