The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel
A determined girl athlete deals with food insecurity and a new rivalry challenging her feminist ideals in this “resonant” (School Library Journal, starred review) upper middle grade coming-of-age story from author of The First Magnificent Summer, R.L. Toalson.
Eighth-grader Leta “Lightning” Laurel is a big sister, a problem solver, and the star of her track team. Her dad’s been out of the picture for more than a year, and food’s gotten scarce at home.
When Leta learns her mom’s financial struggles are even worse than she’d thought, she hatches a plan to bring her dad home: she’ll win district champion in the 400-meter dash, the newspaper will write about her, her mom will send the clipping to her dad, and her dad will remember he has daughters who need him. Because she’ll be unforgettable.
It should be easy; no one can beat her in the 400. But a new runner shows up, threatening Leta’s top spot and her budding feminist beliefs about sisterhood. She works harder and harder in practice, trying to ensure the new girl won’t ruin her perfect plan…until an injury sidelines her.
How will she ever prove to her dad and the world that she’s unforgettable? How will she prove it to herself?
The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel Discussion Questions FREE PDF download.
Praise for The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel
*** Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection ***
“In the underwritten genre that is girl sports, Toalson has crafted a novel that can be handed to anyone. Leta is a character that every reader will connect with and root for… A resonant tale of a tween struggling to adapt to change; a must-buy for all middle grade collections.”
—School Library Journal, Starred review
“Leta’s genuine first-person narration effectively captures the growing pains, embarrassment, and small joys to be found both on and off the track. The novel is bursting with topics that are authentic to Leta’s and her peers’ experiences… Supportive adults, including Leta’s progressive coach and devoted, distance-running grandfather, bring warmth that lightens the heavy subject matter.”
—Kirkus Review
Listen While You Read
Click for song <> chapter guide
- A.P.T., Rosé and Bruno Mars (One)
- Friends, Matchbox Twenty (Two)
- Dance Monkey, the tones and i (Three + Four)
- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Wham! (Five)
- Head Up High, Fitz and the Tantrums (Six)
- Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac (Seven)
- The Best, Tina Turner (Round 1 + Eight)
- My Power, Tierra Whack, Beyoncé (Nine + Ten + The Run Part 1 + The Run Part 2)
- Here Comes the Rain Again, Eurythmics (Eleven + Twelve)
- Rise Up, Walk the Moon (Thirteen + Fourteen)
- Choose Your Fighter, Ava Max (Round 2)
- Here With Me, Dido (Fifteen)
- Riptide, Vance Joy (Sixteen + Seventeen + Eighteen + Nineteen)
- Demons, Imagine Dragons (Twenty + Twenty-one)
- Walking on Broken Glass, Annie Lennox (Twenty-two + Twenty-three + Round 3 + Twenty-four)
- Pink, Lizzo (Twenty-five)
- Abracadabra, Lady Gaga (Twenty-six)
- Dancing Queen, ABBA (Twenty-seven)
- I’m on Fire, Bruce Springsteen (Twenty-eight + Twenty-nine + Round 4)
- Freedom! ’90 (Edit), George Michael (Thirty)
- Thunder, Imagine Dragons (Thirty-one)
- Dance the Night, Dua Lipa (Thirty-two + Thirty-three)
- Just like You, wrabel (Thirty-four + Thirty-five)
- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Eurythmics (Thirty-six)
- Eyes Closed, Imagine Dragons (Thirty-seven + Thirty-eight + Thirty-nine)
- Break It Down Again, Tears for Fears (Forty)
- Speed Drive, Charli xcx (Forty-one + Forty-two, first half)
- What Was I Made For, Billie Eilish (Forty-two, second half + Forty-three + Forty-four + Forty-five)
- Home, HAIM (Forty-six + Forty-seven + Forty-eight)
- Take Me Home, Jess Glynne (Forty-nine + Fifty + Fifty-one + Fifty-two)
- Unstoppable, No Resolve & Hinder (Fifty-three)