I just finished reading the newly awarded Newberry Award winner for 2007, The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I was kind of surprised that this book won because I hadn't really noticed any buzz about it.It's about a girl whose mother has died. Electrocuted after a storm in the desert. Brigitte, Lucky's father's first wife, comes all the way to to California from France to take care of Lucky until she is assigned to foster care. All goes well until one day Lucky notices that Brigitte's suitcase is packed. Lucky is afraid Brigitte is going to move back to France and leave her at an orphanage in L.A. So Lucky decides to run away. She decides that the best, most perfect day to run away is the day there is a terrible windstorm in Hard Pan, California.
I'm not sure what to think of this book. I did enjoy it. It was beautifully written. The illustrations were wonderful. But was it Newberry Medal good? I don't know. What did you think?
If you would like to check it out at the SPL library click here.
1 comment:
I have to say, I just loved "...Lucky." I also hadn't heard about it until it won the Newbery Award. It was actually kind of nice to see a book on the lower end of the Newbery age range win the award. Was it really the best eligible book? I don't know, but it sure was a great one. I felt it addressed issues that any kid might face in a very authentic way. Lucky really felt like a kid to me. I would have loved to know more about the other characters, but maybe that would have ruined it. This way, we learn everything as Lucky does, and see events through her perceptions and understanding. On the whole, I found this book very satisfying, and I loved the resolution at the end!
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