Sherrard, Valerie Kate.(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)

[G] Dundurn Press, 2003. 232p. Gr. 7-10. 1-55002-476-0. Pbk. $12.99

Kate is the journal writings of Kate Bench-worth, a teenage girl growing up in a small town in 1962. Her family life with mother, father and brother, Mark seems idyllic and reminiscent of sitcoms from the 60's where father is provider, mother is the happy homemaker and the children get along and share the household chores without complaint. On the surface, Kate appears the typical teenage girl. She likes to read and hang out with her best friend. She also has to deal with typical teenage girl things such as having a crush on a particular boy, worrying if she will ever experience that first kiss and wondering what it will be like.

However, Kate is far from typical. Kate is fourteen years old and dying from a brain tumor.

Through her writing we get to know Kate, her town, her family, her friends and the townspeople. More importantly we get to know Kate, a remarkable young person, who not only has come to terms with her illness but is determined to enjoy every minute of what time she has left. That includes befriending and falling in love with a boy being held in jail on a robbery charge. Through ...