When Lightning Strikes

1-800-Where-R-You #1

by Jenny Carroll, Meg Cabot

When Lightning Strikes
Jess is in the biggest trouble...

Jessica Mastriani has spent most of her teenage life in hot water. While other girls go cheerleading or to drama club, her extra-curricular activities include fistfights with the school football team and month-long stints in detention- luckily sitting right next to Rob, the hottest senior around.

But when Jess agrees to walk the two miles home with her best friend for a bit of exercise, she can't know that the Indiana thunderstorm brewing up around them is going to smash through her whole life and change it forever. She's struck by lightning. She lives. She's lucky. But an amazing power has been woken inside her, one that can be used for good... or for evil.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Teen

266 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

A pseudonym of Meg Cabot, under which she wrote the first 4 1-800-Where-R-You books (When Lightning Strikes, Code Name Cassandra, Safe House, and Sanctuary) and the first 4 Mediator books (Shadowland, Ninth Key, Reunion, and Darkest Hour). These 8 books have been re-released under her her real name.

Reviews

[jenny✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I just reread this book for the first time in YEARS (the last time was probably when i was in fifth grade, and I've just graduated college)—

—and I still devoured it.

My biggest worry when I reread books yung Jenny adored is that I've somehow blown them out of proportion in my head. Or that my tastes have changed so much, I just won't feel the same anymore—but that really wasn't the case here (or with Elise Broach's twisty, heartwarming children's mystery, Shakespeare's Secret, which remains one of my favourite books of all time). I guess it's time to start trusting my younger self a bit more!

In this first book of the 1-800-WHERE-R-U series, Jenny Carroll aka Meg Cabot is in her PRIME, y'all. It's YA in the mid-2000s, all terribly fragmented, snarky prose—no frills, all sass. Just like our MC Jess Mastriani, come to think of it.

"Color me surprised," I said. "You don't know anyone whose name isn't followed by an A in a little circle and the words AOL dot com."

Jess is a flute-playing, punch-throwing sophomore in Indiana whose dream is to someday own a "cherried-out" motorcycle and be able to call herself Mrs. Rob Wilkins (Rob being the smokin' senior who lives on the wrong side of the tracks, hangs out in biker bars, and sits with Jess in the detention she always gets for defending her loved ones).

Her brother Douglas has schizophrenia and her best friend Ruth Abramowitz is fat and Jewish (unfortunately, neither identity is depicted particularly well; idk if this is a symptom of 2007 or Cabot's writing). After being struck by lightning one afternoon, Jess develops the ability to locate missing people, mostly children on the backs of milk cartons.

What follows is a series of events in which she moves to a government military base to undergo research; breaks out to rescue a 12yo boy she mistakenly returned to his abusive father; jumps into a fake volcano at the mall for melodrama's sake (waste their time, girl!); breaks out of the facility AGAIN (this time on the back of a motorcycle); and also defends her third chair in the orchestra's flute section against Karen Sue Hanky. Essentially, she makes all these absurd shenanigans—which for the most part have to do with sticking up for someone else—look second nature.

It's all so trash but so good.




TW: mention of suicide, fatphobia, insensitive language about mental illness

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate Meg Cabot. she is a terrible writer. she doesn't write sentinces, she writes fragments and then puts more fragments at the end to clear up what was perfectly clear in the first place. she leaves out things that are important. she doesn't describe stuff. her prose stinks. how on EARTH she became a best selling and popular author, i have no idea.

but.

i read the first book of her series here, "When Lightning Strikes," and seriously had to read the others. i still haven't read the last book, my library doesn't have it in right now, but this book got me hooked to a story that was written by (excuse me) a sucky writer. it was wild, weird, crazy, funny, and had some very creative twists in it. great story.

now if only she could learn to write. sentinces, i mean. (<-- example of what she does. i swear i don't write like that normally.)

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a very intriguing series.

This is packed with high school drama but also some deep, emotional ties too. What would you do if you could wake up and know where missing children were? What would you do if the government wanted to use it to find bad guys instead of help families?

I feel like this is such a powerful book that is hidden within a goofy YA premise. But regardless, loved it. So much love and need the rest of this series ASAP.

Five out of five stars.

