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Karen
Hart ’s “Butterflies in May”
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Karen Hart's Book Club Planner.
A
memorable, touching, and enlightening story
about first love, impossible choices, and letting go
Ali Parker, a high school senior, is in love
for the first time in her seventeen-year life. Her Mr. Perfect
boyfriend, Matt Ryan, is a talented artist who hopes to attend
Pratt Institute in New York, and Ali plans to major in journalism
at a prestigious college. Both Ali and Matt are outstanding
students. Their future possibilities seem endless.
Then the inconceivable happens—Ali becomes
pregnant. Suddenly, her entire world shifts. Everything she
was sure of changes. What should she do about this baby .
. . about Matt . . . about her life? Ali is faced with the
dilemma of responsibility and choice. She’s supported
by a fun, loyal best friend, Monica, but Ali knows that now,
nothing will ever be the same again. She’s abruptly
and unwillingly forced into the world of adulthood as she
faces the crisis of being a pregnant, unwed teenager.
As she considers her various options, Ali reveals
her internal struggles honestly. As she wrestles with difficult
decisions, not liking any of her choices, she learns about
the tender balance of relationships while dealing with a shocked
boyfriend, overbearing but loving parents, quirky teachers,
and gossiping classmates. When tragedy strikes, Ali is also
reminded that, while the unintentional life of a baby started
so quickly within her, life can end all too quickly and unexpectedly
as well.
Ali’s detailed narrative is so personal
and endearing, it creates a vicarious experience for any reader.
This compelling, inspiring, and enlightening story engages
the heart as it shows the struggles of life, the selflessness
of real love, and the endurance of hope.
To Buy "Butterflies in May"
Click the button below or to purchase your book(s)
by phone, call Bancrofts toll-free number at 800-637-7377.
If, for some reason, no live person answers, leave your message
in the Voicemail address for Ordering, and someone
will respond within 24 hours.
About karen hart
Karen
Hart began writing as a teenager. She wrote for her high school
newspaper and later majored in journalism at Illinois State
University, where she also wrote for the campus newspaper,
The Daily Vidette.
Since then, Hart has had more than 20 years
of experience as a creative and technical writer and editor.
She has worked in both corporate communications and public
relations, developing a variety of award-winning media and
publications, including magazines, newsletters, brochures,
and videos. Most recently, she has worked on freelance writing
projects, and several magazines, such as Sonoma Family-Life
and Enlightened Woman, have published her articles.
The seed of inspiration for Butterflies
in May began forming in high school, but later took hold
after the birth of her first son. Though she was a teenager
a long time ago, she believes that some things—like
first love, relationships, heartbreak, and letting go—never
change.
She’s currently working on a new novel,
The Colour of Love, as well as a book about dreams with
noted American psychic, Imara.
Hart resides in Santa Rosa with her husband,
Gary, and two sons.
Question and Answer with Author Karen
Hart
First things first. Were you ever pregnant
as a teen? If not, what inspired you to write Butterflies
in May?
No, I wasn’t, but several girls I knew of in high school
faced unplanned pregnancies. I also knew of several young
women faced with the same situation in college. I used to
wonder what if? What would I do? The seed of inspiration
for this book began in high school, but later took hold after
the birth of my first son. I’ve always found teen pregnancy
a compelling subject that is still very much taboo in our
society. I wanted to break that taboo and write a realistic
story about the emotional journey of one teen’s pregnancy
and lead the reader through her decision-making process as
well as the aftermath of her final decision.
How long did it take you to write this
book?
It took several years to write a first draft. This is my first
novel, so it was a learning experience for me. I also had
two sons and moved twice during that time (from Chicago to
Toledo, Ohio, and then from Toledo to Cincinnati). I wrote
while my sons were napping and on the weekends. Fortunately,
however, the experience of pregnancy, giving birth, and the
emotions I felt during that time were still fresh in my mind.
How has the book changed from that initial
first draft?
