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96 pages 3 hours read

Stacy McAnulty

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

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Further Reading & Resources

Further Reading: Literature

Matilda by Roald Dahl (1988)

A precocious little girl with neglectful parents finds help and hope from a kindly teacher, and they work together to outwit a tyrannical school principal. The darkly humorous story points to the power of friendship in protecting and nurturing great talent.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (1993)

Freak the Mighty tells the story of two boys—Max, who has dyslexia and is larger in stature than most kids his age, and Kevin, or “Freak,” who is extremely bright and has Morquio Syndrome, which affects his mobility and growth. The boys become friends, share adventures, and defend themselves against bullies and social rejection. They learn to embrace who they are and turn social liabilities into assets.

Hidden Talents by David Lubar (1999)

A group of teens at an alternative school discover they have superpowers and secretly help each other master and use them in positive ways. Their journey helps them bond with others, work together, and respect themselves and each other.

Further Reading: Beyond Literature (Nonfiction)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by the Cleveland Clinic

This online resource outlines the basic facts of OCD, with links to treatment options.

A detailed overview of OCD, OCPD, and treatment options. The article also contains a short discussion of how to talk about OCD without demeaning those who have it. 

Video & Podcast resources

McAnulty provides a series of short videos about the book. Each video discusses two or three chapters at a time, with her comments on the characters, their wants and needs, and how their friendships change them. She also gives background on how she wrote the book, and she asks questions about the story that viewers can ponder.

Film Good Will Hunting

This 1997 drama tells the story of Will Hunting, a 20-year-old super-genius who works as a janitor at MIT, where secretly he solves at night the math problems a professor poses to his students. The professor discovers and tutors him while a psychologist helps Will transcend his childhood abuse and self-doubt. The film won two Oscars, including Best Screenplay, written by its leads, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Robin Williams also stars. 

Other Relevant Media Resources

Songs “Windy” and “Cherish”

McAnulty grew up listening to her mother’s favorite childhood music. Among these were the love songs “Windy” and “Cherish” by The Association; both were number-one pop hits during the late 1960s. McAnulty uses the titles of these songs as the names of the two Sitton daughters in The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. The lyrics for “Windy” capture some of the lively personality of Lucy’s friend Windy.

Freegal Music contains music tracks available to public libraries for free download. Freegal has both of the songs “Windy” and “Cherish.” Most visitors can use their library card to sign on and listen to or download the tracks. These tracks also are widely available on Internet streaming services.

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