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

Reader reviewed by linda

Usually when you get struck by lightning you end up dead, that's what Jess Mastriani thought when she got struck during a thunderstorm. She was fine and didn't worry until she started dreaming about the whereabouts of missing children. She uses her newfound powers to help but ends up hurting a kid who was better off missing. Then to make matters worse the FBI and the media find out about her, she decides to work with the FBI but when she realizes they are keeping her prisoner she escapes, rescues the boy she hurt, gets caught, and is rescued by her would-be boyfriend. In the end everything gets a little bit better and the rest of the series are just as good.

Reader reviewed by Battery

When Litghtning Strikes is a lovely book that I have read, oh, Four Million times? Yes, Four Million times. I love this book and Highly reccomend it to any teenage girl. It is witty, and origonal, and very Meg Cabot. ENJOY!!!!

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 iki

This book is a different type of book in comparison to Meg cabots other books. This is a suspensefull, fun, grade A prime book. It is about a a girl named Jess, who gets struck by lightning. she feels like nothing is wrong butwhen she wakes up she knows exactly where the missing kids on the milk cartons are. the book tells her story dealing with the Feds.

Anyone who likes meg cabots writing and suspence should read this book.

Reader reviewed by Nurin

Jess is a normal girl. Well except for the tom boy and detention stuff. Then her dream comes true. She gets to sit next to hot senior Rob. Life is going her way..that is until she gets hit by lightning and gets these psychic powers. It was her best friend, Ruth's fault and now Jess has to escape from the goverment, they want her to do their dirty work for them.....READ IT NOW!!

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 Alyssa

In my opinion, the 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU books are Meg Cabot's best. In the first novel, teenage Jess Mastriani is struck by lightning, giving her the ability to find missing children in her sleep. I. She's pretty much an outcast, a flutist who's totally in love with the one and only Rob Wilkins, a hot guy who she meets in detention and drags along on her 'idiotic vision quests.'


I'll admit that I only picked up this book because of the Princess Diaries. While reading it, I became totally engrossed in the story line and, well, addicted. When Lightning Strikes has something for everyone: romance (not much, granted), action, mystery, sci-fi...
After I finished, I bought the three other novels and become hooked on them as well. I've read them all multiple times and can never tire of them.

If you like When Lightning Strikes, I highly recommend reading all the other books in the series.

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!