When I sent my book off to Bancroft Press, it was written
in third person and an editor there very much liked the book,
but wanted to see it written in first person. The publisher
strongly agreed. Taking their advice changed the tone of the
story dramatically and brought a greater intensity and intimacy
to Ali’s dilemma, engaging the reader by the reality
of the issues at hand. Later, I also added new characters,
a new subplot, and more details about Ali’s life as
a high school senior and her best friend, Monica.
How is Butterflies in May different
from other teen pregnancy books?
Butterflies in May does not resort to apologies, pitiful pictures,
or victimhood to touch the reader. It’s not a story
about being pressured to have sex, about getting date-raped,
about being underprivileged, or about being unlikable. Teens
by their very nature consider themselves invincible. To be
painted as a victim is usually not something with which they
identify. (If it were, 80% of them wouldn’t still be
having sex, given the known probability of pregnancy and disease.)
Ali and her story stand out for the fact that she and her
boyfriend are strong and intelligent with big plans for their
future education and lives. Their laudable qualities attract
the interest and respect of the intended audience in a way
that engages the young adult reader, bringing them into situations
with which they are more likely to identify. Ali and Matt
choose to become sexually active, they choose to take precautions.
Do they think they’re invincible? Yes. Are they? No.
They take precautions, but one time lose themselves in their
youthful passion. Are they careless? Yes. Victims? No. What’s
more, in Butterflies in May, the dilemma of responsibility
and choice is stage front and center.
Would you describe Butterflies in May
as a pro-choice or pro-life book?
Neither. It was never my intention to write a book that made
a political statement. I simply wanted to explore the emotional
journey of one girl’s unplanned pregnancy, and how it
affects her life and the people around her. When the publisher
at Bancroft Press first read Butterflies in May,
he commented that he wasn’t sure whether I was pro-choice
or pro-life. I took that as the highest form of praise. I’m
finding that this book speaks to people regardless of their
political and religious values in the pro-life/pro-choice
debate. I believe Butterflies in May transcends the
pro-life/pro-choice debate because it focuses on the emotional
journey of my character, Ali Parker.
Are you pro-life or pro-choice?
This is a tough question for me because I don’t see
the pro-life/pro-choice issue in black and white. Intellectually
and practically, I’m pro-choice. In my heart, I’m
pro-life. What’s most important is that I would never
presume to know what the right decision is for anyone faced
with an unplanned pregnancy. While researching this book,
I’ve heard stories about young women who opted to keep
their babies and fortunately, with the help of supportive
parents, their stories have happy endings. But I’ve
also heard stories about pregnant teens being kicked out of
their homes and sometimes, even their schools. I spoke with
a counselor once who was working with a teen who’d been
thrown out of her home after telling her parents she was pregnant.
She was also kicked out of the school she was attending. This
young woman wanted to keep her baby, and the counselor was
trying to move heaven and earth to find this young woman a
safe place to stay and a school that would allow her to continue
her education. In an extreme case, I read an article in Seventeen
(August 2005) about a 12-year-old girl who confided in her
mother that she’d lost her virginity. Her mother’s
response was to pour bleach down her throat. The girl died.
Whenever I hear or read about stories such as these, I realize
how important it is for women—young and old—to
have options. Every situation is different and unless we can
guarantee the safety and financial viability of every mother
and her unborn child, I think we have a responsibility as
a society to provide choices.
Who are all these people who’ve
blurbed the book?
Most of the people who’ve provided blurbs are people
who work closely with teens such as teachers or counselors,
or experts in the field of adolescent issues and teen pregnancy
prevention. The Candies Foundation and Healthy Teen Network,
for example, are both organizations committed to educating
Americans about adolescent pregnancy and prevention. Peter
Bearman, a professor at Columbia University, co-authored the
most comprehensive study ever done on adolescent health and
sexuality and shared his results on a 60 Minutes
program (May 22, 2005) about virginity-pledge programs. Other
people who’ve provided blurbs include Dr. Claire Brindis,
Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at the University
of California at San Francisco, and Lori Rolleri of ETR Associates,
a national non-profit organization that conducts adolescent
reproductive health research, training, and program development.
