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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTwelve-year-old Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning at age eight, and the bolt that briefly stopped her heart also rewired her brain, turning her into an acquired savant with extraordinary math abilities and OCD-driven rituals like sitting and standing three times before settling into a chair. After years of homeschooling and online math forums where she goes by "Lightning Girl," Lucy's grandmother enrolls her in seventh grade at East Hamlin Middle School, insisting she spend one year learning to function around other kids before heading off to college. Lucy just has to survive one year, make one friend, join one activity, and read one non-math book — a tidy equation that turns out to be far harder to solve than any problem she has faced before.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does every number have its own color and shape in a character's mind?
✓ Answer
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Lucy sees numbers as colored shapes. The number 5 looks like a red-brown jelly bean, 12 looks like cream-colored squares, and 47 is a fluorescent-orange oval. Prime numbers have curves while non-primes have hard edges.
- First half
In what book does a math teacher describe "optimal stopping theory" for finding a soul mate?
✓ Answer
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Mr. Stoker explains the equation from Hannah Fry showing how math can pick your soul mate. He says you are 3 times more likely to find the right one using OST than by random chance. Maddie says she would rather try online dating.
- First half
In what book is an animal shelter located in a former Pizza Hut building?
✓ Answer
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
The Pet Hut is a private nonprofit shelter run by Claire, located in a converted Pizza Hut. The menu over the counter still has the old soda and pizza pictures, though the prices are now for adoptions. Levi finds it disgusting that the building used to serve pizza.
- Second half
In what book does a friend dress up for Halloween as an oppressed shrimp worker handing out informational postcards?
✓ Answer
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Windy wears a white jumpsuit, mask, and orange gloves, and passes out postcards listing seafood brands with abusive labor practices. She still expects to collect candy at every door.
- Second half
In what book is a kid's report card all A's except for a B and an I for Incomplete?
✓ Answer
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Lucy receives her first report card in a sealed envelope and Windy is the one who opens it on the bus. Ms. Fleming gives her a B for language arts, and Mr. Stoker leaves her math grade as Incomplete.
- Near the end
In what book does a kid curl up underneath an office desk with a dog after running away from home?
✓ Answer
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
When Lucy finally reaches the Pet Hut, she crawls under Claire's desk with her green-and-yellow sweatshirt. Pi snuggles in beside her, and they both fall asleep until Nana taps her shoulder.
