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Book Review By Lindsey Knepp
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Kate Malone is a straight A-student, preacher's daughter, and long distance runner. She keeps her life quite organized. She spends her time keeping the family in order, and trying to get into her dream college, MIT. She runs at night to lose her problems. Running far and fast to clear her mind.

Kate goes to school and spends time with her close friends and boyfriend, Mitch. She awaits a letter from MIT. Everyday, people ask if it's come and she has to reply that it hasn't. Then Kate's world comes crashing down. When her nieghbors, the Litch's home burns down, Kate is forced to share her room with her enemy Terry Litch and Teri's brother.

Living with Teri is no picnic. Teri doesn't appreciate a thing Kate does. Not only does she tell Kate what to do, she also steals from Kate. During this struggle the letter does come. Unfortunately when the letter does come, it isn't the news Kate had hoped for. Kate hides this from her friends and family. She struggles to find a way in to MIT. Kate's life is no longer organized; it's a disaster, and then something happens to make it worse,


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes
Loss of...
Age group of kid(s) in story: - high school

Main Character
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - a teen
Profession/status:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 ()

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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