Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett 232 pages

A dark young adult novel. Plum has identity issues. She feels ugly and unpopular. She meets the new neighbor who seems to take an interest in her,offers her beauty advice and encourages her to change her name to "Aria". Plum is unaware that her eldest brother is carrying on an affair with the neighbor. She wants to up her social status at school and reluctantly agrees to a ear piercing party at which she is the only pierce-ee. Plum begs her mom to give her the birthday party of her dreams. She invites her friends and a couple of snotty trendsetters. Unfortunately, the dream turns into a disaster and she becomes a social pariah. Most of the characters are rather unlikeable and it is even difficult for the reader to totally sympathize with Plum's plight.