Starring Kitty

14-year-old Kitty has a lot to contend with. At home she is coping with extra responsibilities and worries as her mum’s multiple sclerosis worsens. At school she and her friends Hannah and Sunny have a deadline to meet. They are entering a short film competition to promote their home town of St Margaret’s. If they win the prize they might be off to London for a film making course. Exciting stuff, but unfortunately their main rivals, Mackenzie and co, appear to have stolen their ideas and they are getting away with it. And then there is Dylan. Kitty is really attracted to Dylan and quickly finds out her feelings are reciprocated. The trouble is that Dylan is a girl. Is Kitty ready to acknowledge to her friends and family that she is gay?

This book is the first in a three part series with each book focusing on one of three friends (Kitty, Hannah and Sunny). Lots of issues are explored in this story: sexuality and coming to terms with it; disability and its effect on family life; keeping secrets; social media and its potential abuse as a bullying tool. We meet a number of well-drawn characters within Kitty’s home, school and social world. Some are a surprise, such as her ultra-cool, fashion conscious gran. Starring Kitty is a quick and enjoyable read tackling challenging themes, perfect for teens who enjoy real life dramas with main characters they will get to know through this story and the rest of the series.