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Becoming Kate
Elizabeth Lindsay, wife and mother of two, is in an auto accident. She awakens in a hospital with strangers calling her Kate. She learns that she perished in the accident and is the donor for the first successful brain transplant. Her mind and memories now reside in the body of eleven-year old Kate. She's not supposed to have a personal memory, but ... Elizabeth is faced with an overwhelming situation. How does she resolve her death and rebirth? How does she stop being Liz and start becoming Kate? It s a story about love and letting go, of redemption and second chances.
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 29, 2010
Liz is happily married, with two children. She has her life down to a routine, and on this particular day, her routine includes running errands. Construction work has been taking place in their neighborhood, and her vision is blocked as she pulls out into traffic. Unable to stop when she sees a large truck, she is in a terrible collision and dies.
Kate is an eleven-year-old girl who has barely had a chance to live. Stricken with a horrible illness six years before, her chances of survival are slim, unless someone can perform a miracle. Perhaps Dr. Jamison will be that man.
When Liz is brought into the hospital and pronounced dead, the hospital staff notes that she has agreed to organ donation. It’s a huge risk, something that has never been done before, but Dr. Jamison performs a brain transplant, taking Liz’s brain and giving it to Kate. What he never dreamed was that Liz’s memories would remain intact, and she would wake up a grown woman inside a child’s body.
“Becoming Kate” by first-time author Dixie Owens follows Liz on her journey through denial, terror, bargaining, and then finally accepting as she comes to understand that she’s been given a second chance, and she should take it to the fullest.
This novel is a mixture of “The Host” and a Robin Cook novel, although the tension in “Becoming Kate” isn’t as high. I could also describe it as “sci-fi meets family drama.” I found the cover to be misleading, as it depicts brightly colored balloons rising into the sky. While there are balloons in the book, it’s not a brightly colored story, and the two didn’t mesh well for me. However, aside from some editing gaffes, I found the story compelling, the characters believable, and the conclusion satisfying. This book will stay with you long after you turn the last page, making you ask the question, “What makes a person truly alive, and to what extend should science interfere in the process?”
Kate is an eleven-year-old girl who has barely had a chance to live. Stricken with a horrible illness six years before, her chances of survival are slim, unless someone can perform a miracle. Perhaps Dr. Jamison will be that man.
When Liz is brought into the hospital and pronounced dead, the hospital staff notes that she has agreed to organ donation. It’s a huge risk, something that has never been done before, but Dr. Jamison performs a brain transplant, taking Liz’s brain and giving it to Kate. What he never dreamed was that Liz’s memories would remain intact, and she would wake up a grown woman inside a child’s body.
“Becoming Kate” by first-time author Dixie Owens follows Liz on her journey through denial, terror, bargaining, and then finally accepting as she comes to understand that she’s been given a second chance, and she should take it to the fullest.
This novel is a mixture of “The Host” and a Robin Cook novel, although the tension in “Becoming Kate” isn’t as high. I could also describe it as “sci-fi meets family drama.” I found the cover to be misleading, as it depicts brightly colored balloons rising into the sky. While there are balloons in the book, it’s not a brightly colored story, and the two didn’t mesh well for me. However, aside from some editing gaffes, I found the story compelling, the characters believable, and the conclusion satisfying. This book will stay with you long after you turn the last page, making you ask the question, “What makes a person truly alive, and to what extend should science interfere in the process?”
September 2, 2010
I wasn't sure about this book as I picked it up, but I quickly changed my mind. I loved how the author wrote from so many different perspectives. It added alot of depth and more stories. All the stories weave together to make this one big emotional web. You can feel the community going through emotional upheavals or through celebrations. I loved watching Kate/Liz's mentality and attitudes shift throughout the book. The ending was marvelous. It made me cry- that's how good it was. I felt like, although there was no definate "ending", it was emotionally resolved. I felt like I could put it down and feel satisfied. It was very well written and very fun to read along the way. Very clean, except for a few sexual references, but they were mild. I would recommend this book to anyone.
February 8, 2012
For the first half of this novel, my rating was only 3 stars, but as it continued and the complexity of the issues was revealed, this book became a 4 star for me.
