Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “Being the total nerd scientist/bookworm I hold myself to be, I declare this a book that truly personifies awesome. Kate feels so real. You feel her pain when something goes wrong, you feel the tension in your gut when something just isn't right. Laurie Halse Anderson deserves a round of applause.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“sucky ending”
Christine wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Natalie Kelly
2014natkel wrote this review Wednesday, March 14, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Mrs. L
Catalyst Book Review
The book Catalyst is written by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book is a fictional, young adult novel. This book is about a high school senior and brilliant science student named Kate Malone who is nearly every parents dream – motivated, intelligent, organized, and hard-working. She plans on going to college after high school and plans on going to the only school she applied for, MIT. As it turned out MIT didn’t want her and she was left with no other options. Just as Kate thinks her life couldn’t get any worse, it does. Her worst enemy, Teri Litch loses her home, her and her family have to move in with the Malone’s. The Litch family’s presence changes Kate’s life in a way she never thought possible. The theme I think the author was trying to get across to the the reader was that you don’t always get what you want and you have to make the best of what you have. I thought this was a good book because it gave a good lesson for life and senior year.
I really enjoyed Catalyst. It was interesting, entertaining, and instructive all at the same time. It interested me and entertained me because of the way Kate had her life planed out and then it never happened. I thought it was good for her to realize the other options she had to choose from. It instructed me by giving me advice for senior year and my life after college. I realized only applying for one college is not good and I can’t always have what I want. This quote from Kate tells you how much she wants to get into MIT. “MIT is the only option I care about.” (p.18) Kate just can’t wait for her MIT letter to come because she is so positive she is going to be accepted, until she doesn’t. “When the letter comes, bring it to school, okay?” (p.19) Laurie Halse Anderson puts suspense and entertainment into every sentence by giving information and events that lead up to new information and new events. Readers won’t be able to put this book down. Any high school student who likes a little bit of mystery and life lesson will love all 231 pages of Catalyst. Your eyes will be glued to this book like mine were if you like suspense of knowing that something is going to happen on the next page. I really enjoyed this book and I hope you do to.
”“Being the total nerd scientist/bookworm I hold myself to be, I declare this a book that truly personifies awesome. Kate feels so real. You feel her pain when something goes wrong, you feel the tension in your gut when something just isn't right. Laurie Halse Anderson deserves a round of applause. ”
Holly N wrote this review Tuesday, March 6, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“nothing special...2.5/5”
Allison94 wrote this review Tuesday, February 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It was a good book. Less better than what I thought it would be, but I still loved it.”
May-Lissa F wrote this review Tuesday, January 31, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It kinda sucked.”
Hoolia. wrote this review Tuesday, January 31, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Meet Kate Malone: a straight-A science and math geek, minister's daughter, ace long-distance runner, new girlfriend (to Mitchell "Early Decision Harvard" Pangborn III), unwilling family caretaker, and 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, things change as suddenly as a string of chemical reactions; first, the Malones' neighbors get burned out of their own home and move in. Kate has to share her room with her nemesis, Teri Litch, and Teri's little brother. The days are ticking down and she's still waiting to hear from the only college she applied to: MIT. Kate feels that her life is spinning out of her control---and then, something happens that truly blows it all apart. Set in the same community as the remarkable Speak, Catalyst is a novel that will change the way you look at the world.”
Max wrote this review Friday, January 27, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It was okay. Not my favorite from this author though the imagery is great as usual with her writing. I just couldn't get into either Kate or Teri. They both felt kinda flat despite being flawed and angry and having lives so vastly different yet emotions so oddly similar. There were lots of loose threads by the end to spark discussions after reading it but mostly it felt a bit rambling and not as strong as other stories that Anderson has written.”
April D wrote this review Thursday, January 26, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Definitely one of my favorite novels. I connected with Kate and the stress that comes from trying to be the best at everything without taking time to breathe.
Carolina wrote this review Thursday, January 19, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I loved the characters, found them unique yet not overbearing. Anderson is one of my top authors because of this. She paints her characters alive and utterly believable. I fall in love with her books every time.”“On the outside Kate seems to be perfect, but on the inside she's trying hard to keep it all together. Then her nemesis Teri moves into her house, and things really fall apart.”
Garin College Library wrote this review Sunday, January 15, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
