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Laurie Halse Anderson

Catalyst Hardcover – September 30, 2002

by Laurie Halse Anderson (Author)

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Meet Kate Malone-straight A science and math geek, minister's daughter, ace long-distance runner, girlfriend, unwilling family caretaker, emotional avoidance champion. Kate manages her life by organizing it, as logically as the periodic table. She can handle it all-or so she thinks. Then, like a string of chemical reactions, everything happens: the Malones' neighbors get burned out of their home and move in. Because her father is a Good Man of God (and a Not Very Thoughtful Parent), Kate has to share her room with her nemesis, Teri Litch, and Teri's adorable, troublemaking little brother. And through it all, she's still waiting to hear from the only college she has applied to: MIT. Kate's life is less and less under control-and then, something happens that blows it all apart, and forces her to examine her life, self, and heart for the first time. Set in the same community as the remarkable Speak, Catalyst is a novel that will make you think, laugh, cry, and rejoice-sometimes at the same time.

Reading age

12 - 15 years
Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Lexile measure

HL580L
Dimensions

5.78 x 0.93 x 8.58 inches
Publisher

Viking Juvenile
Publication date

September 30, 2002
ISBN-10

0670035661
ISBN-13

978-0670035663
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Chemistry honors student and cross-country runner Kate Malone is driven. Daughter of a father who is a reverend first and a parent second ("Rev. Dad [Version 4.7] is a faulty operating system, incompatible with my software.") and a dead mother she tries not to remember, Kate has one goal: To escape them both by gaining entrance to her own holy temple, MIT. Eschewing sleep, she runs endlessly every night waiting for the sacred college acceptance letter. Then two disasters occur: Sullen classmate Teri and her younger brother, Mikey, take over Kate's room when their own house burns down, and a too-thin letter comes from MIT, signifying denial. And so the experiment begins. Can crude Teri and sweet Mikey, combined with the rejection letter, form the catalyst that will shake Kate out of her selfish tunnel vision and force her to deal with the suppressed pain of her mom's death? "If I could run all the time, life would be fine. As long as I keep moving, I'm in control." But for Kate, it's time to stop running and face the feelings she's spent her whole life racing away from.

Catalyst, Laurie Halse Anderson's third novel for teens, is a deftly fashioned character study of a seldom explored subject in YA fiction: the type-A adolescent. Teens will identify (if not exactly sympathize) with prickly Kate instantly, and be shocked or perhaps secretly pleased to discover that life is no easier for the honor roll student than it is for the outcast. Anderson earns an A plus for this revealing and realistic take on life, death, and GPAs. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

