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eBook editions

The Higher Power of Lucky

by Susan Patron and Matt Phelan

The Higher Power of Lucky Cover

ISBN13: 9781416901945
ISBN10: 1416901949
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

Only 1 left in stock at $9.50!

 

Awards

Winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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.

Review:

"Patron's poignant Newbery-winning story about a girl who fears being abandoned by her legal guardian — and her only semblance of a family —sails along with believable childlike rhythms and kid's-eye-view observations. 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—populated by eccentric friends, the quirky townspeople of tiny, struggling Hard Pan, Calif. — and Brigitte, the guardian she desperately wants to keep, maybe with some help from a Higher Power. Campbell appropriately gives recent Parisian transplant Brigitte a French accent, though it's thankfully never overplayed. By program's end, listeners will be rooting for Lucky and Brigitte to remain together forever. Contains an interview with the author, in which Patron says she is working on a companion novel. Ages 9-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Lucky's mix of meanness and big-heartedness makes her a multi-dimensional character whose predicament is compelling." Children's Literature

Review:

"Fans of novels by Deborah Wiles and Katherine Hannigan will be happy to meet Lucky." School Library Journal

Review:

"Readers will gladly give themselves over to Patron, a master of light but sure characterization and closely observed detail. A small gem." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Patron's plotting is as tight as her characters are endearing. 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." Booklist

Synopsis:

Lucky, age ten, doesn't expect running away to be so complicated. A large cast of magnanimous surprises awaits her when she plans to hide from her guardian in the Mojave Desert. Illustrations.

Video

About the Author

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 John 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. She is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Patron's previous books for children include the Billy Que trilogy of picture books; Dark Cloud Strong Breeze; and a chapter book, Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe. All earned starred reviews, and the latter was named an ALA Notable book. The Higher Power of Luck will be translated into twelve foreign languages and has been optioned for a motion picture. Married to a rare book restorer from the Champagne region of France, Susan is working on the final book in the "Lucky" trilogy. Matt Phelan's black-and-white illustrations first appeared in The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney. His picture books include The New Girl...and Me and Two of a Kind, both written by Jacqui Robbins. Matt lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 6 comments:

mimicoll, October 22, 2008 (view all comments by mimicoll)
this site helps your if you need help on your book
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(11 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)
meghanjanssen, January 31, 2008 (view all comments by meghanjanssen)
Of course, being employed in the children's literature industry, I felt obligated to read "that scrotum book" that just won the Newbery Medal, but I ended up being sweetly charmed by Patron's innocent protagonist. Lucky is an effectively enthralling and multi-dimensional female character with universal appeal in her desire for a sense of belonging and acceptance. I certainly recommend it as a quick read or a great read-aloud if you have kids.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(11 of 18 readers found this comment helpful)
Pam in Kennewick, May 7, 2007 (view all comments by Pam in Kennewick)
We finished reading this book aloud last night. It is a terrific book - sweet and lovely without a smidgen of saccharine. As for the famous "naughty" word, well, it isn't a book about sex, or with anything inappropriate for someone over, say, 7 years old. However, I realized last night that the word (scrotum) is necessary, not for the plot, but for the artistic structure of the book. Read it and see if you agree with me!
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(15 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
View all 6 comments

Product Details

ISBN:
9781416901945
Author:
Susan Patron and Matt Phelan
Publisher:
Atheneum Books
Illustrator:
Phelan, Matt
Author:
Patron, Susan
Author:
Phelan, Matt
Subject:
Interpersonal Relations
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General
Subject:
Family - Orphans & Foster Homes
Subject:
Runaways
Subject:
Situations / Friendship
Subject:
Social Issues - Friendship
Subject:
Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse
Subject:
Missing children
Subject:
Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction-Friendship
Subject:
Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction
Copyright:
Publication Date:
November 2006
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Grade Level:
Children/juvenile
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
144
Dimensions:
8.75 x 6.12 in 11.585 oz
Age Level:
09-11

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Related Aisles

The Higher Power of Lucky Used Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$9.50 In Stock
Product details 144 pages Atheneum Books - English 9781416901945 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Patron's poignant Newbery-winning story about a girl who fears being abandoned by her legal guardian — and her only semblance of a family —sails along with believable childlike rhythms and kid's-eye-view observations. 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—populated by eccentric friends, the quirky townspeople of tiny, struggling Hard Pan, Calif. — and Brigitte, the guardian she desperately wants to keep, maybe with some help from a Higher Power. Campbell appropriately gives recent Parisian transplant Brigitte a French accent, though it's thankfully never overplayed. By program's end, listeners will be rooting for Lucky and Brigitte to remain together forever. Contains an interview with the author, in which Patron says she is working on a companion novel. Ages 9-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "Lucky's mix of meanness and big-heartedness makes her a multi-dimensional character whose predicament is compelling."
"Review" by , "Fans of novels by Deborah Wiles and Katherine Hannigan will be happy to meet Lucky."
"Review" by , "Readers will gladly give themselves over to Patron, a master of light but sure characterization and closely observed detail. A small gem."
"Review" by , "Patron's plotting is as tight as her characters are endearing. 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."
"Synopsis" by , Lucky, age ten, doesn't expect running away to be so complicated. A large cast of magnanimous surprises awaits her when she plans to hide from her guardian in the Mojave Desert. Illustrations.
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