This is a YA fictional tale of two women thrust together into one body: Liz a 29 year old wife and mother of 2, and Kate an 11 year old brain dead child. The writing is easy and the story is basically that Liz's brain is put into Kate's body and what results from this complex issue. The story reminded me of both The Adoration of Jenna Fox and Unwind. What I found so interesting was how Dixie Wilks-Owens combined all the characters in the story and how she resolved the problem of Liz letting go of her old life and moving on to become a young girl again. It was heart breaking at times and mind-boggling at others.
This book was super clean - no swears or intimate scenes. It would make for a great discussion in a medical ethics class. Interesting stuff.
Recommended to lovers of YA futuristic novels.
This is a YA fictional tale of two women thrust together into one body: Liz a 29 year old wife and mother of 2, and Kate an 11 year old brain dead child. The writing is easy and the story is basically that Liz's brain is put into Kate's body and what results from this complex issue. The story reminded me of both The Adoration of Jenna Fox and Unwind. What I found so interesting was how Dixie Wilks-Owens combined all the characters in the story and how she resolved the problem of Liz letting go of her old life and moving on to become a young girl again. It was heart breaking at times and mind-boggling at others.
This book was super clean - no swears or intimate scenes. It would make for a great discussion in a medical ethics class. Interesting stuff.
Recommended to lovers of YA futuristic novels.
September 9, 2010
I first read about this book on Goodreads.com and entered to win a copy. When I found out I did win, I was really excited to read it. This book is amazing!
It tells a story about a wife and mother who gets in her car to do a quick errand. On the way to her destination, she gets into a car accident. The next thing she knows, she is waking up in a hospital and everyone around her is calling her "Kate" instead of her real name "Liz." Soon she finds out that she, Liz, died in a car accident and that her brain was harvested for the first ever brain transplant surgery. Liz still lives on inside of a child's body due to the doctors failure at erasing her memory. Liz befriends her physical therapist, Marcy, and together they work out a plan so that Liz can get information on her family. Liz learns how to "become Kate" by adjusting to living in the life of a child.
By far one of the best books I have read so far. An amazingly written novel by Dixie Owens. A story that I will read again and again.
It tells a story about a wife and mother who gets in her car to do a quick errand. On the way to her destination, she gets into a car accident. The next thing she knows, she is waking up in a hospital and everyone around her is calling her "Kate" instead of her real name "Liz." Soon she finds out that she, Liz, died in a car accident and that her brain was harvested for the first ever brain transplant surgery. Liz still lives on inside of a child's body due to the doctors failure at erasing her memory. Liz befriends her physical therapist, Marcy, and together they work out a plan so that Liz can get information on her family. Liz learns how to "become Kate" by adjusting to living in the life of a child.
By far one of the best books I have read so far. An amazingly written novel by Dixie Owens. A story that I will read again and again.
August 8, 2011
I was really interested in reading this book because the plot sounded so strange- the brain of a 29 yr old gets transplanted into the body of an 11 yr old. She's not supposed to still have her memories but she does and has to make the decision to let go of her old life as Liz and become Kate instead. I didn't understand the author's position on both the doctor and the reporter- they both had big moments where they seemed like the bad guy and at other times they were the good guys. So I never really understood which side she wanted them to be on. I also didn't like the son's role and especially his relationship with his girlfriend which seemed random and forced. There were some things that the author seemed like she was hinting at something but I wasn't really sure what she was getting at and so instead they just seemed like random statements. I was slightly unclear at the end how much Bruce actually understood and if he knew that Marcy also knew...But the idea was definitely unique and something interesting to think about.
March 3, 2014
A friend gave me the book and a brief idea of the story line. What an interesting idea, medically, and completely unexpected, but I loved that the author was imaginative enough to present the idea of a brain transplant and the unique issues that arise when the brain retains it's memories. It really made me think abut how our memories define us. I'm not sure I would have handled being in the same situation as well as Liz did. I was impressed with the character development and am anxious to read the sequel. I think every character has more to say. It was interesting and thought provoking, while still being entertaining.
October 3, 2010
This is a riveting story with lots of thought provoking ideas, ahead of our time--but how far ahead? I can hardly wait for the sequel, and find out more about Kate--the other characters--not so much. Will she be like Jackie Evancho? Will she grow up with kinds of challenges we can only imagine? Ms. Owens keep the storytelling real without a lot of literary style complexities which would distrct from the amazing storyline. It's a great "discussion" book for the ideas that readers can generate from the story, a great film possibility, and hopefully the first in a Trilogy (at least).
