The Lightning Catcher

《The Lightning Catcher》是Clare Weze所著的一本科幻冒險兒童小說，適合9至12歲的讀者。

故事講述男孩Alfie隨家人搬到偏遠村莊Folding Ford後，發現這裡天氣極為怪異：夏天樹上有霜凍、花園水桶中有小龍捲風、某些地方只下雨不淋濕周圍等。Alfie和他的朋友Sam對這些怪異現象感到好奇，開始調查村裡最怪異的科學家Nathaniel Clemm的庭院。在稍微闖入後，他發現一個神祕的盒子，打開它後釋放出一個閃著電光、敏捷且神秘的生物Whizzy。

這個生物帶來許多麻煩和危險，Alfie因此被誤解和指責。他必須找到化解風暴和說服村民相信這一切的方式。小說結合了奇幻與現實，描繪Alfie在新環境中的適應、面對偏見、與家人間的成長，還穿插了有關氣象、生物和電學的知識。

全書節奏緊湊，情節充滿想像力與懸念，同時探討友情、身份認同和家庭關係，是一部寓教於樂的精彩中級讀物.

'This exciting, science-packed novel is a cracking read and bursts with action, warmth and humour' - BookTrust Great Books Guide 2021

'This is great fun; an energetic middle-grade debut with a fresh contemporary feel and a good dash of Stranger Things' - The Bookseller

Alfie has noticed a few things since his family moved to Folding Ford. He really misses life in the city. He and his sister don't exactly fit in here. But the most interesting one is that the weather is BONKERS. One frost-covered branch on one tree in the middle of June? A tiny whirlwind in a bucket in the garden? Only in Folding Ford.

Armed with his bike, a notepad and his new best mate Sam, Alfie is going to investigate. His best clue is Nathaniel Clemm . the only thing in town weirder than the weather. When Alfie 'investigates' Mr Clemm's garden, only SLIGHTLY illegally, he finds a strange box that freezes his trainers and makes his teeth tingle. And when he opens it, only SLIGHTLY deliberately, SOMETHING gets out. Something fast, fizzing and sparking with electricity and very, very much alive. But the creature from the box brings trouble of its own, and as barometers and tempers go haywire in Folding Ford, Alfie finds himself at the centre of a perfect storm.

Skellig meets Stranger Things in this funny, heartfelt adventure story perfect for fans of Ross Welford, Christopher Edge and Frank Cottrell Boyce.