Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Math whiz gets out of comfort zone in smart, touching story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say this book is both relatable and educational, capturing the struggles of fitting in and dealing with personal challenges like OCD. Many readers appreciate its compelling storylines, humor, and touching moments, while some express concern about its representation of OCD and the accuracy of certain facts, suggesting it may not be suitable for those seeking precise information on the subject.
- relatable themes
- strong character development
- educational value
- mixed representation
- emotional impact
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL, Lucy survived a lightning strike that left her with genius-level math talent -- and obsessive compulsive disorder. She's only 12 and capable of starting college, but her grandmother enrolls her in middle school to spend time with kids her age. Though Lucy downplays her math skills to try to fit in, she can't hide her OCD routines from snickering classmates. She falls into friendship with kind Windy, who wants to save the world, and cynical Levi, who regards everyone through his camera lens. As they work together on a service project at a local shelter, Lucy struggles to unlock the right formula to manage the everyday ups and downs of middle school.
Is It Any Good?
In her remarkable, heartfelt first middle-grade book, Stacy McAnulty shares the beauty and joy of math alongside the illogic of trying to calculate teh best path to navigate relationships and life. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl sets up a fantastic premise -- a girl whose brain was rewired by a lightning strike -- and builds to a sweet, satisfying payoff. Lucy feels alone but shares the worries of every middle-schooler: wanting to be her unique self without being seen as different. Aside from the cookie-cutter mean-girl melodrama, the novel is enriched by diverse, authentic supporting characters who have their own challenges.
Even the math-averse will appreciate how McAnulty (Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years) describes Lucy's perspective, where numbers are a colorful canvas and patterns bring comfort and understanding. This is a wonderful book to inspire readers to see the world -- and the people in it -- with fresh eyes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Lucy uses math as a tool to cope with anxiety in The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. What helps you settle down when you're anxious?
What kind of "soft skills" do you think you're learning in school and other activities with people your age?
When Lucy lashes out at others online, they block her. What tools do you use to avoid mean or aggressive people on social media?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : May 1, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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