MASL Book Trailer Winner
It's a tie for The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl!
Lily A. from Liberty Middle School - Book Trailer
Carmen T. and Jordan N. from Discovery Middle School - Book Trailer
About the Author
Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, and dreams of someday being a dog therapist, a correspondent for The Daily Show, an astronaut, and a Green Bay Packer coach. 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. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is her debut middle grade novel.
For more information about Stacy McAnulty, including information about her newest novel The World Ends in April, please visit her website.
About the Book
Lucy was struck by lightning and became a mathematical genius overnight. She’s been homeschooled for years and is ready to go to college but her grandmother insists she do the following first: go to middle school for one year, make one friend, join one activity, and read one book.
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 super-powered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation?
Reviews:
"Lucy is a unique and endearing character who readers will not soon forget. The school, social situations, and dialogue are spot on. Lucy's voice is distinct, and her intelligence and wry humor shine. Her love of math will be contagious even for math-phobes... Readers should be prepared to weep at a gut-punching turn of events near the end but will close the book with a satisfied sigh and a Lucy-sized place in their heart. VERDICT Prepare to fall in love. This outstanding story sensitively portrays a neuro-diverse main character and is not to be missed." - School Library Journal
1 math genius + 1 year of middle school = problems even the most gifted mind can't anticipate. Four years ago, 12-year-old Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. The strike left her with brain damage, resulting in acquired savant syndrome and a "supercomputer brain." Lucy has finished school online and is ready for college, but her grandmother has a few conditions for Lucy to meet before she'll allow her to move on to higher education. She has to attend middle school for 1 year, make 1 friend, and join 1 activity. Math is comfortably predictable; every problem has an answer if you know how to find it. But Lucy quickly realizes no formula can calculate the perils and pitfalls of public school. The multidimensional, highly likable Lucy's first-person narration is direct and unrestrained. In her first novel for middle graders, McAnulty eschews stylistic convention: All numbers are represented as numerals to allow readers to see the world the way Lucy does. Unique and utterly satisfying." - Kirkus Reviews
Awards/Nominations:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
An Indie Bestseller
Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List 2019-2020
Best Children’s Books of the Year 2019, Bank Street - OUTSTANDING MERIT
Amazon Best Children’s Book of 2018 - Age 9-12
Indie Next List Summer 2018
Lexile: 530L
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