Katy’s Debate by Kim Vogel Sawyer was a quick read, just like Book One in the Katy Lambright Series, Katy’s New World.
Back-cover copy: New Club, New Crush … New Mom? Just as Katy is feeling settled in her new school, everything falls apart at home. Her father, believing she needs a mother, starts courting a woman Katy refuses to accept. Tensions rise as Katy schemes to send the woman packing. Meanwhile, the pressure builds at school as Katy joins the debate team, encounters a teammate’s scorn, and faces her growing feelings for a boy her father will never accept. Can Katy prove she doesn’t need a mother’s guidance even as she discovers more of what the world offers?
I want to go to Katy’s school – not only do they have a cool debate group that travels to compete, but the second half of the year she takes forensics (competitions in which competitors deliver an original speech on a subject of their choosing, though the speech must be factual.) It all sounds like such fun!
This novel was a page turner. Katy and her friends are a year older than in the first novel. And their emotions and interests have changed. This is not a stagnant series. I read on Kim’s Facebook account that Katy has boy trouble in Book Four of the series. As usual, the writing is solid. Kim creates pockets of visuals for the reader to have a glimpse into this mysterious Mennonite community.
The ending of this novel was wonderful. All the plot points were tied up. But what I liked the most was that a character had made a couple of mistakes and that character made amends in the only biblical way : by confessing their sin to the other person and asking for forgiveness. I LOVE that because this novel is geared towards tweens and teens. A great example of Christlike behavior.
If you pick this novel up and read it, check out the dedication page – it’ll make sense once you’ve read the book! Book three of the Katy Lambright series will release in February 2011.
Disclosure of Material Connection: As an influencer, I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers and the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”