Struck by Lightning The Carson Phillips Journal

"Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal" follows ambitious high school senior Carson Phillips, who feels trapped in a small town with his depressed single mother. His singular goal is to attend Northwestern University for journalism. When his guidance counselor requires him to create a literary magazine for his application, Carson, at the bottom of the social hierarchy, devises a controversial plan: he blackmails his peers into submitting their work. This YA novel explores themes of ambition, social isolation, ethical dilemmas, and the lengths one might go to achieve a dream. Parents should be aware of the blackmail plot and the portrayal of a depressed parent, which can spark discussions about morality, mental health, and perseverance.

"Carson Phillips is at the bottom of the food chain in a high school filled with people he hates, stuck living with his depressed single mother in a small-minded town at the corner of nothing and nowhere. He has just one goal: escape to Northwestern University and a career as a hard-hitting journalist. His guidance counselor tells him that he needs to bolster his application by creating a literary magazine. Which means he needs submissions. From other students. Carson resorts to the only thing he can think of: blackmail."--Jacket flyleaf.