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

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 gcrocker08

Meg Cabot's "1-800-Where-R-You" series has been one of the better series I have read by her! Witty and brilliant, this should be read by every teen girl out there!

Jessica Mastriani, a bold, witty teen decides to walk the 2 mile distance home after school with her friend, only to walk into a large thunderstorm.

Jessica then gets struck by lightning, and acquires these special powers. These powers give her insight on where missing people are.

I loved this series, and any teen will! I recommend this series to anyone and everyone.

Reader reviewed by Ruby



"I blame Ruth" I would to, when your best friend wants to take a walk when a storm is about to come just because a bully called you fat. Ruth insists that they take a walk. BUt when the lightning comes and there only place to hide is under a metal bleacher, as we all know that is the worst thing to do. When Ruth and Jess argue, and Jess decides to stand back, she gets struck by lightning, and Ruth freaks out. Ruth says that they go see a doctor and that it was all her fault, but Jess says it isn't, but of course she would change her mind when she finds missing children, and the FEDs are after her.

Reader reviewed by Grace

When tough-girl Jessica Mastriani gets struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, her life changes forever. She now has a star-shaped scar on her chest, and can somehow locate missing people. But when the FBI learns about this, they take her to an army base for testing, why are they really having for find missing people?

When Lightning Strikes is a suspenseful read that all Meg Cabot fans should read.

Reader reviewed by Lyssa

unfortunately this is the end.

The last book in the series. Too bad that it didn't tie up all the loose ends. Although i heard the Meg Cabot's new publisher is letting write one more to officially end the series and it will be set with Jess in college..Who knows?

Well at least this was an amazing book..terribly sad that it's all over now though.

Reader reviewed by Stella

In "When Lightning Stikes", a young girl named Jessica is struck by lighning and the power surging through her evokes a deeply hidden pychic power that Jessica didn't even know she possesed. Jessica can find any person anywhere in her dreams, after seeing their picture. But this fantasy comes to an end when the government takes an interest in Jessica's abilities and Jessica is faced with a difficult choice, help the government despite her moral qualms, or refuse and face the rath of one the most powerful institutions in the world.

An exciting storyline with a very likeable and relatable main character, When Lightning Strikes is a great read!

Reader reviewed by chick box

anyone that has read my reviews knows how much i love jenny carroll(aka:meg cabot)i LOVED this book!!! as always meg cabot does a smashing job!
when lightning strikes:
this is about a girl named jessica(jess). her friend ruth decides to walk home from school to get a work out.the thing is that it is going to rain. and as jess predicted it does and they are right in the middle of it. they decide to get under some bleachers.not a very good idea because jess gets struck by lightning, which makes her psychic.

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.