[Vidhya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read this before and this was only a re-read :) A light breezy read for anyone who doesn’t want anything intense.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2020 Coronavirus Reread:

This series probably has aged the worst out of all the Cabot YA series. I still like it but God does Jess grate on me at times.

Also, Cabot tropes are full of display here. Just something I noticed Jess has a geeky brother named Michael who her best friend has a crush on where have I seen this before...but it's different I swear.

Anyway, a very quick reread. I managed to finish it within a couple of hours.

To see full binge click here.

Oh, Jess. How I forgot you were the Cabot character with violent tendencies.

Well, Suze throws a mean punch too but it’s sort of a necessity. You on the other hand…your rage is sort of funny but at the same time scary.

Not in a bad way though.

Jess is perfectly engaging. Though I did get annoyed with her world at times. There are some jokes and remarks made in this book that are eyebrow raising at best. I seriously, wanted to throw a punch at Rob Wilkins for calling Ruth fat. No. No. No. Rob Wilkins, you just don’t do that.


It doesn’t make you desirable.

At least Jess tells him this too. Though it’s obvious she wants to make out with him.

Another thing that really sticks out after all this time is how much the world has and hasn’t changed since this series was originally published (the early 200’s, pre 911 days). Jess’s super power is a little obsolete now with social media and Google Locate doing a lot of the work she did for her. But she still would be utilized (I guess).

The other thing that bothered me about this series was you had to suspend your belief (a lot). I’m sorry but the way the whole Crane Military Base thing was handled was ridiculous. I can’t go into to many details because of spoilers, but just know I was completely shaking my head thinking Cabot had never seen an episode of UFO Hunters because if she did she know if you were remotely close to a top secret military base you’d be surrounded and your mission to find the aliens would be aborted.

Whatever.

It’s still a fun book. But yeah, I see it’s warts now and the years have not exactly been good to it. Or terrible for that matter. I think The Princess Diaries probably got the worst of it with the pop culture references.

[Ana Lelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good surprise. I really like Meg Cabot's books but it's always romance/chick lits and that's her first paranormal book I read and I loved it a lot. It has everything that I think a book needs to be good and I can't wait to read the other books from this series. If you want a fantasy book written in a simple and fun way I definitely recommen this book for you.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

must a book be "good"? is it not enough to be a series you hyperfixated on at 15 because of the gendrya implications?

[maya rajesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

had this book in my school library all ripped and torn up but it looked fun so i borrowed it. it was actually pretty good, typical meg-cabot-style. i'd recommend it if you like (slightly cheesy) paranormal books :)

[Glory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Как-то я упустила у автора эту серию, а тут случайно наткнулась и решила скоротать вечерок. С задачей книга справилась, но, увы, лично для меня в ней нашелся весомый недостаток. Но обо всем по порядку.

Итак, Джесс Мастриани - шестнадцатилетняя школьница, которая любит махать кулаками. Она не грубая, нет, и не амбалка-спортсменка, наоборот, весьма маленькая и хрупкая, просто обстоятельства так сложились. У старшего брата Джесс шизофрения, а потому многие норовят ляпнуть про него что-нибудь эдакое, так что она с детства бросалась на защиту. И лучшая подруга Джесс - суперумная, но полная и застенчивая девочка, которую тоже надо защищать. В общем, героиня взвалила на себя ношу и несет, не особо переживая. За нападки на обидчиков она вечно оказывается среди задержанных после уроков, что тоже ее не особо волнует - ведь вместе с ней остается старшеклассник Роб, и у него есть крутой байк и все такое.

А потом в Джесс ударяет молния. И утром она просыпается с... особым даром. Даже, скорее, знанием.
Нет, она не может двигать предметы, летать или что-то в этом духе. Просто просыпаясь, Джесс вдруг четко осознает, где сейчас находятся пропавшие дети, портреты которых она видела на пакетах молока. Новая ночь - новые имена/адреса.
Разумеется, Джесс не может молчать, совершает несколько анонимных звонков, на нее выходит ФБР, и заверте...

На самом деле история очень легкая - благодаря повествованию от первого лица и характеру Джесс. Она сильная, саркастичная, а местами спокойная как удав. Но меня напрягла вся эта часть с военной базой. Точнее, с почти спокойными побегами и возвращениями. Очень по-детски наивный взгляд на военные объекты, и крутые агенты и генералы выглядят полными идиотами на фоне офигенных подростков. Я все понимаю, жанр, да, но автор так реалистично показала семью и окружение героини, так прописала неидеальных, хоть и неплохих людей и непростые жизненные обстоятельства, и вдруг детский сад с тупыми вояками, которых уделывает девчонка. Ну как бы... чересчур.