From Publishers Weekly

Like its cross-country-running heroine, Anderson's (Speak) latest novel starts off promisingly, then loses its pacing about midway through. The narrator, 18-year-old Kate Malone, has placed all of her eggs in one basket: she has applied only to her late mother's alma mater, MIT. Calculus is a cinch, chemistry is her favorite subject, even physics comes easily to her, but when her MIT rejection arrives, it acts as catalyst for the slow unraveling of her delicately balanced life. A preacher's daughter, she struggles between "Good Kate" and "Bad Kate" as she singlehandedly keeps the household running (her mother died nine years ago). Anderson excels in conveying Kate's anxieties and her concomitant insomnia, and frequently intersperses evidence of Kate's sharp humor (she calls Mitchell A. Pangborn III "my friend, my enemy, my lust"). But Kate's relationships with others remain hazy. While this seems to reflect Kate's state of mind, since she slowly shuts everyone out as her MIT-less fate becomes clear, her detachment may create a similar effect for readers. This aloofness becomes most problematic in the dynamics of her relationship with Teri Litch, who once beat her up habitually. After Teri's house burns down, she and toddler Mikey Litch come to live with the Malones, and the action escalates to the point of melodrama. Yet another tragic event spurs a reconciliation between Kate and Teri, but the underlying changes in the individuals that lead up to this event remain unclear. Teens will take to Kate instantly, but as the novel continues, they may be confused about what makes her tick. Still, the universal obstacles she faces and the realistic outcome will likely hold readers' attention. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up-Kate Malone is a high school senior, an AP chemistry student, and a runner. She does her best running at night, when she outruns ghosts and can soar in the comfort of anonymity. Since her mother's death, she has taken care of her father (a minister) and her brother. She is waiting for acceptance to MIT, her mother's alma mater, and feels that her very life depends on it. Teri Litch, a typical school bully, punches her way through most situations and is filled with rage that threatens to affect everyone she encounters. When her house partially burns down, she and her little brother, Mikey, are invited by the reverend to move temporarily into his home. Teri's world is imposed upon Kate's as they become locked in some type of cataclysmic mix that alters both of their lives. Eventually readers discover that some of Teri's anger comes from being raped by her father and, when Mikey dies in a tragic accident, they learn that he was really her son. Anderson uses great chemical titles and subtitles for the short chapters. However, there is too much happening too fast and readers are left with many unanswered questions, and an ending that seems neat but unlikely. This title has a good premise and some moments of fine writing, but it lacks the depth of characterization that made Speak (Farrar, 1999) so compelling.
Lynn Bryant, Great Bridge Middle School, Chesapeake, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Laurie Halse Anderson has received both the Margaret Edwards Award and the ALAN Award for her contributions to young adult literature. She has also been honored by the National Coalition Against Censorship in recognition of her fight to combat the censoring of literature. She is the author of the groundbreaking National Book Award finalist and Printz Honor Book Speak. She is also author of the critically acclaimed YA books Prom, Twitsted, Catalyst, Wintergirls, and The Impossible Knife of Memory. She has also authored a number of middle grade titles including The Vet Volunteers series, and the historical fiction Seeds of America Trilogy, which includes Forge, ALA Best Book for Young Adults Fever 1793, and the National Book Award finalist and Scott O’Dell Award-winner Chains. She and her husband live in northern New York State. Follow Laurie on Twitter @halseanderson and visit her at madwomanintheforest.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Juvenile; First Edition (September 30, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0670035661
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670035663
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 15 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL580L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.78 x 0.93 x 8.58 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,355,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #669 in Teen & Young Adult Multigenerational Family Fiction
- #2,345 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Death & Dying
- #5,209 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Girls' & Women's Issues (Books)

Customer Reviews:
276 ratings

About the author

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Laurie Halse Anderson

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Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous American Library Association and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Chains also earned a spot on the Carnegie Medal Short List.

Laurie received the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award given by the Young Adult Library Services Association division of the American Library Association for her "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature."

Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York State, an hour south of the Canadian border, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. Right now she's finishing up her next YA novel and researching Ashes, which will conclude the adventure of Isabel and Curzon that readers enjoyed in her historical novels Chains and Forge.

You'll find loads more information about Laurie and her books on her website: http://madwomanintheforest.com/. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, http://twitter.com/halseanderson, on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/lauriehalseanderson, and on her blog, http://madwomanintheforest.com/blog/.

Customer reviews

5 star		78%
4 star		12%
3 star		5%
2 star		3%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kindle Customer

What even is this.

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was assigned summer reading for my grade 11 class. I hated it. And not just because it was assigned reading. I am not a prude at all. However, the "adult" subject matter in this book made no sense where it was. Often with no context and not enough depth. The characters do not speak to each other like teenagers and the protagonist is both annoying and boring. The content is older but the language in aged way down. I think an 11 year old could read this and be just fine, if it weren't for the random cussing and "adult" themes.

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Amazon Customer

Not perfect, but 5 stars anyway for the courage and the depth

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2009

Verified Purchase

Catalyst is not a perfect book. No book is. That said, it kept me spellbound into all hours of the night, because I just had to know what happened to Kate and Terri. I somewhat agree with the reader that said the novel follows a progression from a self-centered Kate to a less self-centered Kate, EXCEPT that I see Kate as more self-protective than self-centered. Don't any of you adults out there remember what it was like to be a teenager? When you felt like your entire life was out of your control and hung by the thread of other people's decisions? As a chronic overachiever who struggles with performance anxiety, I could relate A LOT to Kate.

