Most eighteen-year-olds wish they could leave the protective chrysalis of their parental home to “fly” off on their own and experience the world. This dream, however, is especially problematic for Abbie Evans, who has endured multiple operations since birth because of epidermolysis bullosa, a rare, often fatal, genetic disorder that makes her skin as fragile as butterfly wings. Despite frequent pain, hardships, and life-threatening situations, this beautiful and optimistic “butterfly child” says she is “so ready to be on my own . . . to live to the fullest.” Cary Bell’s riveting portrait of this remarkable young woman is compassionate and deeply moving without a hint of sentimentality.  JG