What readers think of The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors, plus links to write your own review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were unique and interesting. The storyline held my attention. I also liked the way the author mixed in the facts about lightning.

The only criticism I have is that every once in a while I got confused about some of the lesser known characters. Other than that it was a very enjoyable read!

From the last lightning strike to the electrifying climax, Michele Young-Stone’s debut novel The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors captures the reader and refuses to release its hold. Young-Stone deftly weaves two parallel stories, interspersing them with anecdotes and advice from The Handbook itself. Although aware that the two stories must intersect at some point, the climax surprises the reader and fulfills the promise of the beginning. This novel is an excellent read and a great choice for book clubs.

For the record, I am not a lightning strike survivor, but I still enjoyed reading the book; it was simply amazing. I learned many facts about lightning that I never knew before. I thought the "Where are they now?" segment was a nice touch. Overall, a very well written story.

Remember as a child you had that one favorite fairy tale that you had your mom read to you over and over again??? This book is in that class.
I loved this book. It flowed from the first sentence to the very last word. The two main characters, Buckley and Becca, are not only captivating characters, they are real people that you can relate to. I like that the good guys always stayed good guys and the bad guys got their own in the end, just like fairy tales are supposed to be.

Lightning strikes are scary and something I knew very little about. This book focuses on the stories of two individuals whose lives are changed by lightning strikes. The chapters go back in forth in time and between the two characters; the time shifts were a little confusing at first, but Young-Stone does a great job of making the character’s chapters different enough that this wasn’t a problem for long. The book also follows the characters from the time they are children to the time they are adult. Being a young adult librarian, at the beginning of the book, I thought this may be a read for young adults, but because of some of the issues that are addressed in the book, this may be one for adults to preview before passing it along to a mature teen. A great read.

The Handbook for Survivors of Lightning Strike Survivors is a well written, sympathetic but not sentimental, book about the coming of age of two distinctly different people. Lighting strikes, both real and metaphorical, provide the structure of the book. Lighting strikes can happen to anyone at anytime and it is not only the direct victim who suffers the consequences. It all adds up to a compelling read. This book will be a great Book Club selection with so many points of view to explore.

This is a wonderful love story, but not in the traditional sense. The story is told through the lives of the two main characters, Buckley and Becca. It is the story of these two trying to fit into their particular world and how they come together to find their place. The handbook is interwoven through the book and at times is distracting, however for the most part it works well. If you are looking for a good book discussion book, this will work beautifully. I fell in love with these characters and would love to read about them in another book.

Read this book! I was hooked from page one and the characters just grew on me, even the unsympathetic. The parallel stories of Buckley and Becca were destined to connect at some point and the plotting drove it forward. I had not thought about lightning stricken survivors and was fascinated by how different strikes can be and how survivors adapted. In the beginning Becca’s father infuriated me with his indifference but learning that people often don’t believe the survivor was intriguing. If it hasn’t happened to you or you haven’t seen it happen what can it be like?
Strike survivor Young-Stone has written a highly engaging story of the randomness with which lightning and life strike. A minor quibble about the ending being predictable doesn't dissuade me from telling Book Clubbers, young adults and everyone who loves a well told story to READ THIS BOOK.