Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson is about Kate, a senior in high school who has always dreamed of going to MIT, just like her mother. Kate is so sure that she'll get into MIT, she doesn't apply to any other 'safety' schools. Kate lives next door to Teri, the big, mean girl who has bullied Kate since elementary school. Teri is the brunt of every joke at school because she is big and has a bad attitude. Most people are afraid of her, but that doesn't stop them from picking on her. One night, Teri's house burns down, and Kate's minister father decides to take Teri and her little brother in while they repair the damage. Teri's mother, who has some brain damage sustained from a brutal beating delivered by Teri's father, will stay with a different member of the congregation. Much to Kate's chagrin, Teri and her toddler brother have to share a room with her. Teri begins to steal personal items from Kate, including the watch her mother gave her before she passed away. In the midst of this, Kate learns she was not accepted into MIT. Things begin to really unravel for her as her home is taken over by Teri and her family, her father spends more time with the church than Kate, she and her boyfriend begin to drift apart, and she starts neglecting school. Then, something terrible happens that ends up bringing Kate and Teri closer than either could have imagined.

This was a great book. It is definitely for high school students - there is some mature content, and the premise is geared more toward older adolescents. I absolutely love this author. I have read many of her books, and they are always completely different. I find myself really identifying with the characters and caring a great deal about what happens to them. This book has really made me think about my own high school experience, and that of my own daughter, who will be applying to colleges in the years to come.