Lucky is a ten year old girl living in Hard Pan, California (pop 43) in the California desert. Her mother was electrocuted to death and Lucky’s absentee father has sent for his previous wife Brigitte, all the way from France, to be guardian to Lucky until a foster family can be found, as he has no interest in being a parent to her. Brigitte misses France and Lucky is afraid she’ll soon return, leaving Lucky in an orphanage without her beloved dog, HMS Beagle, and far away from the town and people she loves.
Lucky is a complex and interesting character. She’s smart, determined, funny and caring. She’s got a lot to work through and she is determined to find a way, to find her higher power. She tries to get control of her life by putting together a survival backpack and through her scientific experiments. Lucky can be brave. She chases a snake out of the dryer that is scaring Brigitte, but at the same time she fears Brigitte will leave because of the snake.
Lucky also eavesdrops on various Anonymous meetings like Smokers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous in her quest to find her higher power, that elusive thing that will solve all her problems.
The Higher Power of Lucky is a fascinating glimpse of life in the small towns of the California desert. For me, whose father lived up in Lucerne Valley, another California small high desert town, the book really resonated. The local characters in Lucky’s Hard Pan were a lot like people my father knew and hung out with.
All in all, The Higher Power of Lucky is an amazing story. Matt Phelan’s line drawings are perfect with the story and give Lucky and her pals such a wonderful look.
Awards:
ALA Newbery Medal
ALA Notable Children's Books
Kirkus Editor's Choice
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