THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Patron, Susan. 2006. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 97814169091945

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
Lucky Trimble is a ten year old girl who has lost her mother and lives with her guardian. She holds several jobs in her small desert town and is searching for her Higher Power. Lucky frequently overhears the twelve-steppers in the town talking about how they found their Higher Power, and Lucky is certain that she will gain all the wisdom and courage in the world if she finds hers. Lucky is concerned that Brigitte wants to return to France and she will have to go to an orphanage and become a ward of the state. Lucky’s concern leads her to run away hoping to cause worry, sadness, and a change in Brigitte’s heart (“Lucky liked the idea that by running away she could make people do things they wouldn’t do otherwise.”). She runs away during a desert dust storm and when the air finally clears, so does the haze of Lucky’s uncertainty.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Patron uses interesting language to describe Lucky’s feelings, such as the folds in her brain and the mean valve in her heart. These unique and somewhat profound ways of describing how one feels are relatable to the age group. The setting of the story in fictional Hard Pan, California tends to give the reader a confusing idea of the time period. One might think at the beginning that the story takes place in the mid-20th century, or even perhaps further back. However, Patron slowly mentions the most modern technology such as a Jeep and a laptop. This affirms to the reader that Lucky lives in contemporary rural America, which is much the same as our reality, just on a smaller scale and dustier. Many readers will identify with her feeling that some times she “wanted to change everything, all the bad things that had happened, and some times she wanted everything to stay the same forever.” The plot is revealed as Lucky goes through a typical day in her small town. Details of the past are provided in Lucky’s thoughts and memories. Patron’s style of revealing the story in parts maintains the interest of the reader. The small, subtle illustrations compliment the plot well. Students will enjoy reading this great book!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6–When Lucky's mother is electrocuted and dies after a storm, Lucky's absentee father calls his ex-wife, Brigitte, to fly over from France to take care of the child. Two years later, the 10-year-old worries that Brigitte is tired of being her guardian and of their life in Hard Pan (pop. 42) in the middle of the California desert. While Lucky's best friend ties intricate knots and the little boy down the road cries for attention, she tries to get some control over her life by restocking her survival kit backpack and searching for her Higher Power. This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating. Lucky's tendency to jump to conclusions is frustrating, but her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death and with her new life ring true. Phelan's cover and line drawings are simple and evocative, a perfect complement to the text. Fans of novels by Deborah Wiles and Katherine Hannigan will be happy to meet Lucky.–Adrienne Furness, Webster Public Library, NY
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*Starred review in Kirkus
“Readers will gladly give themselves over to Patron, a master of light but sure characterization and closely observed detail. A small gem.”
*Review in Booklist
“Lucky is a true heroine, especially because she’s not perfect: she does some cowardly things, but she takes pains to put them to rights.”
*Review in Horn Book
“Patron’s episodic tale of a grieving insecure little girl is never heavy-handed or maudlin, due in part to quiet bursts of humor.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Students to discuss what things would they include in their survival-kit backpacks and why.
*Students to write a response to the story.
*Other titles by Susan Patron:
Five Bad Boys, Billy Que, and the Dustdobbin. ISBN 9780531059890
Bobbin Dustbobbin. ISBN 9780531054680
Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe. ISBN 9780531054826
Burgoo Stew. ISBN 9780531059166