The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky
by Susan Patron

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006








Genre:  Realistic fiction

Honors:  Newbery Medal Award, ALA Notable Book, Junior Library Guild Selection, FOCAL Award Winner

Review:  Lucky is an orphan who has a kind French woman as her guardian, and together they live in a tiny California town of 43 people. The local museum hosts addiction meetings which Lucky eavesdrops on through a hole in the surrounding fence, and discovers that the addicts are on their path of recovery because they have found their 'higher power'. Lucky hopes that she can find her 'higher power' which will convince her guardian to stay in America and be her mother.

Opinion:  I found this book to be a sweet coming of age type of book, scattered with sophistication and deep concepts. This combination made the story somewhat lighthearted but with emotionally charged overtones, which was delightful.

Ideas:  This book won the FOCAL Award, which recognizes books that enrich a child's understanding or appreciation of California. Therefore, I would use this book in a display of books related to understanding California, or perhaps as a suggestion to a child looking for a book about small town California life.