The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Lucy Callahan's life was changed forever when she was struck by lightning. She doesn't remember it, but the zap gave her genius-level math skills, and she's been homeschooled ever since. 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.
"Fresh story, great characters, a winner!" --Barbara O'Connor, author of Wish
Frequently asked questions
Is The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence detected in the book. The narrative focuses on the challenges of a home-schooled girl with OCD navigating middle school, without any violent content. No genuinely frightening content in the book. The story is centered on personal challenges and growth rather than horror or suspense.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have violence?
No violence detected in the book. The narrative focuses on the challenges of a home-schooled girl with OCD navigating middle school, without any violent content.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have scary content?
No genuinely frightening content in the book. The story is centered on personal challenges and growth rather than horror or suspense.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. While a character's grandmother sees 'signs' in everything, this is not explicitly tied to any specific religion or faith-based messaging.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have racial/cultural content?
Race is not a central theme in the book. The narrative focuses on the protagonist's personal journey rather than racial issues or dynamics.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have profanity?
The book contains mild instances of language considered as 'OMG' profanity. This is not strong language but may be noted by some readers.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have climate change?
No climate themes detected in the book. The focus is primarily on personal growth and friendship rather than environmental issues.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have sexual identity?
No sexual content in the book. The story revolves around friendship and personal growth, appropriate for the target age group.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. It features a female protagonist who is a math whiz, but this is not framed as a commentary on gender expectations.
Does The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl have lgbtq+ themes?
The book features a secondary character with same-sex parents, indicating LGBTQ+ representation. However, the primary narrative focuses on the main character's experiences and challenges, which may not center on LGBTQ+ themes.
