Struck By Lightning
Delightful
Vibrant
Depressing

Struck By Lightning The Carson Phillips Journal

Chris Colfer2013
Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. The film Stuck By Lightning features Colfer's own original screenplay. Colfer also stars in the film alongside Allison Janney, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Hyland, and Polly Bergen.
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Reviews

Photo of Helene Utterback
Helene Utterback@helene250
4 stars
May 3, 2022

I really enjoyed the journal format of this book, but I didn't feel like I connected to Carson as a character. I can relate to a lot of the aspects of his life (being from a small town and wanting nothing more than to escape to something different).

Photo of Georgia Carr
Georgia Carr@greatgatsbys
5 stars
Jan 16, 2022

Carson Phillips is the standard outcast teen with big dreams. Stuck in a high school with people he hates and living in a town in the middle of nothing and nowhere, all he has is his ambition and hopes for a better future than the past he’s experiences. His application to his chosen university needs something more, so he sets up a literary magazine which requires written pieces from other students, a somewhat impossible feat. In true Carson-style, he turns to blackmailing all the popular kids to get what he needs to finally leave his hometown of Clover. Chris Colfer has truly created a fabulous character and plot. This book is one of my all-time favourites. It’s hilarious, moving, insightful and poignant. It stays with you long after you’ve finished reading, and certainly makes you look at things in a different light. Warning, the ending will have you in (lots of) tears.

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Aly Valenz@alylovesbooks
5 stars
Nov 28, 2021

Life comes in waves, every action every person you meet it makes you who you are and sometimes they aren’t here with you forever but they leave a mark on you . Trying so hard to get to your goals is what makes me love this book so much. It’s a comfort read and I can never stop reading this book.

+7
Photo of Elena Enns
Elena Enns@elekat
5 stars
Oct 28, 2021

When I first watched the "Struck by Lightning" movie I knew I needed to read the book, so when I finally have I've realized this has to be one of my most favourite novels of all time. This novel depicts some of my thoughts of people in my high school (Like how they walk as how they "Walk slower than a turtle on crutches"(pg 23) ). I recommend this book for EVERYONE.

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Cloe Thorogood @cloeisannoying
5 stars
Oct 8, 2021

i cried

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Aly Valenz@alylovesbooks
5 stars
Oct 7, 2021

It's my favorite book I have checked it out at my library 2x And now own it

Photo of Nia C
Nia C@sleepyhollowkid
4 stars
Sep 23, 2021

What a brilliant book. I've highlighted so many quotes that have come to mean so much to me. Carson's voice was genuine, sarcastic and cynical and simply amazing. All the feels. Also, this movie is officially the best book-to-movie adaptation I've ever seen. Adored this film and book so much. 4.5 Stars and a lovely A for this amazing novel. Chris Colfer, take a bow.

Photo of Jessica
Jessica @jessicabeckett
4 stars
Aug 26, 2021

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Full review/potential spoilers alert: http://bookgirl.co.vu/post/7270557734... Struck By Lightning is smart. It is a clever, witty novel filled with two things young adults will positively eat up: sarcasm and blackmail. Proof is in the opening chapter (or in, true to format, the opening entry - as it is written through journal form) that the story will connect with a vast majority of high school students (or teenagers in general) and you may, no matter your age, just find yourself nodding in response to the main characters innermost thoughts. It has a similar underdog feel to it that Glee has, which is no surprise given that Mr. Colfer is a longtime lead on the hit show, so fans will certainly enjoy it.

Photo of Shannon Leigh Williams
Shannon Leigh Williams@lifeinmybook
5 stars
Aug 7, 2021

Oh my GOD. What a ride. This book was hilarious, heartwarming, & horrifying all at the same time. I love Chris Colfer & was first aquainted with him through Glee, but this is the first novel of his that I have read. Clearly, it had me hooked, & I read it in mere hours. Unfortunately, I was spoiled for the ending, but it still surprised me. Now, I must watch the movie! I wanted to read the book first, even though he created the screenplay before writing it as a novel.

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Megan McGuire@mmcg
3 stars
Mar 22, 2023
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Rahmat Junaid@rahmat
5 stars
Mar 20, 2024
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Lindsey Barnett@lindseybarnett
3 stars
Mar 23, 2022
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Chantal Eisinger@ceisinger
5 stars
Mar 1, 2022
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Catelyn Calabria@catelync
5 stars
Feb 25, 2022
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Hannah Derzanovich@bluebooked
1 star
Jan 26, 2022
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rita@grushiri
3 stars
Dec 13, 2021
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Emily fowler@emfowler
4 stars
Nov 26, 2021
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África@afrijackson
5 stars
Nov 20, 2021
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Justine Rose@justineslibrary
1 star
Nov 17, 2021
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Wera Kylén@werakylen
5 stars
Nov 13, 2021
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Dina@deecolfs
4 stars
Oct 31, 2021
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Nataly Salcedo@cutenaty55
5 stars
Oct 22, 2021
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Valeria@valemattta
4 stars
Oct 22, 2021
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Giulia @giuliaeilibri
5 stars
Oct 14, 2021