Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > Catalyst

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary

Eighteen-year-old Kate, who sometimes chafes at being a preacher's daughter, finds herself losing control in her senior year as she faces difficult neighbors, the possibility that she may not be accepted by the college of her choice, and an unexpected death.

Booktalk

Kate Malone is a straight-A student, math geek, minister's daughter and long distance runner. She takes care of herself, her younger brother and her busy father. Kate manages her life the way she manages her school work, by organizing it into lists. As long as everything goes according to plan she can handle it, but when things start happening as if by chemical reaction, Kate's flawless system breaks down. Her nemesis, Terri Litch, moves in when her house burns down, bringing her troublemaking but adorable little brother with her. Kate hasn't heard from the only school she applied to for college, and people keep asking what her back-ups are. Everyday seems more different than the last and when a tragedy strikes them all Kate learns that even the best organizational structure can fall apart.

231 pages, 9th grade and up

Discussion questions

1. Why is it so important for Kate to be accepted to MIT?
2. Why didn't she apply to any other schools?
3. What does Kate do when she can't sleep?
4. Why does she refer to herself as good kate and bad kate?
5. How is Kate's family life different from those around her?
6. What could her father do to help her?
7. Why does Kate have to care for her brother, how does this affect their relationship?
8. How do Kate's opinions change throughout the book?
9. Who does Kate love most in the world?
10. When does her opinion of Terri start to change?

If you like this book, try

• Boy in the Burning House by Tim Wynne-Jones
• The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
• Out of the Fire by Deborah Froese
• Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Snacks: glazed doughnuts

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, School-age Services Manager