The Higher Power of Lucky

Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky. 2006. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 134 pages. $16.95 ISBN: 1416901949

Plot Summary:

Ten year old Lucky lives in the small town of Hardpan, California (population 43) with her guardian Brigitte. When Lucky's mother was killed two years earlier, Lucky's father's first wife, Brigitte, moved from France to take care of Lucky. Lucky works sweeping up after the meetings in the town hall and spends the time during the meetings listening to the members’ stories about how they found their higher power. Lucky wonders how she will find her higher power someday. After Lucky finds Brigitte's passport and suitcase she is worried that Brigitte is leaving her to go back to France. Lucky decides to run away since Brigitte is leaving anyway. She packs up all her survival supplies and the urn with her mother's ashes and sets out into the desert in the midst of a dangerous dust storm.

Review:

Lucky is a lovable and spunky girl. Your heart cannot help but break for her to be so young, abandoned by her father and her mother dead. Lucky is scared that Brigette will leave her too. This is a heartwarming story about love in an unconventional family. The Higher Power of Lucky is really about Lucky’s struggle with her grief over her mother’s death and her fear of being abandoned. Lucky needs to learn how to let go and trust again.

Genre:

Realistic contemporary fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level:

4th to 7^th Grades

Similar Books:

Savvy

Awards:

Newberry Award 2007

ALA Notable Book 2007

Author’s Website:

http://susanpatron.com/