The Higher Power of Lucky

This 2007 Newbery Medal winner has quirky characters - a 10-year-old motherless girl named Lucky, and her two friends, knot-tying Lincoln (whose mother is a part-time librarian in the nearest larger town, and whose dad is 23 years older), and Miles, who lives with his grandmother (since his mother is in jail) and wants to read/have read 1960's "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman over and over. Lucky lives in trailers with her young French guardian (her father's ex-wife) in a remote town, population 43 (apparently mostly members of 12-step programs) at the edge of a California desert. The controversy about the word "scrotum" on the first page of the book is overblown, but the story probably is not appropriate for children under 12 show more anyway. It's a heartfelt tale with an ending that brought tears to my eyes, but most 9- to 11-year-olds, the book's target audience, may not "get" it. show less

I have difficulty imagining how other reviewers have not loved this book as much as I did. I thought Susan Patron painted a really vibrant picture of life in Hard Pan, and created wonderful complex round characters with realistic problems and actions. Despite the ridiculous controversy over the word scrotum I would highly recommend this to middle primary school students; I know as a child I would have really related to Lucky and found the book very engaging. I think there are a lot of life lessons to be learned from this book, and it would be a very valuable teaching tool in a lot of respects.

What do you do when your mother dies and the first wife of your father (who didn't want you) moves from France to the California desert to be your guardian but you secretly fear she wants to go back and leave you, too? And what do you, the reader, do when people object to the book because the word "scrotum" (referring to a dog's) is on the first page? You sit back and enjoy every minute of Lucky's life and you cry at the end.

From the book:
"Her regular clothes were faded from many washings and from the sun, but the redness of this dress was the same thing for your eyes as a sonic boom is for your ears, or a jalapeno pepper is for your mouth."

I absolutely loved The Higher Power of Lucky and found it remarkably engaging. Patron did an incredible job of seeing the world through the eyes of a ten-year-old, being true to Lucky's view of the world as our narrator, but still allows readers to have a sense of Lucky's world of which she is not yet aware.

The Higher Power of Lucky has gotten a lot of controversy and press regarding its use of the word scrotum, and I read it for my children's literature class as one of the banned books. I'm sure it comes as no surprise to those who know me that I think banning this book is ludicrous. The scrotum is a basic part of human, and in this case, animal, anatomy. I strongly believe in teaching children proper terms for anatomy and ensuring a show more free flow of information. It is incredibly ironic that Lucky's confusion over the word caused an uproar. By the book's end, she asks Brigitte what the word actually means. To me, this detail provides a beautiful metaphor for how children view the world. Lucky overheard the word in a setting her caretaker couldn't imagine; children are exposed to words in a myriad of ways. Both literature and trusted adults are valuable ways to disseminate accurate information to children to counteract the inaccuracies or incompleteness of information they are often exposed to elsewhere.

There is a sequel, Lucky Breaks, that picks up the now eleven-years-old Lucky, and I'm looking forward to reading it. show less

It's easy to see why The Higher Power of Lucky won the Newbery Medal, but not so easy to see why such a fuss was made when it came out over the author's use of the word scrotum. Seriously? Oh well. Lucky's story does touch on some heavy subjects (addiction and 12-step meetings, death, jail, poverty) that parents of ambitious younger readers might want to be aware of, but Patron tackles them with a tender, discerning eye, and the book's beautiful illustrations further soften their impact. I suspect this is one that resonates differently with children and adults too. Personally, I cried my eyes out (happy/bittersweet tears) over one scene towards the end, but a child might have a different reaction. Lucky, Lincoln, and Miles are wonderful show more characters, and Patron paints the adults of Hard Pan, California with a colorful brush too. Good stuff here all around! show less

Lucky lives in a very small, rural community (pop. 43) with her guardian, Brigitte. Brigitte was called from France to help Lucky when Lucky's Mom died. It was suppose to be a temporary thing, but a few years later, Brigitte is still there, and Lucky is very worried that Brigitte will leave her, like her mother and father did. So, Lucky is trying to find her Higher Power before Brigitte leaves.

I really liked this book. Its not a loud story, and its focused a bit more on character development than plot, but the characters are real. You truly feel Lucky's sadness at the loss of her mother, and how scared she is about Brigitte leaving, but it wasn't a sad book. Brigitte was the character I most felt for - here Brigitte was, a Woman from show more France, asked by her ex (Lucky's Father) to come take care of this little girl, in a trailer park, in the California Desert, complete with snakes, Government Surplus food, and dust storms.

I think both kids, and adults will really like this story. As for those who wish to ban it from libraries, I think they really need to take a hard look at this book - the characters are very real, a bit quirky, and trying to make do with very little. The few spots of language (scrotum) in the first chapter will not hurt a child. Lucky herself doesn't even know what that means, and I'm pretty sure kids aren't going to start having sex because of this one word used in a non-sexual way. show less

Continuing my quest to read the Newbery Award winning books, this is the latest.

Once again, I am in awe of the ability of YA books to reach out and tug at heartstrings while dealing with very complex issues.

I highly recommend this profoundly moving tale of Lucky, a rough and tumble ten year old whose mother died tragically and thus now is in the guardianship of her father's previous wife Brigitte.

Brigitte moves from France to temporarily take care of Lucky until a "real" home can be found.

Living in three tiny connected trailers, existing in poverty in the hot, dry desert community of Hard Pan, California (total population of 43), Lucky, who does not perceive herself as such, fears that one day Brigitte will leave and return to a better show more life in France.

Shirking the responsibility of raising Lucky, her father periodically sends checks to Bridget that are never enough to cover bare necessities.

Strongly fearing it is only a matter of time until Brigitte moves back to France and thus tosses her aside, Lucky, ever aware of needing protection, carries a "rescue kit" with her at all times.

While sweeping and cleaning the Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visitor Center, Lucky quietly listens to the testimonials of the AAA meetings where she hears the stories of those saved by trusting the "higher power." Lucky knows that if only she can find her higher power, she will have a better life.

Lucky's friends consist of her lovable, loyal dog HMS Beagle, knot-tying obsessed Lincoln (named because his mother wants him to grow up to be the President of the US), and scrappy little five year old cookie mooching Miles, also a orphan-like waif, raised by his grandmother.

Wanting to be the one who leaves and abandons before this happens to her, Lucky runs away. Using the resources she stashed away in her rescue kit, she lives overnight in a cave.

When Brigitte and town members rescue Lucky, she learns that Brigit is in the process of adopting her and it was never was her plan to leave.

Lucky discovers that her "higher power" is indeed the fact that not only is she loved by Brigitte, but also by the 43 people of the town. show less