Jennifer D. Lyle
Author Bio
Jennifer D. Lyle is a novelist and short story writer who holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Hartford, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Western New England University. She likes butterflies, but not spiders.
Photo Credit: Adam Wright
Published Books
Swarm, Sourcebooks (November 2023)
Snow Drowned, Sourcebooks (Fall 2024)
On a sunny September morning, the creatures first appear. Shur sees one of them hovering outside the window in history class: it looks like a giant butterfly, at first too beautiful and strange to seem like a threat. But when emergency alerts light up everyone's phones around her, she realizes something very, very wrong is happening outside. These… things are everywhere.
By the time Shur makes it back to her house with her brother, Keene, and their two best friends, it's clear they must face whatever comes next on their own. A terrifying species the world's never seen before has suddenly emerged, and few living things are safe. As the creatures swarm and attack outside, life for Shur and her friends becomes a survival game. They board the windows, stockpile supplies, and try to make sense of the news reports for as long as the power stays on.
Yet nothing can prepare them for what follows. The butterflies are only the beginning. The next onslaught will be deadlier, and even closer to home.
Kirksus Review:
A group of teenagers band together to defend themselves against an invasion of terrifyingly large creatures swarming the sky.
From the window of her history class, high schooler Shur notices a giant butterfly perched on a nearby rooftop. Despite its size, it looks like a regular monarch butterfly, but moments later, emergency alerts blast through her classmates’ cell phones, urging people to stay indoors and away from windows. Shur; her twin brother, Keene; her younger brother, Little; and the boys’ two friends race to take shelter, on their way witnessing a butterfly latching onto a pedestrian’s arm and ripping it off. At Shur’s house, they follow news reports and learn that the worldwide appearance of these killer butterflies may be related to climate change. The teens prepare for worst-case scenarios, stocking up on food and supplies, boarding windows, and turning the basement into an emergency refuge while waiting out the horrors. But a series of events rattle their relative peace, testing their bonds as they realize that the butterflies are not the only threat they face. The author delivers a fresh take on a popular genre, weaving in current and relatable topics like climate change, grief, depression, and anxiety while adding depth to the exciting dystopian survival storyline. The character-driven plot brims with heartbreaking scenes, horrifying images, and a bit of romance. Main characters read white; Keene’s best friend has brown skin.
A page-turner that will keep even the most stoic readers on the edges of their seats.(Dystopian. 14-18)