'The Catalyst is a complicated, rich world of magic and danger. While it seems simple at first, nothing is black and white, and nothing is what it seems. Both fantastical and startlingly relevant and contemporary, it's tense, exciting, engaging and has at its heart a central character whose incredibly personal story becomes caught up in huge battles and some even bigger ideas.' -- Claire North, author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August 'At the heart of this hugely ambitious story, by a 15-year-old newcomer, is a great big universal truth - we all think we're different. The Catalyst takes this idea and runs with it. This is a stunning debut, exploding with life, ideas and passion' Daily Mail 'Helena Coggan is only 15, and yet her debut novel has all the assurance of a writer in mid-stride. If young writers can overcome the stare of the blank page - and take care with characterisation - they can stand as an inspiration to all' Guardian [The Catalyst is] very appealing and completely lively throughout. This was an absolutely impressive debut novel from a young voice who is fast going attract a huge following. Hunger Games eat your heart out. Loved it. Highly Recommended. -- Liz Loves Books 'The Catalyst was a gripping read. It is action-packed and not once are you left feeling bored or waiting for something to happen. What Helena brilliantly manages to create is suspense...a truly brilliant, gripping and suspenseful read' -- Laura's Little Book Blog 'A pulsing, labyrinthine, emotionally visceral plot' Metro The year's Divergent Sun A phenomenal achievement... assured, frightening, action-packed Observer 'The next J.K. Rowling' -- Today Programme, USA

Helena Coggan wrote the first draft of The Catalyst when she was thirteen. Her ambitions up to this point had been somewhat linear- she had wanted to write stories since she was six, and before that, she wanted to live in one. She lives with her family in London and divides her time between writing and procrastinating, which her parents insist on calling 'school'. This is her first novel. She is currently writing the seqel to The Catalyst.