The Knife and the Butterfly is a young adult novel by Ashley Hope Pérez, published in 2011 by Carolrhoda Books. The novel, which explores the lives of two teenage gang members in Houston, a Hispanic boy named Azael and a White girl named Lexi, is based on a 2006 gang-related death in that city.
The novel, set in Houston, is about a 15-year old Salvadoran AmericanMS-13gang member named Martín "Azael" Arevalo. He wakes up in a prison cell and observes 17-year old White American Alexis "Lexi" Allen,[1] who is member of another gang, Crazy Crew. As the novel unfolds he begins to recover his memory and learn whether the upcoming trial will be his or hers.[2] The flashbacks make up about fifty percent of the work.[3] Azael slowly gains sympathy for Lexi, even though he originally hates her.[1] The book reveals that on June 16, 2011 Azael died in a gang fight in Montrose, at Ervan Chew Park. Lexi had killed him; she initially maintains self-defense at the trial, but confesses to wanting to prove herself to Crazy Crew, and that Azael was not actually trying to kill her.
Charactersedit
Martín "Azael" Arevalo – A member of MS-13, Azael has no parents in the U.S. since his mother Rosa died after giving birth to his little sister, and his father Manuel was deported to El Salvador.
D. Kraus of Booklist described Azael as "a vulgar, sex-obsessed, drug-using, paint-tagging gang member".[3]
Gabe – Azael's case worker tells the boy that he must accomplish something through observing Lexi and that Azael does not have much time to do so[4]
Eduardo "Eddie" Arevalo – Azael's brother
Regina Arevalo – Azael's sister
Pelón and Javi are Azael's friends
Beto – Azael's uncle
Becca – Azael's girlfriend
Kraus stated that Azael has difficulty in committing to his relationship to her and that his attempts to stop being a criminal revolve around her.[3]
Janet – Lexi's counselor
Shauna – Lexi's mother. Lexi usually calls her by her given name
Meemaw – Lexi's grandmother, a member of the Pentacostal Way Living Water Church
Lucas VanVeldt – Lexi's defense attorney
Theo – Lexi's dog
Backgroundedit
Ervan Chew Park, the site of the real life death of Gabriel Granillo, is in the book the site of Azael's death
This novel was based on the 2006 death of Gabriel Granillo.[5] The title originates from the Houston Chronicle series The Butterfly and the Knife, which chronicled the real life case. Pérez switched the order of the words "Knife" and "Butterfly" in order to attract male readers. Copyrights do not extend to titles, so Pérez was able to use the Chronicle title.[6]
Pérez, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a teacher at Chávez High School in Houston,[6] researched MS-13 and Houston's Salvadoran community. One aspect in the novel is the differing use of Spanish. The younger Salvadoran Americans have influence from other Spanish dialects while the older ones have signature elements of Salvadoran Spanish such as the use of "vos".[7]
Receptionedit
Teri Hennessy of Library Media Connection wrote that the novel "is a well-written, compelling story".[2] Randy Ribay of The Horn Book Guide wrote that "Although the gritty voice and intriguing story builds suspense, the clichéd revelation is disappointing".[8]
Kirkus Reviews stated that a Spanish glossary would have been good for the book, but ultimately it is "An unflinching portrait with an ending that begs for another reading."[1] It stated "The author demonstrates why gangs appeal to many teens with family problems without glorifying the violence that often accompanies their activities."[1] Pérez stated, "Above all, I wanted to show Azael and Lexi's world as much more than just a patchwork of crime and violence."[7] She also stated that she wanted to show "these two teens' vulnerability and their potential for redemption" in addition to the "danger of poor choices" and the "real threat of their circumstances".[9]Kirkus Reviews stated that Azael and Lexi are both "nuanced" even though they "could have easily become caricatures."[1]
Juan Castillo of NBC News wrote that this book and another one of Pérez's novels, What Can't Wait, explore what it means to grow up as a Hispanic or Latino teenager in the United States "amid difficult circumstances."[10]
Jesse Gray wrote in The ALAN Review that "Perez gives the reader sympathetic yet critical insight into the world of gangs in Houston, Texas, and is careful to show the narratives of loss that drive so many young people to join them."[4]
Kraus stated that even though the plot would be predictable to an experienced reader, he still gave a positive review and argued the predictability is a "minor issue", concluding that the work is "An uncompromising look at two characters most readers would otherwise look away from."[3]
^ abcde"THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY" (). Kirkus Reviews. January 1, 2012. Posted online December 14, 2011. Retrieved on November 6, 2015.
^ abHennessy, Teri. "The Knife and the Butterfly" (Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review). Library Media Connection, May–June, 2012, Vol.30(6), p.69(1).
^ abcdKraus, D. (2012-02-01). "The Knife and the Butterfly". Booklist. 108 (11): 89 – via Gale. Any reader who has been around the block[...]
^Ribay, Randy. "Perez, Ashley Hope: The Knife and the Butterfly.(Brief article)(Book review)(Young adult review)." The Horn Book Guide, Fall, 2012, Vol.23(2), p.110(1).
^Castillo, Juan. "Ashley Hope Pérez's 'Out of Darkness': Young Love Amid Racism, Segregation" (). NBC News. September 1, 2015. Retrieved on November 8, 2015.
