Written by: Stacy McAnulty

Cover Art by: We can’t find this, if you know-let us know!!

For ages: YA Book-middle grades

Language: English

Topics Covered: Middle School, Neurodivergence, OCD, Friendship, Fitting In, Self-Acceptance, STEM, Synesthesia, Social-Emotional Learning & Development. 

Summary: This book was great!  Lucy Callahan got struck by lightning, and because of this gained extraordinary mathematical abilities, as well as synesthesia and OCD.  After being homeschooled by her grandmother, she is thrust into the 7th grade at a local public school despite having taken both high school and college courses.  Lucy has a plethora of online friends on math forums and they are her only interactions.  She rarely leaves the house, and has severe germ anxieties.  Her grandmother makes her a deal-1 year, 1 book, 1 friend, and Lucy can go to college.

Lucy starts school, navigating being the new kid and having her compulsive habits publicly acknowledged by classmates.  This book, which we won’t give too much away, is about self-discovery, patience, and friendship.  Lucy may be a genius, but she has some trouble relating to others.  Luckily a service project, animal shelter, and a couple friends come along and help Lucy realize that maybe being out in the world, and seventh grade, aren’t so bad after all.

About the Author:

Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who’s also qualified to be a dog therapist (is that a thing???), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She has written dozens of books including her debut middle-grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl , a Junior Library Guild Selection, and the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor book Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert, illustrated by Deborah Hocking, Brave and Beautiful, both illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. She’s also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 1 husband.