The Kate In Between

In this timely, call-to-action contemporary middle grade novel from Claire Swinarski, author of What Happens Next, a twelve-year-old girl must face herself, and the truth, after her participation in a bullying incident goes viral. 

Kate McAllister is desperate for a change. Something to hit refresh and erase the pain of her mother leaving town without her. So when a group of popular girls folds Kate into their clique, it feels like the answer to all her problems—even if it means ditching Haddie, her childhood bestie.

But when Kate’s new friends decide that Haddie is their next target, Kate becomes a passive participant in a cruel incident that could have killed Haddie…had Kate not stepped in, at the last minute, and saved her. The next day, a cell phone video of the rescue goes viral, and Kate is hailed a hero. But Kate knows the truth—she was part of the problem—and it’s only a matter of time until the full version of the video is released and everyone knows it too.

With so much at stake, Kate must decide who she wants to be: a liar, a follower, or someone greater.

What happens when your biggest mistake makes you a hero to the whole world?
Middle School Friendship Drama: Kate has to choose between her loyal childhood bestie, Haddie, and the popular clique she’s always wanted to be a part of.A Viral Video Lie: When a video of Kate saving Haddie goes viral, the whole world calls her a hero. But she knows the whole truth is only one click away from being revealed.The Pain of Bullying: A powerful look at the gray areas of bullying, showing how even passive participation can have devastating consequences.A Difficult Moral Dilemma: Faced with losing her new friends or betraying her old one, Kate must decide what kind of person she truly wants to be before it’s too late.