The Boy with the Butterfly Mind
A Novel
$46.29
- Paperback
256 pages
- Release Date
11 August 2026
Summary
For fans of Jodi Picoult and Bonnie Garmus, an illuminating novel about a mother struggling to raise a healthy neurodivergent child with a husband worn down by depression.
When Julie Crawford’s whirlwind four-year-old is kicked out of preschool, suspected of having ADHD—likely genetic—her husband moans from his recliner that “even my genes are failures.” At work, Julie is a high school math teacher who requires her students to solve complex problems. But faced with an unsafe daycare h…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9798896363644 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Lorelei Brush |
| Publisher: | She Writes Press |
| Imprint: | She Writes Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 256 |
| Release Date: | 11 August 2026 |
| Weight: | 210g |
| Dimensions: | 140mm x 216mm |
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Critics Review
“The writing is clear and engaging … A compassionate book about neurodivergence.”—Kirkus Reviews
“With quiet conviction, Brush leaves readers with a hopeful proposition: that neurodivergence, when met with patience and support, may evolve from perceived burden into unexpected strength.”—BookLife Reviews
“Lorelei Brush’s The Boy with the Butterfly Mind is a beautiful look at the way one family has no choice but to manage childhood ADHD and inherited trauma in the marriage, medicine, faith, and everyday domestic life. The novel is extremely thoughtful, with a balance of both heartening and emotionally jarring scenes … Elegantly written and composed, this is literary fiction at its finest. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite
“Butterflies are beautiful and elusive, much like the thoughts of someone with ADHD. The Boy with the Butterfly Mind paints a beautiful, heartbreaking, resilient, and informative picture that anyone grappling with ADHD should read.”—Brian Schwartz, ADHD coach
“When I read The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, I immediately thought about two seven-year-olds whom I suspect of having ADD or ADHD. The description of Patrick’s behaviors rang true, as did the author’s sensitive and insightful portrayal of the work/life issues faced by his parents. All parents will find the issues relatable.”—Dr. Wendy Goldberg, Professor Emerita of Psychological Science, University of California Irvine
“It was reassuring to read about a family like the Crawfords who struggle and yet find solutions for their child.”—Diane Smalley, Preschool Director
Lorelei Brush
Lorelei Brush is a college mathematics major, a former assistant professor of child development, and the parent of a neurodivergent child. The story in The Boy with the Butterfly Mind mixes elements of all three life experiences to describe the struggles and triumph of a young family dealing with neurodivergence. Her previous novels include Uncovering, about the trials of a nurse practitioner in northwest Pakistan, and Chasing the American Dream, about the quest of a disappointed WWII spy to be a hero in 1950s Cleveland. Lorelei and her husband live in Falls Church, Virginia, with a bossy gray cat named Marabelle.
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