From Newbery Award-winning author of The Higher Power of Lucky, comes another gorgeously-written literary middle-grade novel. Lucky makes a new friend, gets stuck in a well, meets up with a wild burro, discards something she didn’t know was precious, and discovers the secret of the universe in this charming and funny sequel to the Newbery Award-winning The Higher Power of Lucky. Praise for The Higher Power of Lucky: “This Newbery winner is filled with superb characterizations, and the talented Cassandra Campbell turns each into a splendid dramatic opportunity.”—AudioFile
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"I enjoyed this book so much. Lucky Breaks taught me of how easily a friendship can be broken. In Lucky's situation, she doesn't want to let go of her friend even though she doesn't notice that she keeps pushing her friend away by always getting irritated with him. Also, she finds a new friend, a girl, who she always enjoys laughing with but sometimes overdoes it. I learned that there's such a thing called too much and too little in a friendship. You need to find the right amount of everything."
— Angela (5 out of 5 stars)
" need to read higher power of lucky first "
— Kristy, 2/18/2014" I liked this one better than the first book, The Higher Power of Lucky. Lucky is in that hard place, where your old friends and your new friends, who you were and who you want to be, don't quite match up. A satisfying story about friendships, and how they change as we do. "
— Yapha, 2/16/2014" Lcuky Breaks is just fine- but not nearly as good as The Higher Power of Lucky. The strength of this book is the characters- they are likeable enough to read this sequel, even though it isn't about much of anything. (I was amused to see that Patron managed to get the word "scrotum" in there again. Was this a deliberate nose thumbing at her critics?) "
— Rachel, 1/29/2014" This book is mainly about Friendship and Luck.Theres some action, some mystery, and love. "
— Grace, 12/25/2013" I loved reuniting with the people of Hard Pan (population 43)!. I felt like I was meeting old friends in Lucky, Lincoln, and Miles (I would gladly adopt them all!). I have to say that I admire the fact that the controversy over the word "scrotum" in the Newbery Award winning Higher Power of Lucky didn't deter Patron from using it again (in its same context)in the least. In fact she used it twice! Not that I was counting! Yes, Susan Patron, you like Lucky are quite "intrepid"! You, go, girl! "
— Connie, 12/20/2013" This book is a continuation of Lucky's life and is set when she is about to turn 11. I enjoyed this about as much as I did The Higher Power of Lucky. "
— Dillon, 12/17/2013" In this thoroughly satisfying sequel to THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY, our heroine turns eleven, and begins to find her place in the universe along with Brigitte, her old friends Miles and Lincoln, and new friend Paloma. "
— Virginia, 11/11/2013" Almost like a Clementine for the next age level. Very well written, one scary part. Basically a friendship story in a unique setting. "
— Lauren, 10/21/2013" It is an "advance reader's copy." I read this book because the young people were really excited about this book. They commented that this author writes interesting stories. I found the story to be "everyday" regular. "
— Brenda, 10/12/2013" I love, love, love this reader! and love revisiting Hard Pan and all its quirky residents. Lucky struggles with some new issues and some old ones. I love how the author lets her be eleven with all its wonder and warts. Looking forward to the next one! "
— Karla, 9/18/2013" Patron has developed an enduring character in Lucky Trimble. I am looking forward to the third book in the Lucky/Hard Pan trilogy. "
— Patty, 9/11/2013" Another good young kids book; reading the third book to see what the ending will bring! "
— Cassandra, 8/31/2013" Fun sequel to "The Higher Power of Lucky." Lucky is still just as creative, engaging, and likeable as she was in the prior book. I enjoyed reading this one. "
— Julie, 6/18/2013" Continuation of the series, Lucky learns the meaning of friendship , turns 11 and is still trying to figure out her lack of relationship with her absent father. Very well written books with interesting real characters. "
— Carol, 3/15/2013" I liked it better than the first one. I thought the writing was better, less gimmicks, and suited the age of the child likely to read this book. But it didn't make me as happy as, say, A Crooked Kind of Perfect. But I give her credit for her references to the first book! "