There were times that I thought she should have felt a little guiltier about focusing on the MIT rejection instead of on Terri, BUT then again, Terri's situation was so horrifying it would be difficult for someone as young as Kate to process. In fact, that was one of my few gripes with the book--that what happens to Terri seems a bit over the top. Yes, there are people out there with even worse stories, but I wondered if there was any way to simplify the plot line to include just one or two of those events. But that still didn't take away from the overall power of the book for me, and I wound up by the end liking both Terri and Kate very much.

And as for the reviewer who said she was appalled at the choice of this for a summer reading list, well, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, yes, this deals with some very taboo subjects that parents may not want their children exposed to. But I think it really depends on the age of the child. Would I want my fourteen year old to read this? Perhaps not. My sixteen or seventeen year old? Most likely. Ultimately, though, I am glad books like this exist. Wouldn't you rather your teenager navigate the waters of difficult subjects through a sensitive, well-written book like this than through watching any number of television shows or YouTube videos? This stuff is out there. People do struggle with issues like this. At some point, your child WILL be exposed to these subjects, whether or not they are in a public school. By the time most teens read a book like this, there's a good chance they will have ALREADY encountered them.

3 people found this helpful

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Anastasiya

It was ok.

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

I can imagine how irritating it must be for the author to hear that but I will say it anyway - it wasn't as good as "Speak". Catalyst had a good start with the main character. Kate's life style, family and inner dialog intrigued and sucked me into the story. But towards the middle I lost the grip of the story. At the end I didn't care at all. I don't know why, I don't have a recipe on how to fix it, but something was missing for me.

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

heart wrenching, beautiful, loved, and hated, one of the best books in any genre

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book is epic; the writing is superb. It is phenomenal read for any genera do not let the YA label fool you. MIT should be a must read for everyone who loves realistic fiction. It is a true crossover and I could not put it down. It was a one sitting less than two hour page turner. Okay, I do lie, I put it down about 65% in to write hateful things to the author; bit alas I picked it right up again and didn't stop to even pee!

One person found this helpful

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Laura

Unexpected

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2015

Verified Purchase

I love LHA's ability to bring to life the intensity of real teenagers caught in impossible situations that are all too real, and not nearly uncommon enough. The characters are as real as family, and the tension winches higher and higher until I almost couldn't bear to find out what Kate would do what the catalyst finally propelled her from the frozen present into the unknown future.

Helpful

Catnip

Very intersting, I'd definitely recommend it

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. I had read the book "Speak" by this same author and really liked it, and decided to give this one a try also. The story is well written and you feel you "get to know" the characters. I would love to see a sequel, to see where the characters (at least the man ones) lives go from the ending of this novel.

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2012

Verified Purchase

As many have said, Laurie Halse Anderson is a great author, and she has many excellent books. That being said, this is not one of the best examples of this. This book is about Kate, an overachieving minister's daughter that just wants to get into MIT. This story is all about how her neighbor's house is destroyed in a fire and her neighbor whom she cannot stand and her family lives with Kate.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I was reading, because most of Anderson's books had to do with disturbed teens. From what I heard about Catalyst, this didn't seem very dark. But, that doesn't stop Kate. I really liked the other main characters in many of Anderson's books, but Kate is just not likable. Also, she goes into a LOT of detail about her brother's, er, habits for no particular reason. Her friends seem as if taken out of a bad teen sitcom, and then, there's the ending. Let's just say you probably will be disappointed.

Overall, This book was ok. It was good at times, and bad at times, but mediocre overall. I recommend simply sticking to Speak, or maybe Wintergirls.

One person found this helpful

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C. Lara

Catalyst is a great book!

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2011

Verified Purchase

I absolutely love this book. It's a young adult novel, but if you want a book that tugs at your heart strings buy this one. It's about a girl name Kate who is struggling to get into the college she wants and dealing with the troubles of a high school senior. She is forced to deal with a girl she finds repulsive, and is pushed out of her comfort zone. Through many tragedies Kate discovers who she really needs to be.

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Top reviews from other countries

Fiore

Catalyst

Reviewed in Germany on June 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have read speak and wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. I thought that these books were very good, so I bought this book. The topic of the book is very interestig and it's very nice how the chemistry is brought in by the author.
When you have finished the book, you will understand the title.
I would recommend everybody who read and likes the other books by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Fiore

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Catalyst Hardcover – September 30, 2002

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