BONUS FEATURE: Exclusive Author Interview Lucky, age ten, can’t wait another day. The meanness gland in her heart and the crevices full of questions in her brain make running away from Hard Pan, California (population 43), the rock-bottom only choice she has. It’s all Brigitte’s fault–for wanting to go back to France. Guardians are supposed to stay put and look after girls in their care! Instead Lucky is sure that she’ll be abandoned to some orphanage in Los Angeles where her beloved dog, HMS Beagle, won’t be allowed. She’ll have to lose her friends Miles, who lives on cookies, and Lincoln, future U.S. president (maybe) and member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. Just as bad, she’ll have to give up eavesdropping on twelve-step anonymous programs where the interesting talk is all about Higher Powers. Lucky needs her own–and quick. But she hadn’t planned on a dust storm. Or needing to lug the world’s heaviest survival-kit backpack into the desert.
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"In case you don't know, this is the book that won the Newbery medal and caused all the fuss over the word scrotum. Scrota (I had to look up the right plural) aside, it's a neat little book about a young girl looking for answers to life's tough questions, which is all the more interesting in her case because she has a nontraditional family and an obsession with 12 Step groups. (And Lucky is a really cute name for a kid, though it's kind of always been a dog's name in my book.)" — Destinee (4 out of 5 stars)
"In case you don't know, this is the book that won the Newbery medal and caused all the fuss over the word scrotum. Scrota (I had to look up the right plural) aside, it's a neat little book about a young girl looking for answers to life's tough questions, which is all the more interesting in her case because she has a nontraditional family and an obsession with 12 Step groups. (And Lucky is a really cute name for a kid, though it's kind of always been a dog's name in my book.)"
“Patron [is] a master of light but sure characterization and closely observed detail. A small gem.”
“Listeners will especially appreciate Campbell's subtlety and smooth, comforting delivery in a heartbreaking scene in which 10-year-old Lucky recalls, with gentle support from her best friend, her deceased mother's memorial service. On the remainder of the recording, Campbell remains a welcoming guide to Lucky’s world.”
" Cute but predictable. Not sure why it's a Newbury Award winner, though. I did get a little choked up at the end, but that's just me. "
" it was a beautiful, uncomplicated story, packed with truths about what it means to be human. "
" Lucky Trimble is ten years old and lives with her guardian in Hard Pan, California. Lucky wants to discover her "higher power" so that she can escape her life. When she discovers that her guardian is going to leave her, she decides to run away. That is when she realizes the true value of her life and friends. "
" I liked this spunky little character of Lucky, I just wish there wasn't some incredibly specific male anatomy right on the first page. For an elementary librarian, I'm hesitant to put this in the library even though it's such a great story. The reference to this anatomy is appropriate to the story, but it's not really a conversation I want to have with my fourth graders. "
" Sometimes I like books a lot better because of their illustrations. I wonder if this book is one of them. This is one of those quiet, quirky books that doesn't surprise anybody by winning the Newbery. "
" Quirky, slow-paced, and not completely satisfying. It could have used a little more character development. I don't regret reading it, but I didn't feel compelled to have my children read it. "
" Found this dull until about the last 20 pages, when it became more active and mildly engaging. Family scenario and town setting were far-fetched. Hard to understand how this won the Newberry. "
" I don't know why this book won the Newbery. I just didn't think there was anything amazing about it. "
" This is a great book about the girls. "
" I enjoyed the book as an interesting commentary on children, forgotten but not forgotten. One of the more controversial Newberry award winners since it begins and ends talking about the word scrotum... "
" Read it along with my son and loved it. Lots of interest for adults too. "
" It made me cry. This is a must read. One of the best books I ever read!!!! "
" This might qualify as Literature since it was clearly going for themes and symbols, but it was still a good read. Great characters, great setting. "
" It was great book with lots of problems. Lucky is girl who just wants some love and loves an adventure. This book is about Lucky finding her higher power and how to get a guardian to stay. All in all I thought this was great book that has emotion and excitement. "
" Wanted to like it more than I did. I can see the stark beauty of the desert, but the "my-guardian-wants-to-give-me-back-to-foster-care" emotions just didn't flesh out for me. Nice windstorm, though. I always love a good weather pattern in a book! "
" While the end was cute, I just couldn't buy into the premise. "
" A sweet and beautiful story! "
" Sweet story about a young girl and hope. "
" It's a slim little volume, with a story that gently expands. I read it to myself, then aloud to my 11 yr old. I could read it again, and the magic would grow again. I pause throughout, stop at one phrase, then another--rich. "
" Ugh I did not like this book (although I did read it like five years ago) I think you would like it Keagie :) its something you might get interested in (but it's really short) "
" blech. why did THIS win the most prestigious award in children's fiction? it doesn't do anything new, nothing very well, and is one of those books OBVIOUSLY written by a children's librarian. and AS a children's librarian, i make that statement with plenty of self-awareness. "
" pretty good, has a foster care/adoption plot "
" Twelve-step groupies will chuckle! Another book with an abandoned child as the main character. "
" A bit slow at first if you're not into desert biomes. The controversial passage wasn't a big deal. I just might not read it to my 7-year-old. I liked the interesting and well-developed characters most. "
" I'm really surprised this won a Newberry Medal. The characters weren't rememberable or remarkable in any way. "
" There was something about the precociousness of this book that I found annoying. "
" Newberry Medal 2007 - A sweet, quick read about a girl looking for more in her life and is surprised to find out how many people love and depend on her. "
" Lucky's fear of losing Bridget, the only adult in her life, causes her to seek her mysterious "Higher Power". Lucky's adventures in Hard Pan highlight the insecurities of a young girl and show that we all have weaknesses to overcome. "
" Cute book. I liked the themes that were in this book of love, belonging, family. The ending was great. "
" This was an okay book. It was definitely an easy read, but not a favorite that I would re-read. "
" Amazing book that was quite cute and humorous. "
Susan 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.
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