Kat Greene is worried about a lot of things. She’s not sure why her mom cleans until her hands are raw. She frets that if she tells anyone about what’s going on with her mom, she’ll have to live with her dad and stepmom. And she wishes her best friend Halle would listen to her instead of obsessing over a boy.

Kat Greene Comes Clean by Melissa Roske deals with issues kids may face when a parent goes through mental health problems and challenges occur with evolving friendships. Kat wants to talk to someone about what’s happening at home and at school with her best friend. Yet every time she tries, she worries that by telling she’ll either be betraying a confidence or upsetting her everyday life.

Kat has an ally in her school counselor, if she can bring herself to talk to her. When her mom’s strange behavior escalates, Kat discovers there’s strength in seeking help from caring adults. There’s a message to be sure, but it’s not preachy or delivered in a way that young readers are likely to reject. Instead, Kat Green Comes Clean is more likely to help kids seek resources when they have issues that go beyond their ability to deal with them. I recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 14.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.