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The Knife and the Butterfly is a young adult novel by Ashley Hope Perez published in 2011 by Carolrhoda Books The novel which explores the lives of two teenage gang members in Houston a Hispanic boy named Azael and a White girl named Lexi is based on a 2006 gang related death in that city The Knife and the ButterflyFirst edition coverAuthorAshley Hope PerezCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreYoung adult fictionSet inHouston TexasPublished2011 by Carolrhoda BooksMedia typePrintebookPages209ISBN9780761361565OCLC742305900Dewey DecimalFICLC ClassPZ7 P4255 Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 3 Background 4 Reception 5 See also 6 References 7 Notes 8 Further reading 9 External linksPlot editThe novel set in Houston is about a 15 year old Salvadoran American MS 13 gang member named Martin Azael Arevalo He wakes up in a prison cell and observes 17 year old White American Alexis Lexi Allen 1 who is member of another gang Crazy Crew As the novel unfolds he begins to recover his memory and learn whether the upcoming trial will be his or hers 2 The flashbacks make up about fifty percent of the work 3 Azael slowly gains sympathy for Lexi even though he originally hates her 1 The book reveals that on June 16 2011 Azael died in a gang fight in Montrose at Ervan Chew Park Lexi had killed him she initially maintains self defense at the trial but confesses to wanting to prove herself to Crazy Crew and that Azael was not actually trying to kill her Characters editMartin Azael Arevalo A member of MS 13 Azael has no parents in the U S since his mother Rosa died after giving birth to his little sister and his father Manuel was deported to El Salvador D Kraus of Booklist described Azael as a vulgar sex obsessed drug using paint tagging gang member 3 Alexis Lexi Allen A white girl who lives in Montrose and is a student at Lamar High School Gabe Azael s case worker tells the boy that he must accomplish something through observing Lexi and that Azael does not have much time to do so 4 Eduardo Eddie Arevalo Azael s brother Regina Arevalo Azael s sister Pelon and Javi are Azael s friends Beto Azael s uncle Becca Azael s girlfriend Kraus stated that Azael has difficulty in committing to his relationship to her and that his attempts to stop being a criminal revolve around her 3 Janet Lexi s counselor Shauna Lexi s mother Lexi usually calls her by her given name Meemaw Lexi s grandmother a member of the Pentacostal Way Living Water Church Lucas VanVeldt Lexi s defense attorney Theo Lexi s dogBackground edit nbsp Ervan Chew Park the site of the real life death of Gabriel Granillo is in the book the site of Azael s deathThis novel was based on the 2006 death of Gabriel Granillo 5 The title originates from the Houston Chronicle series The Butterfly and the Knife which chronicled the real life case Perez switched the order of the words Knife and Butterfly in order to attract male readers Copyrights do not extend to titles so Perez was able to use the Chronicle title 6 Perez a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a teacher at Chavez High School in Houston 6 researched MS 13 and Houston s Salvadoran community One aspect in the novel is the differing use of Spanish The younger Salvadoran Americans have influence from other Spanish dialects while the older ones have signature elements of Salvadoran Spanish such as the use of vos 7 Reception editTeri Hennessy of Library Media Connection wrote that the novel is a well written compelling story 2 Randy Ribay of The Horn Book Guide wrote that Although the gritty voice and intriguing story builds suspense the cliched revelation is disappointing 8 Kirkus Reviews stated that a Spanish glossary would have been good for the book but ultimately it is An unflinching portrait with an ending that begs for another reading 1 It stated The author demonstrates why gangs appeal to many teens with family problems without glorifying the violence that often accompanies their activities 1 Perez stated Above all I wanted to show Azael and Lexi s world as much more than just a patchwork of crime and violence 7 She also stated that she wanted to show these two teens vulnerability and their potential for redemption in addition to the danger of poor choices and the real threat of their circumstances 9 Kirkus Reviews stated that Azael and Lexi are both nuanced even though they could have easily become caricatures 1 Juan Castillo of NBC News wrote that this book and another one of Perez s novels What Can t Wait explore what it means to grow up as a Hispanic or Latino teenager in the United States amid difficult circumstances 10 Jesse Gray wrote in The ALAN Review that Perez gives the reader sympathetic yet critical insight into the world of gangs in Houston Texas and is careful to show the narratives of loss that drive so many young people to join them 4 Kraus stated that even though the plot would be predictable to an experienced reader he still gave a positive review and argued the predictability is a minor issue concluding that the work is An uncompromising look at two characters most readers would otherwise look away from 3 See also editPortals nbsp Texas nbsp Novels nbsp Children and Young Adult Literature nbsp Hispanic and Latino Americans History of the Central Americans in HoustonOther novels by Perez What Can t Wait set in Houston Out of DarknessReferences editPerez Ashley Hope The Knife and the Butterfly Lerner Publishing Group August 1 2014 ISBN 1467716243 9781467716246 Notes edit a b c d e THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY Archive Kirkus Reviews January 1 2012 Posted online December 14 2011 Retrieved on November 6 2015 a b Hennessy Teri The Knife and the Butterfly Young adult review Brief article Book review Library Media Connection May June 2012 Vol 30 6 p 69 1 a b c d Kraus D 2012 02 01 The Knife and the Butterfly Booklist 108 11 89 via Gale Any reader who has been around the block a b Gray Jesse Nashville Tennessee The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Perez review in Clip amp File YA Book Reviews Archive The ALAN Review Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English available at Virginia Tech Volume 40 Number 1 Fall 2012 Retrieved on November 11 2015 Perez p 205 a b A Q amp A with Ashley Hope Perez Author of The Knife and the Butterfly Archive The University of Texas at Austin Retrieved on November 7 2015 a b Perez p 206 Ribay Randy Perez Ashley Hope The Knife and the Butterfly Brief article Book review Young adult review The Horn Book Guide Fall 2012 Vol 23 2 p 110 1 Perez p 206 207 Castillo Juan Ashley Hope Perez s Out of Darkness Young Love Amid Racism Segregation Archive NBC News September 1 2015 Retrieved on November 8 2015 Further reading edit The Knife and the Butterfly review Booklist External links editAshley Hope Perez Official Website Draft version of Chapter 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Knife and the Butterfly amp oldid 1095538344, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
