The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky was written by Susan Patron and earned the John Newberry Medal in 2007. The setting takes place out in the desert in the small town named Hard Pan with the population of 43. The main character, Lucky, is a young girl around the age of 10 and cleans up after many of the town "AA" meetings. Lucky's mother died two years earlier, she never met her biological father, and now is in the care of a guardian named Bridgitt. She desperately wants to belong, belong to someone. Lucky's mother died, her biolgical father does not want her, and her guardian has a heart for France. The people who attend the "AA" meetings all talk about finding their Higher Power and springing out from rock bottom. Lucky hits rock bottom and then finds her higher power. Lucky's journey from rock bottom upward is worth the read. You meet many characters that warm your heart and bring you into their world of a town of 43 people.

MY TWO CENTS:
My journey over the last six months to read all of the John Newberry Medal winners before June 2008 has been intersting. I have enjoyed each book for different reasons. Each book has a moving story-line that brings the reader into their literature world. This story about a young girl whose mother died, father does not want her, and a guardian who misses France makes the reader have a tender place in their heart for her. You admire Lucky because she sees what others have and strives to attain it. She has no idea what the "higher power" is but through deduction she figures out that she must hit rock bottom before the "higher power" is discovered. Lucky's view of the world is so innocent and pure. You find yourself rooting for her after each page you turn. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others. There are a few sections within the story that didn't really add anything to it and would not have harmed the overall storyline if it was ommitted. As a parent, after your child reads this book at the tender age of 9-12 you might have a discussion about some body parts.

AR Quiz: 100%
AR Literature Assessment: 100%