A hilarious Southern debut with the kind of characters you meet once in a lifetime. Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, where everyone’s business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane 11 years ago, and she’s been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her “upstream mother,” she’s found a home with the Colonel—a café owner with a forgotten past of his own—and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when the lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known. Full of wisdom, humor, and grit, this timeless yarn will melt the heart of even the sternest Yankee.
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"Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage was a wonderful surprise. Mo (Moses) LoBeau is a strong female lead character. She has a sense of humor and strength of character I have not read much in middle grade literature. I can see why this novel has some buzz regarding the Newbery award. I almost hate to say this but, I could see Mo in a series of books. While I would love to read more about Mo, her adventures and the search for her mom. I am a bit wary of another series. But, that is a topic for another day." — Jane (5 out of 5 stars)
"Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage was a wonderful surprise. Mo (Moses) LoBeau is a strong female lead character. She has a sense of humor and strength of character I have not read much in middle grade literature. I can see why this novel has some buzz regarding the Newbery award. I almost hate to say this but, I could see Mo in a series of books. While I would love to read more about Mo, her adventures and the search for her mom. I am a bit wary of another series. But, that is a topic for another day."
“Turnage achieves a wickedly awesome tale of an 11-year-old girl with more spirit and gumption than folks twice her age. Mo LoBeau is destined to become a standout character in children's fiction.”
“Here is a writer who has never met a metaphor or simile she couldn’t put to good use…But it’s Mo’s wry humor that makes this first novel completely memorable.”
“Turnage’s lively novel features a distinctive voice and a community of idiosyncratic characters.”
“Quick-thinking and precocious Mo LoBeau is hilarious in this modern-day mystery…This book will leave readers hoping for more books about Mo and her gang.”
“A dandy mystery…Humor sweetens the mix, making Tupelo Landing a pleasant place to stay for a spell.”
" Of all the Newbery books for 2012 - this would have been my choice to win it. I loved it. After all, with a sentence like, "My hair turned feral in the heat" how could you not love it? We listened to it - the person who read it did an AWESOME job. It's a great YA book. It got a little cliche (I say this because I compare everything to Okay For Now) but I really enjoyed it. "
" Wonderful! A must read! The main character is smart and adorable. All of the characters are well formed and quirky in what I'm starting to think of as a "southern novel" way. "
" I'm still thinking this one over. I really liked Mo as a narrator and some of the quirky characters in her little community (That she nicknamed someone Atilla says a lot about her). I'm a bit more conflicted over her friend Dale and some pieces of the ending. "
" A mystery with all the trimmings including a dead body, a kidnapping or two, missing money, and a man with amnesia. Mo and her best friend Dale become the Desperado Detectives and set out to solve it all. Reviewer 1 "
" Great book with likable characters "
" It's got drinking and cussing and bad parenting and neglect and murder and child labor. It's also perfect. Every word counts. We need more books like this. "
" the middle grade reader with the wiser than average protag and a kind of folksy charm clearly does not work for me. "
" This was an awesome story with a very plucky heroine! A cozy southern mystery for kids. "
" I love the voice and the humor of this North Carolina tale. On the one hand it's a southern tale that falls into the "would make a great Hallmark Hall of Fame movie" category, but on the other it's a great whodunit, something which makes it rise above most of the tales in this genre. "
" If I could I would give it more than five stars!! This book was just amazing and I couldn't stop reading it!! "
" Good clean young adult book. Full of mystery and suspense. "
" Badass girl protagonist. Delightfully southern. "
" three times delightful. "
" I loved, loved, LOVED this book. It's a sensational, highly memorable debut novel -- one I enjoyed so much that I didn't want the book to end! I can't WAIT to see what Sheila Turnage writes next. "
" Fantastic. Not sure how much elementary kids will go for it, a little more middle school. Descriptions, language, voice all so very well done. "
" Great story. Great characters. A fun mystery! "
" I wanted to love this one, but the dialogue was a little too cute, the characters a little too eccentric, and the tying up of loose ends a little too convenient. "
" This is a great mystery full of humor and colorful characters. For those who loved Because of Winn-Dixie, Ida B., or Each Little Bird that Sings, this book is one to recommend. "
" A delicious combination of mystery, humor, and coming of age. Interesting characters, well written, and unexpected. "
" ALA ALSC Notable 2013 "
" Great book~ Funny and beautiful without being overly sentimental. Witty, with unexpected plot turns. A book about home and family, belonging and loving. Also a great mystery with a surprise ending. Newbery honor book. "
" I really liked this book snd these kids, it had everything including drama and humor and heart. It would make a great movie. We need more movies I can see with my children. You are missing out if you do not read this book. "
Sheila Turnage lives on a farm in North Carolina with her husband, a blind dog, and an ill-tempered cat. A native North Carolinian, she’s spent most of her life surrounded by the poetry and humor of rural Carolina. She writes books, articles, and poems and enjoys writing about the South in general. Her books include Compass American Guides: North Carolina and Haunted Inns of the Southeast.
Michal Friedman (1967–2011) was a singer and voice actress. She was the voice of Annalise in Speed Racer, Tildie Soames in Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, and Tune in Winx Club, among others.
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