— Charlou, 11/29/2012" While not the delight the first one is, Patron still manages to really see inside the heart and mind of an 11 year old girl. The way that small gestures and acts become epic feels just right, and all her characters are drawn expertly. "
— Mark, 7/4/2012" This was a really sweet story, and a fitting sequel to The Higher Power of Lucky. "
— Elaine, 2/22/2012" A heartwarming book, that I found out near the end is in the middle of a trilogy. I didn't really need to read the first book though, the author explained mostly everything. I love the setting of Hard Pan, and the best friend topic. A little bit of a "girly" book, but I liked it. "
— Katie, 2/7/2012" Equally fun to read as her first, The Higher Power of Lucky "
— Kathy, 2/3/2012" Not as good as the first Lucky book, but still worth a read. It gets better in the middle and end! "
— Ashley, 1/29/2012" Good, but not of the same caliber as the Higher Power of Lucky, in my opinion. "
— Danielle, 1/18/2012" I've been trying to read this book for months. I just can't get into it, it's boring. "
— Bethany, 11/23/2011" This follow up to "The Higher Power of Lucky" finds Lucky turning eleven, getting a new friend, adjusting her relationship with Lincoln, and learning more about life in Hard Pan. Good story. "
— Sue, 11/5/2011" I'm pretty sure I liked this one better than the first. (Though I can't say for sure!) I think what happens to Lucky in this one is very realistic and I connected with her this time around. Her thoughts were well done. I also forgot that there was a character named Lincoln!! :) "
— Carrie, 7/25/2011" A very good and fun book. Not quite as heart-softening as The Higher Power of Lucky, but this sequel is very good and definitely worth reading. I can't wait to read the third book in this series. "
— Thomas, 6/16/2011" Just as good as "Higher Power of Lucky." Worth reading. "
— Elizabeth, 5/4/2011" It was fun revisiting Hard Pan and all the colorful characters who live there. I didn't think this book was as good as the first one in the trilogy (The Higher Power of Lucky), but the last book in the series is coming out later this year and I'm looking forward to reading it too. "
— Jennifer, 2/24/2011" I love, love, love this reader! and love revisiting Hard Pan and all its quirky residents. Lucky struggles with some new issues and some old ones. I love how the author lets her be eleven with all its wonder and warts. Looking forward to the next one! "
— Karla, 1/10/2011" Better than the first one! "
— Michael, 1/2/2011" OK sequel, it's hard to break new ground when the first got the Newbery. "
— Michael, 12/22/2010" Not a great book to read out loud. Good ideas and characters, but many tedious tangents. "
— shannoncjeter, 12/7/2010" I did not like this second story of Lucky and the citizens of Hard Pan near as much as I did the first one. Lucky is not very likeable in this one. "
— Chris, 10/16/2010" Pretty good follow-up to the first book. However, I found Lucky incredibly awful and annoying in this one. But I loved all the other characters. "
— Sarah, 9/7/2010" While not the delight the first one is, Patron still manages to really see inside the heart and mind of an 11 year old girl. The way that small gestures and acts become epic feels just right, and all her characters are drawn expertly. "
— Mark, 8/2/2010" Just like the first book in this series, the pacing of this novel is really slow. The characters are interesting, but nothing much happens. "
— Jenn, 7/12/2010" Not as good as the first Lucky book, but still worth a read. It gets better in the middle and end! "
— Ashley, 6/18/2010" I loved the higher Power of Lucky but I liekd this one even more! Lucky is growing up. "
— Annamaria, 6/15/2010Susan Patron specialized in Children’s Services for 35 years at the Los Angeles Public Library before retiring in 2007, the same year her novel The Higher Power of Lucky was awarded the Newbery Medal. As the library’s Juvenile Materials Collection Development Manager, she trained and mentored children’s librarians in 72 branches. Patron has served on many book award committees, including the Caldecott and Laura Ingalls Wilder Committees of the American Library Association.
Cassandra Campbell has won multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and the prestigious Odyssey Award for narration. She was been named a “Best Voice” by AudioFile magazine and in 2018 was inducted in Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.