The Lightning People Play

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4.3

4.3 (1)

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Author(s)

Tim Cummings

Publisher Name

Black Rose Writing

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

June 26, 2025

ISBN13

978-1685136567

ISBN10 or ASIN

Fourteen-year-old Kirby Renton is a gifted theatre kid who wants to fix things: his dads' marriage, his younger brother's epilepsy. When ten-year-old Baxter's seizures start involving visits from "the lightning people," who descend from the sky and show him strange symbols, Kirby knows he needs to protect his brother, but how? He thinks he's found the answer when the neurologist advises his family to consider a seizure-alert dog, but the cost is too much for his family to afford.

Determined to raise the money himself, Kirby enlists his best friends and a crew of brilliant teens from his theatre troupe to put on a play in his epic forest of a backyard. At first, the play brings its own pressures as the drama between Kirby's dads worsens and his fears for his brother intensify. But little does Kirby know of the magic that awaits him and his friends-and the portals that will open-from his daring to make a difference.

From the award-winning author of Alice the Cat comes another intriguing tale set in the fictional town of Weirville, where more strange magic transforms the lives of the inimitable teens who live there.

Editor review

1 review

A Teen Overcomes the Odds - Family, Tears, Theatre

February 22, 2026 (Updated: July 01, 2026)

Overall rating

4.3

Writing Style

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Eerie, heartfelt, mystical, and effortlessly modern, The Lightning People Play presents the struggle of family strife, the emotions of medical uncertainty, and the power of passion for a cause, infused with the author's extensive experience in the theatre space. Summed up, the plot seems simple - Kirby Renton, high-schooler-to-be, rallies his theatre community to raise funds for a support dog to help with his younger brother's epilepsy. Yet it's everything that comes with it that makes this novel feel fully real and relatable, like Dad's struggle to be there emotionally while dealing with his own problems, or the way it's terrifying as a kid (or as an adult) to be confronted with a friend or family member's medical condition that you can't do anything to help.

Kirby, as the main narrator, give the story a strong voice. He's casual, honest, and full of slang and pop references that sounds straight out of the mouth of your average kid down the street (can't say I understood them all, but that's certainly realistic). Kirby is generally a thoughtful, responsible older sibling, but some of the way he speaks (example, consistently referring to the neurologist as the doctor-of-the-brain) reminds us that he's yet to enter high school, and overall the story feels comfortably early YA, or upper middle grade for readers who can handle heavy topics.

Of course, everything to do with theatre is a highlight. Kirby and co spend their summer not only acting on stage, but studying scripts, understanding the technique/impact of different texts, and developing their craft. There's generally a cheering amount of support for Kirby's project, and it's an encouraging reminder of how an individual or group can use their skills to achieve something that seemed out of reach (in this case, getting a specialized dog).

Rachel Feeck, Staff Reviewer Top 50 Reviewer 253 reviews

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User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

4.3

Writing Style

4.0(1)

Plot

4.0(1)

Characters

5.0(1)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A(0)

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The Lightning People Play Review

March 24, 2026 (Updated: July 01, 2026)

Overall rating

4.3

Writing Style

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

The Lightning People Play feels deeper and more emotional than it first looks.

At its core, it’s about Kirby trying to help his younger brother Baxter, whose epilepsy is getting more intense and confusing, especially with the strange “lightning people” he sees during seizures. That part of the story stood out to me because it mixes something very real and serious with something mysterious and almost magical. It makes you feel the fear and confusion Kirby is dealing with, not just as a brother, but as a kid who wants to fix something he can’t fully control.

What really makes the book strong is Kirby’s voice. He sounds like an actual teenager, not overly perfect or overly dramatic, just real. You can tell he cares deeply about his family, even when things are messy, like the tension between his dads or the stress of not having enough money for a seizure-alert dog. I liked how the story doesn’t pretend everything is okay. It shows how hard it is to watch someone you love go through something scary and not know how to help. That feeling comes through clearly and makes the story more powerful.

The theatre element is honestly one of the best parts. Instead of giving up, Kirby decides to do something creative and bold by putting on a play to raise money, and that was really inspiring. It shows how passion and teamwork can actually make a difference. I also liked how the theatre scenes weren’t just background, they felt detailed and important, like you could really see the effort and teamwork behind everything. It added energy to the story and balanced out the heavier topics.

At the same time, the story includes some strange, almost magical elements with the lightning people and the idea of portals, which makes it feel unique but also a little confusing at times. Personally, I wasn’t always sure how those parts connected to the more realistic storyline, and it sometimes pulled me out of the emotional moments. I think some readers will love that mix, but others might find it a bit unclear or distracting.

Overall, I think this book stands out because it combines real life struggles, like illness and family problems, with creativity and hope. It shows that even when you can’t fix everything, you can still try to help in your own way. It’s a little eerie, and very heartfelt, especially if you like stories about family and finding purpose through something you love.

Good Points

Emotional story about family and helping others

Strong, realistic main character voice

Inspiring use of theatre to solve a problem