Struck By Lightning by Chris Colfer (one of the leads of Glee and one of my personal favorite actors) is a teen novel that many of us can relate to.
It is about a teenage boy named Carson Phillips born into a dysfunctional family with a divorced deadbeat dad and a pill-popping hermit of a mother.
Besides dealing with his family, he also has to look forward to mean-spirited classes while feeling the high school pressures of heading into the future, even when a small town mentality straps you down.
Carson has the dream to be the youngest editor for the New Yorker, but the only way to achieve this is going to North Western College.
To get in, Carson has to fulfill a large requirement. He does this by creating a literary magazine for the school with the help of his dorky but loveable friend Natalie.
However, the rest of his classmates could not care less, so Carson blackmails them to write.
I don’t want to say any more about the plot because I do not want to ruin it for you all.
Struck By Lightning is a funny and classy comedy that speaks the truth about high school and developing to be the person one wants to be.
Colfer does change the clichés about the goth or the cheerleader, just as two examples, and proves these titles are just the outer layer of a person and that there is humanity within.
Carson, the main character, represents one who has become edged because of high school bullying and the cruelty that is present.
In truth this is a coming of age story that shows what is important in life and what is truly silly.
It also shows that those from small places and small beginnings can have the ambition to be what they want and escape from that kind of close-minded thinking.
The Good
An engaging and funny story that many can relate and sympathies to. Great characters.
Chris Colfer really shows his voice and understanding about the main themes something he as experienced in his life.
The Bad
It isn’t a criticism of the book, but an emotion that was pulled out of me.
I despise and am disgusted by small town mentalities where everyone has to feel like they have to live by their neighbors’ standards and that goes with social hierarchy in school.
These are all things I have experienced, and I like the fact that this book could pull out my contempt for such things.
Nick Bundarin can be reached at nbundarin@ksc.keene.edu