Black Butterfly

Experience an intimate, three-part journey through the foster care system. This compelling series captures the full spectrum of the experience—from tumultuous challenges to triumphant moments. It is an essential, inspiring resource for educators, counselors, and anyone connected to the foster care community.

Eleven-year-old Michelle Hilton's world in 1977 Detroit is a fragile one, held together by her mother's love and fractured by her mother's abusive boyfriend. When a single accident brings Child Protective Services to their door, the discovery of a hidden drug stash tears her family apart. Ripped from her siblings and tossed into the foster care system, Michelle begins a grueling journey through a succession of homes that challenge everything she thought she knew about herself.

Catherine Hilton survived her past—but now her past is out of prison. To shield her children from her lethal ex, Catherine cuts ties and disappears into an underground life. Caught between her brothers’ high-stakes rescue mission and an abusive man’s obsession, she must decide how much she’s willing to lose to finally be safe.

Black Butterfly is a powerful collection of poetry that speaks to the silence of loss, fight for families, and the love that foster children so desperately need. Through raw emotion and unshakable faith, this book gives voice to the unseen realities of foster care and shines light on the strength it takes to rise above. More than poetry, this is a movement—a call to action, a source of encouragement, and a reminder that every struggle can lead to purpose and every journey can lead to victory.