June 22, 2010
I started reading this book in the early afternoon and literally could not put it down until late that night! Eating was a chore, work nearly out of question, I just had to know what happened next! Better yet, when I finished, I just wanted to start all over again. The flow was excellent, the character development credible to the last detail and the ups and downs of their lives felt personal. I loved it!
September 16, 2010
If you're reading the reviews, than you already know the storyline of this book. Fascinating subject matter.
I felt the book was "too goody two shoes" in it's approach. Also, it felt like it was written in a prose more suited to tween readers.
If you want a quick read for the beach or to kill time, then read it. If you want a thought provoking book, then skip it.
I felt the book was "too goody two shoes" in it's approach. Also, it felt like it was written in a prose more suited to tween readers.
If you want a quick read for the beach or to kill time, then read it. If you want a thought provoking book, then skip it.
June 6, 2011
An interesting and compelling read that really makes you think about certain medical procedures that could take place in the furture.
August 3, 2020
An organ donor's essence is transplanted with her brain into an eleven-year-old girl. Liz was a wife and mother. Her body is dead and now she finds herself trapped in that of a young girl. desperate to see her husband and kids, she enlists the aid of a sympathetic physical therapist. But things get more complicated when Kate's husband and the therapist share a mutual attraction. In the meantime, Kate must contend with the challenges of a new life and a relentless media presence.
I enjoyed this book. It raises interesting questions about identity after transplants and the moral and ethical challenges. There are definite religious (Christian) overtones but they are secondary to the storyline. Interesting and satisfying.
I enjoyed this book. It raises interesting questions about identity after transplants and the moral and ethical challenges. There are definite religious (Christian) overtones but they are secondary to the storyline. Interesting and satisfying.
March 9, 2018
Intriguing to think about the situation that occurred in this book.
Liz is a wife and mother and has a terrible car accident and is a donor for a pioneering brain transplant, but something goes wrong and she has only her 29 year old memories, not the 11 year old memories of Kate who is the brain transplant recipient.
The story goes through her emotions and challenges trying to fit herself into the body as expected as well as all of those around her while she mourns the loss of her own life and uses different viewpoints to describe everything going on.
The cover looked like a children's book to me, but it's more of an adult book, just because of the adult themes. No bad language or sex.
Liz is a wife and mother and has a terrible car accident and is a donor for a pioneering brain transplant, but something goes wrong and she has only her 29 year old memories, not the 11 year old memories of Kate who is the brain transplant recipient.
The story goes through her emotions and challenges trying to fit herself into the body as expected as well as all of those around her while she mourns the loss of her own life and uses different viewpoints to describe everything going on.
The cover looked like a children's book to me, but it's more of an adult book, just because of the adult themes. No bad language or sex.
April 19, 2018
What happens when science outpaces moral understanding of the consequences? We've heard the arguments on TV, but to distill it down into the lives of those involved is to cement the lesson in our hearts. I loved how this story unfolded like a movie, with single scenes and camera angles that made me feel like I was watching a made-for-TV movie. The characters are so real, their heartache, hopes, fears and petty concerns are so identifiable. The soft ending is not a finale, but an announcement that a sequel is in the works. I can't wait to read it. You just feel like you're in the hands of a professional storyteller here.
February 14, 2020
My 3-year-old picked this book out off the library shelf and said I should get it because it had balloons on the front. I read the back and was intrigued. A brain transplant?!
Really loved all the different perspectives in this book. I related to Liz, being a young mom myself. How heartbreaking it would be to watch your family go on without you. I could NOT put this book down; would have gobbled it up in one day if I weren't a busy mom.
However, the punctuation drove me crazy at times! There were missing quotation marks in a few places, and I think the heading dates were wrong in a couple spots.
But overall, a quick read if you want to be absorbed in a book.
Really loved all the different perspectives in this book. I related to Liz, being a young mom myself. How heartbreaking it would be to watch your family go on without you. I could NOT put this book down; would have gobbled it up in one day if I weren't a busy mom.
However, the punctuation drove me crazy at times! There were missing quotation marks in a few places, and I think the heading dates were wrong in a couple spots.
But overall, a quick read if you want to be absorbed in a book.
