Better With Butter

by Victoria Piontek

Overview

A girl with anxiety disorder finds an unlikely friend — and emotional support animal — in the form of an adorable fainting goat.

Twelve-year-old Marvel is afraid of absolutely everything — amusement park rides, food poisoning, earthquakes, and that big island of plastic floating through the ocean. She also obsesses about smaller worries like making friends, getting called on by the teacher, and walking home alone.

Her parents and the school therapist call her worries an anxiety disorder, but Marvel calls them armor. If something can happen, it will. She needs to be prepared.

But when Marvel stumbles on a group of older kids teasing a baby goat that has mysteriously shown up on the soccer field, she momentarily forgets to be afraid and rescues the frightened animal.

Only Butter isn't any old goat. She's a fainting goat. When Butter feels panic, she freezes up and falls over. Marvel knows exactly how Butter feels and precisely what Butter needs—her.

Soon, the two are inseparable, and Butter thrives under Marvel's support. But Butter also helps Marvel. Everything is better with Butter by her side, and Marvel starts to imagine a life in which she doesn’t have to be so afraid . . . until she’s told she might have to give up Butter forever. Will Marvel find a way to fight for her friend? Or will she revert back to the anxious, lonely person she used to be?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338662191
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/20/2021
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	102,992
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Victoria Piontek is the author of The Spirit of Cattail County, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year. As a child, she was lucky to have a menagerie of pets, including a goat that liked to follow her to the school bus each morning. She lives in Northern California with her husband, three children, and a gigantic fluffy dog. Better with Butter is her second novel. Visit her online at victoriapiontek.com or on social media @victoriapiontek.

Editorial Reviews

05/17/2021

In this heartwarming novel set in Northern California, Piontek (The Spirit of Cattail County) conveys the calming and strengthening power of connecting with an animal. Diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder, self-proclaimed coward Marvel McKenna views her worries as armor that helps her prepare—“It takes a lot of work to be afraid of everything.” When she’s not dwelling on global problems, the implied-white sixth grader’s mind is filled with worries about making friends, taking tests, and public speaking—including an upcoming presentation in front of the whole school. But after rehearsal for the event makes her freeze on stage, Marvel pushes her fear aside to rescue a baby fainting goat from a group of eighth graders intent on startling it. Marvel’s parents agree that she can keep the goat, dubbed Butter, until the owner is found. When she is with the animal, Marvel’s anxiety subsides and, for the first time, she feels confident. As a result, Marvel would like Butter to serve as an emotional service animal at school; before that can happen, though, her intimidating principal requires that Butter pass a difficult obedience test. Marvel’s honest first-person voice sheds light on an experience of living with chronic anxiety, conveying conflicts and progress with clear internal detail. Ages 8–12. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

2021-05-19
Getting through rough times is better with a friend.

Marvel McKenna has issues, specifically generalized anxiety disorder that is affecting her ability to complete sixth grade. That, combined with an embarrassing moment in front of the entire school, subsequent bullying from classmate Jamie, and a fear that she’s not bonding with her often absent Navy father, creates an oppressive environment that’s stifling Marvel. The sweet taste of hope arrives with Butter, a myotonic—or fainting—goat Marvel courageously saves from Jamie and a group of older students who are tormenting her. When Marvel learns about emotional support animals, she makes it her mission to officially turn Butter into one so she can keep her permanently and feel as brave at school as she does when she’s taking care of her new goat bestie. This story set in a suburb near San Francisco is engaging; tweens will love Marvel’s candid narration as she slowly transforms into a healthier version of herself. Readers who value realism may roll their eyes once or twice at the number of lucky breaks Marvel has with Butter, but those looking for a feel-good beach-read vibe will have few complaints. Main characters default to White.

A charming story. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews

"A lovely story with the perfect amount of heart, hope, and humor. Readers will be cheering Marvel on as she learns to deal with her anxiety.” —Shannon Messenger, bestselling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series

“Marvel’s honest first-person voice sheds light on an experience of living with chronic anxiety, conveying conflicts and progress with clear internal detail.” –Publishers Weekly

“Tweens will love Marvel’s candid narration as she slowly transforms into a healthier version of herself . . . a charming story.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Utterly relatable and empowering, this book reminds readers that bravery comes in all different forms.” — Kim Ventrella, author of Skeleton Tree and The Secret Life of Sam

From the Publisher