Struck

Name: Struck
Item: Struck
Rating: 4
Author: Michael Berry

Book review by

Michael Berry, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 12+

(i)

Intense sci-fi romance in post-big-earthquake L.A.

Save

Rate book

Read or buy

Parents say

No reviews yetAdd your rating

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 3 reviews

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Struck provides a vivid depiction of what life might be like in a Los Angeles destroyed by a colossal earthquake. But it uses fantasy rather than science fiction to drive the plot.

Positive Messages

The characters in Struck demonstrate that, even in the toughest times, friends and loved ones are the most important things. Mia learns that she must let go of her own needs and fears to save her mother and brother.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Mia makes an almost superhuman effort to keep her fractured family together. With barely enough money for food, she obtains medication for her mentally traumatized mother and looks after her younger brother, who's in danger of being pulled into a strange cult. As another terrible storm heads toward Los Angeles, Mia must decide how to use her powers and whether she will have to sacrifice herself to save the city.

Violence

A handful of violent scenes. A prescription drug deal goes bad, and Mia has to physically fight the dealer. Members of a secret sect at her high school attempt to brand her hand as part of an initiation process. A religious ceremony ends with the stabbing of one of Mia's loved ones and a fiery death. Much talk of impending apocalypse.

Sex

Mia and Jeremy are physically attracted to each other from the first moment they meet. Mia's lightning power seems to make physical contact too dangerous, so the couple steal only a few passionate kisses here and there. After their life-changing adventure, however, it's implied that they will consummate their relationship.

Language

A few instances of "damn," "hell," and variations of "ass." In one extremely intense instance, a character exclaims "f--k!'

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drugs and alcohol are available at the "roves," where young people party as if it were the end of the world (as well it might be). On the way to one, Mia partakes of some "moonshine." She also receives a bottle of specially brewed "red lightning" is honor of her 18th birthday.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Struck is an intense adventure set in Los Angeles in the wake of a huge earthquake, and its protagonist is a teen girl who possesses a special power from having been struck by lightning many times. The novel features a handful of violent scenes, including a fight with a drug dealer, the threat of being branded during an initiation ceremony, and a showdown full of blood and uncontrolled electricity. There's a small amount of profanity, and the romance involves a few passionate kisses.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Teen, 13 years old Written byNomacop January 1, 2013

age 11+

struck

An entertaining dystopian blend of superstition and action that has an interesting premise.

Report this review

Kid, 12 years old November 12, 2012

age 12+

STRUCK

Its really good, and tells kids to stick up for themselves. But its kinda weird throughout the book.

Report this review

What's the story?

Having been struck many times, Mia Price is now addicted to lightning. As she, her mother, and her brother attempt to put their lives back together in post-major-earthquake Los Angeles, Mia finds herself being courted by two strange factions at school, one of which is led by a religious prophet who claims that the apocalypse will arrive in three days. With the help of a mysterious boy, she prepares for a final, fiery confrontation that may bring an end to everyone she loves.

Is it any good?

STRUCK has an intriguing premise and features a well-drawn protagonist facing an usual conflict. Author Jennifer Bosworth keeps the action moving swiftly across only three days of narrative time. The final showdown is suitably electric, but some readers might wish for a twistier resolution.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about why readers find stories about the apocalypse so compelling. Why do you think so many of the world's religions feature stories about the end of the world?
In Struck, Mia is addicted to being struck by lightning. How do real-life addictions affect people's behavior?
What kinds of precautions can people take to maximize safety in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster?

Book details

Author: Jennifer Bosworth
Genre: Science Fiction
Topics: High School
Book type: Fiction
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date: May 8, 2012
Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
Number of pages: 376
Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

High School

See all

For kids who love science fiction and fantasy

Science Fiction Books

Romantic Fantasy Books for Teens

See all recommended book lists

Our editors recommend

The Year of the Beasts

Prose and comics mix in intense tale of sibling rivalry.

age 12+

Fair Coin

Fast-paced sci-fi adventure with magic wish-granting coin.

age 15+

Tempest

Romantic time-travel tale implausible but action-packed.

age 15+

Struck

Common Sense says

Parents say