Kate- Valerie Sherrard

I enjoy Sherrard’s writings generally and was a little intrigued by the premise of this book. I have read several of her Shelby Belgarden mysteries and noted that this one was quite different in plot. Sometimes I have students who ask me for “sad” books and they aren’t always easy to find as we don’t have a section for “sad” books. But I understand that some young girls want to explore the emotions of sorrow in a safe environment or perhaps are trying to deal with some grief of their own. So often, a good novel will allow us to find some measure of comfort and understanding through the hardships of others. So here is Kate; a book about a 14 year-old girl who is facing sure death from a brain tumour. She, her family, her friends, her neighbours and now her new boyfriend, all have to face up to and deal with this catastrophe in their own way. The very real pain and anxiety is explored in what I thought was a very realistic, thoughtful and ultimately, in a healing fashion. It doesn’t pull any punches; neither is it sentimental. It is an excellent reminder from Kate to take very day and live life to the fullest. I would recommend this for middle years, Young Adult readers and high school. One of the blogs I follow is Deliciously Clean Reads. This is definitely a book to meet their requirements.