When Lightning Strikes (1-800-Where-R-You #1)

Reader reviewed by damaris

I had seen this book on the bookstore shelves many times before i actually brought it.It's about Jess Mastriani, who has the "misfortune" of getting struck by lightning on one stormy afterschool day. She soon realizes that she is able to find missing children that she has never met before and tell the exact location of their whereabouts.So the dilemma comes when the fedral burau of investigation discovers her talent for finding missing indiviuals and propositions that she help them find missing suspects.
Other characters like Rob wilkins, local bad boy and secert crush help to make this an interesting read. It was funny and readers will instantly like Jess's inability to keep her fists at her sides when it comes to protecting her love ones.
i recommend this and the the 4 other books in the series for anyone who likes to be entertained.

Reader reviewed by sue567

Walking home from school with her best friend, Jess and Ruth get caught in a huge hail storm in the middle of Indianna. Without a second's thought, both Jess and Ruth end up hiding under a metal beacher, which of course turns out to be a mistake as Jess is hit by lightening.
At first everything seems fine, until Jess finds out that she can find missing people by looking at their photographs.
With this special "gift", Jess finds herself in a deep load of trouble, which includes the press, family, friends, an abusive father (not her own), and the good old FBI. =)

Although this may seem like the typical mystery/sci-fi plot, its actually a really good teen novel read with just the right amount of humor, adventure and romance!! i actually read it several years ago, and continued reading it up till now. it may not be that fun for guys, but for girls...READ IT!!

Reader reviewed by Sara

"Just because her best friend wants to exercise, Jessica Mastriani agrees to walk the two miles home from their high school. Straight into a huge Indiana thunderstorm. And straight into trouble. Not that Jess has never been in trouble before. Her extracurricular activities, instead of cheerleading or 4-H, include fist fights with the football team and monthlong stints in detention - luckily, sitting right next to Rob, the sexiest senior around. But this trouble is serious. Because somehow on that lond walk home, Jess acquired a newfound talent. An amazing power that can be used for good... or evil. Run, Jessica, Run."

This book was written by Jenny Carroll, aka Meg Cabot, and is the first in her 1-800-WHERE-ARE-YOU series. I really loved Cabot's Mediator series so I decided to try these ones. In the Mediator series, the main character, Suze, helps ghosts pass on to the next realm/life/whatever and uncovers the mysteries of their deaths to do so. In the 1-800-WHERE-ARE-YOU books, the heroine is Jess, and she has the power to locate children and people that are missing. She goes to sleep and when she wakes up she knows where they are. This aspect of the book is really good.

However, I did have a problem with Jess. She was just too obnoxious at times I thought. She is supposed to be "tough" I think, but just sounds really immature at times. Then other times she sounds like the 16-yr old she's supposed to be. I had the same problem with the first of the Mediator books and Suze, so I think that the next books in the series might not have this problem.

Reader reviewed by Leah



This Meg Cabot book is about a young teenager who's always in trouble. Detention at school (which she doesnt' mind since she gets to sit next too the school bad boy hottie!) and is practically on a first name basis with her councelor. Her life changes when she is struck by lightning and can find missing people! This gets her into some sticky situations and a ride on the back of a motorcycle.

I would definetly reccommend it!

Reader reviewed by *lyssa

In for some laughs mixed with the supernatural? Then Meg Cabot is the best place to go.

In the first of the series 1-800-WHERE-R-U (which another television show on Lifetime is based on) you're introduced to Jessica (Jess) Mastriani. Jess is an ordinary, run-of-the-mill, short, fist-fighting girl. In the first chapter she punches out a football player for calling her best friend fat. But detention doesn't bother her as long as she continues to sit next to the oh-so-hot and sexy Rob Wilkins.

Now feeling the need to excercise after the fat comment, her best friend leaves her car at home. Jess has to walk.

So what do you do, walking home in Indiana during a lightning storm? The most there is to hide under is the corn stalks. But there's also the bleachers--the metal bleachers. Which is what they choose.

