Best known as Kurt Hummel on Glee, Chris Colfer delivers a quirky and cynical debut novel about a 16-year-old wannabe journalist. Kidzworld reviews Struck By Lightning by Chris Colfer.
The Dream
Carson Phillips has always felt superior to the idiots in his high school. None of them have GPAs of four point two or dreams of escaping their small town like he does. If Carson had it his way, he would attend Northwestern University, become a journalist and eventually go on to become the editor of the New Yorker. But according to his school counsellor, being editor of his school paper doesn’t cut it in terms of extra-curriculars for admissions to Northwestern anymore. He needs something more. Something that will set him apart. A literary magazine.
Blackmail
The idea is the easy part. Even getting permission and funding is relatively easy. It’s his fellow students - who hate his jaded, opinionated nature - who refuse to participate. In order to get submissions, Carson must resort to blackmail. But does that make him a bad person? Will this give him bad karma?
The Bottom Line
Written in the format of a journal, Struck By Lightning is the story of a jaded anti-hero. Carson’s fellow students treat him horribly, but does he bring it on himself? His decision to use blackmail will make readers question their loyalties: is Carson the good guy or the bad guy? Do we want him to succeed and get accepted to Northwestern or not? At only 258 pages and large font, this is a quick and easy read. Gleeks will enjoy delving into the quirky mind of Chris Colfer.
Have Your Say
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