Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle, published by Penguin Group.
Not to sound harsh, but this wasn't the best book I've ever read. Probably won't make it into the top 100. Not to say that it was a bad read, but it wasn't an original coming-of-age story. It focused on Lissa, a high-school girl confused about her emotions, and her best friend Kate. They happened to kiss at a party, which meant much more to Lissa than it did to Kate. Kate used being drunk as an excuse but Lissa, completely sober, used that kiss to open a new door in their friendship (a door that Kate did not want to go through). So most of the story follows Lissa and her confusion over whether or not she is gay or if she only wanted to be with Kate, her best friend, regardless of the fact that she was a girl. It's good for teens to realize that just because you're attracted to someone of the same gender that doesn't automatically make you a homosexual. Kate was the only girl Lissa was attracted to in her entire life. So naturally she had some questions and no one to talk to about them.
I liked Lissa's new friendship with Ariel and Finn. They were quirky and nice and good as friends for Lissa. They didn't seem to judge her because they were outcast-material themselves. I especially liked how Ariel annoyed Lissa in the beginning of their friendship and then grew on her. Lissa needed someone to confide in and someone to trust and Ariel kind of forced her to open up. They tried to share the lucid dream technique with each other, but I could tell Lissa wanted to tell someone about it but not compete with someone over it. Ariel's strong forward personality really brings Lissa out of her shell though.
I think this book had a ton of potential. It reminded me of Sarah Dessen through the quirky new friends trying to help the main character through her problem. Entrees on Trays reminded me of The Truth About Forever and the catering business. Myracle did an excellent job of introducing her characters and the storyline, but I think she could have taken it one step further. She could have developed the plot further than just the kiss with Kate. She could have further explored Lissa's sexuality especially since there was only one small discussion about it towards the end of the novel. I wouldn't have minded a little more of Lissa's relationship with her sister, Beth. I thought they were really good together and had a nice, healthy relationship. An exploration of Lissa's feelings about her parents dying in a plane crash when she was 8 would have really added a touching depth to her story. All in all, it was an easy quick read, but I feel like it was just a start and Myracle could have taken it so much further.
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