In 1977, siblings Tina, Michelle, and Leon Hilton live with their mother, Catherine, in Detroit. Although times are tough, Catherine does the best she can with the support of her mother-and in spite of the abuse she receives from her boyfriend, Victor. When eleven-year-old Michelle is accidentally injured, a caseworker from Child Protective Services visits the family. Later, Victor’s drug stash is found in their house, and soon the three siblings are taken from their mother and placed into separate foster homes. Over the next several months, Michelle experiences a number of foster homes that lead her to question and challenge the lifestyle and sense of identity that she has experienced thus far, significantly affecting her self-esteem, purpose, and well-being. Meanwhile, Catherine works to put her life back together and win back custody of her children. This is the story of a family dealing with physical and emotional abuse, substance addiction, and the foster care system as one girl grows to young adulthood in the face of unusual odds.

This is the story of Catherine Hilton, a mother struggling with substance addiction and domestic violence at the hands of her boyfriend, Victor Sinclair. When Catherine’s home is investigated, Child Protective Services (CPS) intervenes, Victor is sent to prison, and she loses her children to the foster care system. Determined to turn her life around and regain custody, Catherine seeks rehabilitation. For a while, everything seems to be moving in a positive direction until Victor returns from prison. To Catherine’s dismay, her long journey with rehabilitation seems to come to a close and she finds herself in the same situation, once again. To ensure the safety of her children, she must remove herself from the lives of all those she holds dear; there’s no other choice! Of course, the children are devastated; they long to see their mother again. Catherine has every intention of returning for them, once she can be certain, Victor no longer poses a threat to their safety or the normalcy that they deserve. Yet, will Victor allow this? Will Catherine stay clean? Will she ever have a normal life with her children again and what will happen to the children during her absence? Catherine’s brothers launch a full-scale search for her and will stop at nothing to find her. The Search for Catherine begins!

Black Butterfly is a compilation of poetry that speaks to the silence of loss, the fight for families, and love for foster children. With consideration to the daily realities that foster children or youth may experience, Black Butterfly embodies real-life issues through faith-based reflections. This is a young girl’s journey, pre and post, foster care. This compilation is dedicated to the foster child, the youth in crisis, and individuals striving to achieve positive change. Black Butterfly proclaims wholeness to the fatherless, healing to the broken, and hope when faith and determination are all that remain! THIS IS THE JOURNEY – THE VICTORY!