March 31, 2018
Topics involve ethics of brain transplants, where does the soul reside, and personal loss and grief. I was intrigued by conflicts of several characters and interested in author’s resolution. Even though I didn’t feel the ending to be satisfying, many readers will and it was still well worth the read!
June 8, 2024
Wow! What a different concept for a book. Learning to becoming someone new after the first ever successful brain transplant “Kate” is trying to learn how to become a different person, and give up the life she had (from her memory of her previous life). It is a crazy concept. It was well written, and made me think a lot as I read it. I would highly recommend.
August 3, 2020
Outstanding story!!
I agree with another reviewer- this book should be made into a movie! It's a story I could read (or a movie I'd never tire of) if I read or watched it over & over again. I HIGHLY recommend and would give it 10 stars if I could.
I agree with another reviewer- this book should be made into a movie! It's a story I could read (or a movie I'd never tire of) if I read or watched it over & over again. I HIGHLY recommend and would give it 10 stars if I could.
September 29, 2020
Becoming Kate
I never give a book 5 stars but this book was excellent. The author brought the lives of so many people together for one last time. Please read this book, it is so heart warming.
I never give a book 5 stars but this book was excellent. The author brought the lives of so many people together for one last time. Please read this book, it is so heart warming.
September 5, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This one definitely reads like a first novel, but the plot is quite intriguing and pulls the reader along. Even though I skimmed bits of it, I was invested enough to want to finish. All in all - a worthy effort.
December 17, 2018
Too God oriented for my liking. But it was a quick easy read for the beach.
September 19, 2020
A new favorite writer.
This book was amazing. The story read like fact, not fiction. It gave me chills. I will think about this story for a long time
This book was amazing. The story read like fact, not fiction. It gave me chills. I will think about this story for a long time
September 29, 2021
Very interesting premise, I was at first first glance skeptical of this concept of a brain transplant but I was drawn in by the people, the families and the doctor. I enjoyed it after all!
January 17, 2022
Interesting read
April 5, 2022
It was a nice little book, but definitely not the kind of book I usually read.
September 15, 2020
Really good book about the first brain transplant and the after effects.
March 5, 2020
This was an intriguing story line that kept me glued but it was also a hard one for me as well. The complications of being tied to two different lives and the thought of being separated from your spouse and children because of it was very hard to accept.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2017
Character development was lacking and the story felt lack-luster and kind of forced. I did finish the book because it was easy and fast reading.
December 18, 2010
Becoming Kate by Dixie Owens
This stunning debut novel by Dixie Owens is just the perfect novel to curl up with. Liz Lindsay, a twenty-nine year old wife and mother to two young children, doesn't know that today will be her last day of life as she knows it. When Liz is hit head-on by a semi, she wakes up in the hospital in the body of eleven year old Kate, who has spent most of her life in the hospital.
With this devastating turn of events, Liz finds she has retained all her memories of her former life and with the help of Marcy, her Physical Therapist, is able to keep abreast of the comings and goings of her family.
Kate/Liz become embroiled in a media frenzy when Kate is allowed to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, having the news media camped out in her new family's yard.
Dr. Jamison, the surgeon who performed the Brain Transplant, wants to keep Kate/Liz in the hospital as long as possible. He needs to feel in control of his special patient, who he suspects is very unique, as she is the only Brain Transplant patient of his to survive and he wants to find out why.
Kate's new brother, fifteen year old Josh, feels left out because of all the concern for Kate, so becomes filled with resentment towards Kate. When Kate/Liz comes up with words and phrases only an adult should know, he becomes suspicious, believing Kate to be "possessed."
When Kate/Liz asks Marcy to help her to attend her own funeral, things get out of hand, as they need to make sure Kate is not seen for a couple of hours.
When Liz sees her family, it's all she can do not to tell them she is basically alive. She comes to realize that love is the most important thing in her life, knowing she loves her new family more than ever.
This is such a unique story and is well-written. I would very highly recommend this debut novel.
I received this review copy from Cedar Fort.
Published by: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Date Published: July 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59955-402-0
This stunning debut novel by Dixie Owens is just the perfect novel to curl up with. Liz Lindsay, a twenty-nine year old wife and mother to two young children, doesn't know that today will be her last day of life as she knows it. When Liz is hit head-on by a semi, she wakes up in the hospital in the body of eleven year old Kate, who has spent most of her life in the hospital.
