GENRE: Fiction: Realistic fiction, problem-solving, romance. 
 SUBJECT/THEMES: Homosexuality, lesbians, friendship, accepting who you are, breaking up. 
 SUMMARY: Kate and Lissa have been best friends for four years, doing everything together. Then one night at a party, a drunken Kate kissed Lissa, who reciprocated. After that, they ignored each other for weeks. Lissa was a wreck. She was confused over her feelings for Kate, and was struggling to understand what had happened between the two of them. When they finally do speak, it is clear that Kate wants to move on and be friends again, and not discuss the kiss at all. Lissa expands her friendship base, and starts to learn a lot about herself over the course of working through the issue with Kate. 
 EVALUATION: I liked all of the characters in Kissing Kate; each of them seemed realistic and believable to me. This is a quick read, which covers a couple of months in the life of Lissa, whose point of view the story is told from. Lissa goes through a great many emotions while she comes to terms with her new feelings for Kate. I liked her slow progression of acceptance throughout the book. After having a somewhat failed date with a boy, Lissa heads over to Kate's house. From that confrontation, Lissa sees things more clearly, and begins to change how she feels about herself and others. 
 WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This book is a realistic depiction of what some teenagers go through; an attraction to a close friend. I want to ensure that any teenager that feels confused about their sexuality has access to fictional and non-fictional books that may help them better understand their feelings. Reading about characters that are experiencing things they are going through helps teenagers feel more 'normal'. 
 Although it may be controversial, during the week of the Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco, this title and other ones which discuss young adults coming to terms with their homosexuality and bisexuality could be set up on a display together. 
 ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL: 
 *	Dare Truth or Promise, by Paula Boock. 
 *	Pages for You: A Novel, by Sylvia Brownrigg. 
 *	Annie on My Mind, by Nancy Garden. 
 *	Keeping You a Secret, by Julie Anne Peters. 
 *	Empress of the World, by Sara Ryan. 
 *	Girl Walking Backwards, by Bett Williams. 
 AWARDS: 
 *	ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2004. 
 *	Booklist Top-Ten Youth Romance, 2004.