"This book is sheer magic. The magic of the theatre, the magic of community, the magic of being one's truest self all shimmer from the page like stars. Tim Cummings is such a star— he writes with such authenticity, such power, such charm, such vision, such heart. This book will change lives—it's a breathtaking celebration of creativity and neurodivergence and connection and the messy beauty of being a human in a world filled with both pain and possibility. The Lightning People Play will forever sizzle inside me."—Gayle Brandeis, author of The Art of Misdiagnosis and My Life with The Lincolns

"This novel is a beautiful, poignantly-written depiction of the length one teenage boy will go to save his brother. Kirby, Baxter, Heddy the dog, and the rest of the cast-through theatre and seizures and sacrifice evoke themes of brotherhood, sonship, and the healing power of art all while facing trauma, self-doubt, abandonment, and neurological disorders. Like lightning, Tim Cummings strikes to the core of what it means to love and what it means to be a young person-during a time in life when the perils of adulthood threaten to keep us grounded. With the sentiment of John Green and the wit of Andrew Smith, The Lightning People Play celebrates what makes each of us special as well as the bonds that connect us as friends, as families, and as individuals. — Nathan Elias, author of Coil Quake Rift and The Reincarnations

"In Tim Cummings's captivating YA novel, The Lightning People Play fourteen-year-old Kirby will stop at nothing to help his little brother, Bax, who has epilepsy. Determined to raise funds for a seizure dog that could change Bax's life, Kirby enlists his theater friends to create a mesmerizing play that reflects the other-worldly portal that Bax seems to enter when having a seizure. Kirby's voice resonates with raw emotion as his synesthetic experiences draw him (and us!) deep into the complexities of his brother's condition. Lyrical prose mirrors the magic of the story, beautifully intertwining serious themes with a unique, well-paced, and often humorous storyline. This is a tender yet powerful tale that honors Cummings's own brother whom he lost to epilepsy, and it serves as a reminder that with compassion and courage, even the youngest among us can make a difference." — Kimberly Behre Kenna, award-winning author of Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm

"Tim Cummings forms ice sculptures out of words— but The Lightning People Play is more than beautiful prose. Through Kirby and the ragtag band of thespians, stagehands, and mentors who aid him in helping his brother Bax, we experience family, enchantment, and the miracle of live performance. It's a book about those momentous first steps towards a life in the arts, with all their accompanying rapture and sorrow." — Ari Rosenschein, author of Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph and Coasting

"The narrator is sarcastic yet sweet, the plot funny yet scary. There are hilarious theatre kids with crushes on each other and villainous bullies roaming the halls. There are kinda heroic teens confronting mysterious symbols from the other side (maybe?). In other words: The Lightning People Play has absolutely everything you'd want in a YA novel, and then some." — Josh Berk, Edgar Award nominee and author of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin and Camp Murderface

"Tim Cummings weaves vivid, gripping tales filled with heart and irreverent humor, and told in an electric, irresistible voice. They're pure fun to read and The Lighting People Play is a perfect showcase for his talents." — Jeff Zentner, Morris-award-winning author of The Serpent King and In The Wild Light.