With this devastating turn of events, Liz finds she has retained all her memories of her former life and with the help of Marcy, her Physical Therapist, is able to keep abreast of the comings and goings of her family.
Kate/Liz become embroiled in a media frenzy when Kate is allowed to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, having the news media camped out in her new family's yard.
Dr. Jamison, the surgeon who performed the Brain Transplant, wants to keep Kate/Liz in the hospital as long as possible. He needs to feel in control of his special patient, who he suspects is very unique, as she is the only Brain Transplant patient of his to survive and he wants to find out why.
Kate's new brother, fifteen year old Josh, feels left out because of all the concern for Kate, so becomes filled with resentment towards Kate. When Kate/Liz comes up with words and phrases only an adult should know, he becomes suspicious, believing Kate to be "possessed."
When Kate/Liz asks Marcy to help her to attend her own funeral, things get out of hand, as they need to make sure Kate is not seen for a couple of hours.
When Liz sees her family, it's all she can do not to tell them she is basically alive. She comes to realize that love is the most important thing in her life, knowing she loves her new family more than ever.
This is such a unique story and is well-written. I would very highly recommend this debut novel.
I received this review copy from Cedar Fort.
Published by: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Date Published: July 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59955-402-0
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March 22, 2011This was a bookclub selection and we had many different opinions, I will tell you just about mine! The idea of the book was very interesting, the first ever brain transpalt, only things don't go as planned. 29 year old Liz remembers being in a car crash, then she wakes up in someone elses body, 11 year old Kate's to be exact. Needless to say she is confused, scared and sad. She learns right away that "liz's" memories were to be erased but something went wrong and Liz is the only person inside Kates body....and mind. She decides to keep the fact that she is Liz living inside a body that has no essense of kate left. She tells one person only, her physical thereapist, and tries to find ways to stay connected to the husband and two kids who think she is dead. The end was a little abrupt and did not wrap up the story very well, there were still unanswered questions and I wanted an ending that left me with a snece of what the future held, this was lacking.
This was a strange but interesting book. There were some plot points that were a little far fetched, well really the whole book was a little far fetched. I just read through it and did not over analyze and I enjoyed the read. It brought up some excellent questions for debate, such as how much of who you are is from your brain? With no memories are you still you? What is the soul, where does it reside and what happens to it when your brain is no longer in function? That was my favorite thing about the book, the questions it has left me pondering.
This was a strange but interesting book. There were some plot points that were a little far fetched, well really the whole book was a little far fetched. I just read through it and did not over analyze and I enjoyed the read. It brought up some excellent questions for debate, such as how much of who you are is from your brain? With no memories are you still you? What is the soul, where does it reside and what happens to it when your brain is no longer in function? That was my favorite thing about the book, the questions it has left me pondering.
August 16, 2016
About 1/4 through. Maybe I read too much SF, but is nobody going to consider that maybe this wasn't a brain transplant, but a body transplant? That it *is* Liz, using Kate's body? I know that wasn't the intent, but I bet if I were Liz I'd be letting everyone know immediately, or at least after talking to a lawyer. If Kate is still in there somewhere, *where* is she?
Also it's not all that gracefully written or carefully edited. Also I see hints, in other reviews, that it ends inconclusively, because sequel. Hm. I s'pose I'll finish, probably....
... ok done. Just barely three stars. But flaws I point out would be spoilers. And it is worth reading if you're seriously intrigued by the premise. I do not necessarily imagine a sequel. I do like that the supporting characters were carefully planned by the author, but I didn't like that they were not fully drawn out in this almost too short book. I also don't like that there are three other books with this title on GR... can't authors do a little bit of research from a reader's perspective on the *title* of their book?
Also it's not all that gracefully written or carefully edited. Also I see hints, in other reviews, that it ends inconclusively, because sequel. Hm. I s'pose I'll finish, probably....
... ok done. Just barely three stars. But flaws I point out would be spoilers. And it is worth reading if you're seriously intrigued by the premise. I do not necessarily imagine a sequel. I do like that the supporting characters were carefully planned by the author, but I didn't like that they were not fully drawn out in this almost too short book. I also don't like that there are three other books with this title on GR... can't authors do a little bit of research from a reader's perspective on the *title* of their book?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews