The Kate In Between is an inspirational realistic-fiction piece by Claire Swinarski. This beautiful story follows 12-year-old Kate McAllister as she navigates her parent’s divorce, peer pressure from her popular friend group, and a complex relationship with her former best friend, Haddie.
After her mother moves to Utah to pursue her aspirations of selling makeup, Kate feels lonely and hates her life. She immerses herself further into her friendship with Taylor, feeling special and chosen in a way she never felt with Haddie, who is aware of her parent’s divorce and her current situation. However, Kate’s new friends begin to bully Haddie. In an attempt to stop them, Kate accidentally endangers Haddie’s life but saves her before any harm is done. Kate is then praised as a hero, but she knows there’s more to the story, and it’s up to her to decide her fate.
Swinarski writes in a soulful way, capturing the deep emotions hidden beneath layers of words. The themes she explores are perfect for middle school girls as they are relatable and resonate with their experiences of finding their identity.