Meet Kate Malone—a straight-A science and math geek, minister's daughter, ace long-distance runner, and new girlfriend to Mitchell "Early Decision Harvard" Pangborn III. She is an unwilling family caretaker and an emotional avoidance champion.

Kate manages her life by organizing it as logically as the periodic table. She believes she can handle it all—or so she thinks. Then, life changes as suddenly as a string of chemical reactions; first, the Malones' neighbors get burned out of their own home and move in. Kate finds herself sharing her room with her nemesis, Teri Litch, and Teri's little brother.

The days are ticking down, and she's anxiously waiting to hear from the only college she applied to: MIT. Kate feels that her life is spiraling out of control—and then, something happens that truly blows it all apart.

Set in the same community as the remarkable Speak, Catalyst is a novel that will change the way you look at the world.