В остальном - роман небольшой, читается быстро и с интересом. Характеры, как уже говорила, выписаны, юмор в наличии, темы подняты серьезные. И если б не свистопляска на базе (особенно выдернутая байком оконная решетка, угу), я б восприняла все на ура.
А так только 3 звезды.
И продолжение читать пока не хочется, хотя когда-нибудь, наверное, к серии вернусь.

[One chapter more · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my most read book on the shelf. I remember something about reading it 11 times in a course of 2 years. The way that I could quote it in my head even before the line was said. There was something about Jessica and Rob.

Definitely going to put it on my list to re-read in the new year.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In late elementary school going into middle school, Meg Cabot (writing under the pen name of Jenny Carroll here) was my FAVORITE author. I devoured her books, reread them over and over, this book included. I think the majority of her books, particularly her early-mid 2000s releases, are very much geared toward that age range. The way it's written in a very conversational, diary-style format, the way the main character makes sexual references without really making sexual references, and the quick pace of the plot certainly mean I have outgrown this book. None of those things are to my taste anymore. I will always remember it fondly for the entertainment I got in my early teenage years, but 20 years after its release, this is no longer really the book for me.

[Nadja · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick fast-paced paranormal story which is over the top but entertaining nonetheless. I liked Jessica and her attitude. I have the rest of the series on my shelves but I think I stop here and give them away.

[Megan Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. I loved it when I discovered it in my high school library (yes they do have good things mixed in there with the boring required reading!) and 10 years later I still love it.

Story:
Jess is your (relatively) average sophomore girl. Relatively, because she tends to talk with her fists.

This leads her to spending a lot of time in detention, with the kids from the other side of the tracks, known here as the "Grits". There she meets Rob Wilkins, our hot guy of the series. He rides a Indian motorcycle and is 18.

This is a plus for Jess because even though she doesn't have her license, as Tom would say she:


So things are going pretty well, sure she has detention for over a month, but Rob just asked if she needed a ride home. Unfortunately she is with her friend Ruth who is set on walking home and working off some calories and she can't leave her or invite her since bikes aren't made for 3! Jess and Ruth only make it to the sports fields before it starts to hail and are forced to hide under the bleachers where leaning against a pole Jess is... struck by lightening.


Jess seems ok until she wakes up the next morning and knows where the missing kids on yesterday's milk carton are.
Can you name this 90s jem?

This book sets the stage for Jess dealing with her ability, mainly who to trust, (including the government), her moral responsiblitly and trying to live her life (including convincing Rob to be her boyfriend!)

In true Meg Cabot form it's everything you want in a fun teen read: fun, comedy, drama, adventure, superpowers and a hot boy on a motorcycle. Because in the wise words of Lorelai Gilmore:

[Delitealex · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I liked Jess and seeing how see got herself out of trouble. I enjoyed the humor and shenanigans with the government. I can't wait to continue on with the series to find out how Jess continues to handle her power.

[n · Rating 5 out of 5]

haven't read this since I was twelve and I cried at every page

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, this is a blast from the past. I read these back when I was in high school. In fact, I’m pretty sure when I first read these, they had Jenny Carroll on the cover. On a high from the Mediator, I found 1-800-Where-R-You, and initially I was disappointed with it. Rereading now over a decade later, I can see why. When Lightning Strikes is a bit of a hot mess but I mostly liked it because nostalgia is powerful.

Jess ends up having to take shelter from hail under some metal bleachers, which leads to her getting hit by lightning. It’s weird though because there’s a mark where the lightning entered but no exit point. Instead, apparently the lightning is hanging out inside her and has given her the ability to dream the location of missing people. When I was younger, I don’t think this premise was absurd to me as it now is. The attempt at explaining it is way more upsetting than if it was just like a power she had X-Men style. It’s also really fucking hilarious that pay phones are a crucial plot point in this series. Cabot’s books are the truest of all time capsules.

