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    Stacy McAnulty’s Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is excellent

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    By Jessica on September 4, 2018 Middle Grade, middle grade review
    Miscalculations of Lightning Girl Stacy McAnultyTHE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL, by Stacy McAnulty, Random House Books for Young Readers, May 1, 2018, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)

    It’s been almost two months since I read Stacy McAnulty’s The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten it.

    The story centers on a girl whose life is changed forever by a freak accident.

    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 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? —Synopsis provided by Random House Books for Young Readers

    As a mom of a 4 ½ –year-old, I appreciated Miscalculations of Lightning Girl probably for different reasons than the intended audience. The book serves as a gentle reminder of not only how important social skills are but also how they have far-reaching implications. Watching my daughter learn to navigate “play” with other children has been fascinating. Miscalculations of Lightning Girl reminded me it can also be hard. Very, very hard.

    I love Lucy. When you meet her, she’s so sure of herself and her abilities, but as you get to know her, you realize how nuanced things are. She’s a great example of how everyone is challenged in some way or another. Lucy’s the kind of character I want my daughter to understand, because either she herself, or someone she crosses paths with will be just like her.

    I highly recommend The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. It’s one of my favorite middle-grade reads of 2018.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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