Which is where she gains her newfound psychic power. Which is a new kind of trouble she can't just go to detention for.

Jess soon realizes this gives her a choice, allows her to take control of another person's destiny in a way. And the FBI wants a piece of that.

Should have chosen those corn stalks, Jess.

Reader reviewed by meanings

this book is about a girl walking home with her friend from after detention. the friend was a little over weight so she decieded to walk instead of take the car. but then it started to rain very hard and so they took cover under meteal bleachers and the main girl was leaning against a meatel supporter and got electracuted. when she got home she told her brother and he said she was lying that there would be a mark of a star on her. she got undressed and saw a starr mark going in her but not a one leading out. she showed her dad and he took her to the hospital to make shore she was alright and she was and then she had a vision of a missing girl and new exceataly where she was and called it anynonamously so no one would no it was her and she meats a guy and she likes him he really bad boy and(i think his name is rob) he has a motercycle. she keeps haveing visions and keeps calling on the same payphone annonamoulsy. so one day they traced the phone call and found out it was her and talked to her about her ability to find out where people who are missing are.she was all over the news and everybody wanted to take her picture and stuff like that and then since the reporter's keep bothering her. her trobled brother think there after him and it's giving him alot of problems so she moved in with the fbi base where they do all these's test of her

Reader reviewed by Pep

This book is about a girl who suddenly acquires powers that allow her to find missing people, which leads the government to come after her, and so on.

This book will be a good read for those who go for girl empowerment, super powers, and teen stuff. It's a really easy and quick read.

Reader reviewed by Reagan

A teenaged girl, Jessica, gets struck by lightning while walking home from school, after having a dream about the whereabouts of a child she had seen on the back of a milk carton, Jessica finds herself embroiled in an adventure where her sense of right and wrong are put into question. I liked the whole psychic element to the book, the fact that she could find people just by going to sleep was really interesting, and the storyline kept me guessing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants something that doesnt center around teen angst. :)

Reader reviewed by Kris

This book starts out with Jessica Mastriani agreeing to walk home with her friend. When hit by lightning, Jess begins to find out where missing children are. She tries to help by calling in and revealing their locations, but after a few calls she gets the government coming after her, trying to use her to their advantage.

Overall, I really loved When Lightning Strikes by Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll. For one, I admit I could definitely fall for Rob. Part of me is thinking, "Jess, give it up, he's mine," yet at the same time I really wish there was a little more romance in this book. I like Jess' character: she's tough, smart, blunt, and really says what is on her mind. She doesn't let herself be pushed over or told what to do. I enjoyed how Meg Cabot had a generally realistic plot and setting to the book, with some sci fi mixed in. There were plenty of opportunities to laugh or grin or glance away. I was hooked from page one until the very end (which, may I add, was very suspenseful). I can't wait to read Code Name Cassandra, since I have a feeling this will be one of those series you can read again and again.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

When Lightning Strikes is the classic story of girl has new found fame, fawned over by the press, and makes mistakes being famous. Jessica Mastriani, walking home from 7 week detention with her best friend Ruth Abramowitz, meets a tornado/thunderstorm. You must understand they live in rural Indiana, so they are on a middle of nowhere road. The wind picks up and they run under the school stadium bleachers. Lightning strikes Jess and because there isnt an exit wound (as in entrance/exit wound where the lightning comes and goes), she is given a talent. When Jessica sees pictures of people like missing children or wanted criminals, then falls asleep for the night, in the morning she knows exactly where they are. Jessica calls 1-800-WHERE-R-U to tell the operators where the missing children are. Soon, Jess has saved many kids and the press gets whiff of it. Jess must deal with the pressures of fame within her own family, mind, and spirit.


I recommend When Lightning Strikes for girls and boys ages 12 and up. What I enjoyed the most about the book are the scariness and hooks. I dont really like scary books, but this one madkes you interested with the sticky situation. 4 stars!