The down side of the time capsule element of Cabot’s books is that they really do capture the language and attitudes of the time. There’s a lot of slut-shaming in here; Cabot’s recent novels in no way do this, but this is what the 2000s were like. People are also constantly fat-shaming Jess’ friend; while I do think Cabot had good intentions there, the rep is iffy at best. Same goes so far for her brother Douglas, back home from college after a suicide attempt caused by his schizophrenia. (Wow, I didn’t remember either character AT ALL.)

The plot is completely off the wall. The government basically immediately finds Jess, which I actually like because she’s hilariously not stealth. She ends up being taken to this military base and asked to find traitors to the nation, which again is a pretty solid plot point. What is not, however, is that she calls her almost boyfriend Rob, who rides up with his motorcycle buddies and busts her out of the military base. And somehow they all get away with it. TROLOLOLOLOLOLOL.

So yeah, I don’t know how this reread is going to go, but When Lightning Strikes was funny, sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay listen, the last time i read these books i was like 9…and i loved them. unfortunately, i have learned that this book did not age well (at all).

still tho, this book was super fun and nostalgic. i wont pretend i didn’t have a great time.

[K.M. Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite possibly my favorite Meg Cabot series EVER. Jess is a hysterical, tomboy heroine, whose a bit fast with her fists, but behind all her snark she has a heart of gold. The portrayal of a small town in the midwest is spot on, and the supporting cast--Jess's family and friends--are all vividly portrayed. While Jess has psychic powers, they tend to take a back seat to the mystery presented in each book.

This is one of the few series I know where each book gets better and better, and each story will absolutely make you laugh out loud and get weird looks from strangers. They're lighthearted and fast paced. Love 'em!

[Jenny Ashby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute premise and entertaining enough but it has not aged well. I wasn't aware of how old this book is when I checked it out from the online catalog I was first a little stunned when the main character refers to someone as a "retard". Then there was a section about people being gay that was mocking and out of touch. Finally, our main character says that the woman at the missing child hotline "sounds black" (little "b"). After all that, I started looking for the copyright date because, hello? I eventually found that the title is 21 years old so I won't call out author Twitter on it, but I also won't bother to read any more in this series.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a subscription box. I looked at it and tossed it into my TBR pile. I thought that it didn't look interesting. That it looked childish, that it would be something that would quickly make its way out of the house once I got around to reading it. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. It was witty, it was fun, and I've since bought all the other books in the series in order to finish it off. I'm quite looking forward to their arrival.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh. Operative. Very spy like. I enjoyed this book. It wasn't mind blowing but it was quite enjoyable. I liked Jess and some of the time Ruth. I enjoyed her relationship with her family and the hope of romance with Rob. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Veronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read: have no idea
Reread: 2016

[Nicole Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

after my last few books i read weren’t that great, i knew that a meg cabot series was what i needed! this book was pretty good! the fmc is actually so cool (i wish i was that cool)! sadly, i’m not the biggest fan of jessica’s love interest, although i was starting to like him more and more as i continued reading. maybe he’ll fully win me over in the next book? i’m kind of confused as to why this book is under the mystery genre though. there isn’t really much of a mystery, but i enjoyed it regardless! couldn’t put it down!

[Tamires · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, eu gosto do livros da Meg Cabot, são leves, divertidos e bem humorados, e as vezes esse é o tipo de leitura que precisamos.
Gostei, foi um leitura divertida, talvez eu continue com a serie quando eu precisar desse tipo de leitura de novo, mas sem compromisso.

Ps: A mediadora ainda é a minha serie preferida dela.

[Hope Vollm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of things have changed since 2007. I feel like the story is still good and still holds up. I like that Jess is so kick ass and I like the developing relationship with her and rob.

There is a bit of slut shaming, calling things “gay”, and saying “retarded” that doesn’t hold up.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like I was in a reading slump so decided to pick up my favourite series from when I was a teen. I love the characters and the plot and it's just a fun, quick, easy read.

[meg]

Meg Cabot is such a talent

[Sriya]

when i hit desperate times on the old reading challenge meg cabot is always there for me

[Tennison Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series - it’s so fun and I was obsessed with it as a teen.

[Kafe Dy]

Needed this for the easy read to get back into reading! Read this for the nostalgia and mission accomplished cos what is more nostalgic than Meg Cabot? Low-key some things don’t hold up in 2023 but that makes it even more nostalgic 😂