A lightning strike gave her a super power…but even a super genius can’t solve the problem of middle school. This smart and funny novel is perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by Sevens.Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been … and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she’s technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test–middle school!
Lucy’s grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook!). Lucy’s not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy’s life has already been solved. Unless there’s been a miscalculation?
A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty’s smart and thoughtful middle-grade debut reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
“An engaging story, full of heart and hope. Readers of all ages will root for Lucy, aka Lightning Girl. No miscalculations here!” –Kate Beasley, author of Gertie’s Leap to Greatness
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I laughed…I cried…I don’t know why I read middle school literature?
Last May I had the pleasure of hearing Stacy McAnulty speak at the school where I work and I was eager to get my hands on this new book of hers. As a special education teacher, I love the premise of this story – Lucy being an acquired savant with OCD. My heart broke for Lucy when she was at the lodge for Windy’s birthday party and not just because of what they said about her, but also because of the stress she was going through with the water slide ride. Kids can really be cruel – Lucy finally stands up for herself at the end of the story! Now, I have just 2 questions – did she get into NCASME? And if so, does she go?
This is the first book I have ever cried to but this also made me laugh at some jokes too.
“If you can survive being struck by lightening you can survive middle school, right?”
It is not often that I read a middle grade book, but the title was interesting to me and I wanted to try something different. Lightening Girl was sweet and angsty and gave me a nostalgic nudge in all my sensitive spots. Middle school was rough for 99.9% of the population (not an actual statistic), myself included, and I loved this story. The characters took me on a timeless journey through the awkward tween years and make me laugh out loud and tear up. Would definitely recommend.
This book is so interesting, I can almost guarantee you won’t be able to put it down! It ends on a really good note, and I love the characters and story line!
I read this book because it was part of a reading challenge at my kiddos’ middle school. It had me from the first page, really, and kept me fully interested until the end. I even liked the actual FONT the words were typed in on the page. Surviving middle school is not easy, especially if you’re not, or don’t feel “normal” at all. Especially if you’ve never had much experience in school in the first place. This book was funny and realistic, with many little miracles and lessons learned along the way. I am definitely recommending it to my fellow readers, all the weird kids, kids with quirks or problems or whatever, and even the actual mean kids, so maybe they’ll see what it’s like on the other side. Because this book even lets us in on the WHY the mean kids are the way they are? Everyone in middle school is still just trying to figure it all out, and themselves out, along the way, so this book could be enjoyed by anyone who’s been there, and those about to be there, and those who are STILL ACTUALLY THERE! I will now go see what else this author has written, because this was my first of her books.
I just finished this adorable YA book and I loved it. There were moments of pure delight, moments of tears, and even an “I didn’t see that coming” moment. It seemed pretty true to the drama of middle school and the mean girls I remember from my own time way way back when. It’s a cute, fast read with a delightfully quirky main character and an interesting, if not completely developed supporting cast.
Great to read out loud. Terrific middle school book. Humorous, quirky, somewhat sad, bullying portrayed in an authentic way. Wonderful themes for discussion.