You’ll also find a blurb from Christopher Kraus, an
Adolescent Advocacy Manager at Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital Medical Center and some of his teen leaders who participate
in the Postponing Sexual Involvement Program.
How can people whose jobs and politics
are so different all agree on the usefulness of this single
book?
Respect for human life, I believe, is the great equalizer
in this story. Whether you’re pro-choice or pro-life,
everyone agrees that human life is precious and the main character
in my book, Ali Parker, gives voice to this as she considers
her options. Everyone also agrees that teen pregnancy is a
serious problem in America. Every year, nearly one million
girls will face the frightening and life-altering news that
they are pregnant, according to statistics from The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Butterflies in May
puts a human face on a real-life problem and provides a platform
for discussion. Every expert I’ve talked with agrees
that talking to teens about the birds and the bees and s-e-x
does not mean having one conversation and then saying you’re
done. Butterflies in May is a contemporary, fictional
exploration of teen pregnancy and the human experience that
gives teens, parents, counselors, and teachers something to
think about, examine, and discuss—at length and in depth.
How do you hope your book will be used?
Butterflies in May can easily stand alone as a novel that
teens will find engaging, whether they are sexually active
or not. It’s a story about first love and letting goætimeless
subjects that have wide audience appeal. But it certainly
could be used as an educational tool, and I hope that it will.
Statistics show that 80% of all teenagers are having sex.
(Annie E. Casey Foundation, 1998.) I think Butterflies
in May, in an engaging way, brings young adult readers
into situations with which they are likely to identify. This
book addresses first love, adolescent sexuality, contraception,
reproductive services, and relationshipsætopics that
can serve as a platform for discussion at home or in school.
You have two sons. Have they read Butterflies
in May?
My youngest son is 11 years old. For now, he prefers to read
about mythical creatures and flying broomsticks. (But I’m
sure this will change over the next two years as he approaches
adolescence!) My oldest son, who’s 13, is reading it
now. He’s had sex education in school and I think Butterflies
in May fills in the gaps created by an abstinence-only
education. After he read the first couple of chapters, we
had several very lengthy discussions about the pros and cons
of abstinence-only education, sexual morality and values,
peer pressure, abortion, adoption, and contraceptives. He
even ventured into some surprising areas like feelings and
how to discern the difference between infatuation and love.
What can we learn from Butterflies
in May?
Without preaching or condescension, Butterflies in May
emphasizes the consequences and responsibilities of sexual
behavior among teens. If there is a message in this book for
teens, it’s to look before leaping into a sexual relationship.
As for parents or anyone who works with teens, Butterflies
in May gives them a realistic snapshot of a teen’s
life, the world they live in, and the pressures they face.
The reality is that 4 in 10 girls will experience at least
one pregnancy before reaching age 20, according to statistics
from The Candies Foundation. Unfortunately, adolescent sexuality
and teen pregnancy continues to be a delicate topic we don’t
want to discuss. Teens think it can’t happen to me;
parents think it can’t happen to their kid. But it can
and it does. It’s my hope that this book will get the
lines of communication open between teens, parents, and anyone
who works with adolescents. Without being intimidating, without
being a lecture, Butterflies in May serves as a platform
for discussion, giving everyone something important to talk
about.
Author Contact Information:
Karen Hart — (707) 537-2222; karen.hart@earthlink.net
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Karen Hart's Book Club Planner.
To Buy "Butterflies in May"
Click the button below or to purchase your book(s)
by phone, call Bancrofts toll-free number at 800-637-7377.
If, for some reason, no live person answers, leave your message
in the Voicemail address for Ordering, and someone
will respond within 24 hours.
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