When Lightning Comes in a Jar

Polacco, Patricia. (2002). When Lightning Comes in a Jar. New York: Penguin Young Reader's Group

This is a contemporary realistic fiction story for elementary age students. It teaches values of friendship and family. Trisha, the main character, is ecstatic because her family is coming to visit. Every year her family comes to visit and they share traditional family rituals. This year, however, her grandmother has promised to share a different family ritual. She has promised to show her how to catch lightning in a jar. Trisha is sure that her family is magic and she is eager to figure out how she can do this.