The Higher Power of Lucky

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Patron, Susan. 2006. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. illus. by Matt Phelon. New York, NY: A Richard Jackson Book, Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416901945.

PLOT SUMMARY
Ten year old Lucky Trimble lives in a trailer park in Hard Rock Pan, California (population 43). She lives with a guardian and longs to belong to someone. With the electrocution death of her mother two years earlier and a father who isn't around to care, Lucky is living with a French ex-wife of her father. Lucky listens to several dependence groups (Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and Smokers Anonymous) talk about the Higher Power while completing her job of cleaning up trash after their meetings. She tries to to find a way to learn about her higher power and find a place to permanently belong.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The setting of the book is one probably unfamiliar to many readers - a trailer park. The part that Lucky lives in is welded to another trailer to make it longer. As the story begins, we learn that Lucky's mother was electrocuted by stepping on a live wire after a storm. With no father figure, a guardian had to be found as Lucky was only eight at the time. Enter Brigette, a French ex-wife of Lucky's absentee father who is not married, has no children and has never met Lucky before. Both are coping with each other but Lucky constantly worries that Brigette will go back to France and leave her without a guardian. Author Patron addresses this issue adequately. Children often have fears and don't voice them. Many times parents don't discuss issues with their children as they think they can't handle it. The fact that Brigette talks to her mother every day in France and is homesick worries Lucky. She worries about not being perfect enough for Brigette to stay. Lucky carries around a survival backpack. I think subconsciously she wanted to be ready if she lost her guardian and went to a foster family.

Lucky is somewhat quirky. Her dog is named HMS Beagle and isn't a beagle. Her friend Lincoln spends his time tying intricate knots. She cleans up trash at the Found Object and Wind Chime Museum, where the dependency meetings are held (and she eavesdrops). The illustrations by Phelan scattered throughout the book give insight to what the characters and setting look like.

Patron introduces situations that readers may not be aware of - Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and Smokers Anonymous (is there such an organization?!) Many times people who live in trailer parks don't have as stable a home life as those who live in permanent houses. These organizations, while in every city of the United States, could definitely exist in a trailer park. With a population of 43, some of the members would have to overlap groups! Lucky decides that one way to find your Higher Power was to hit rock bottom. When that day arrives for Lucky, she decides to run away to a better place. This is the only part of the book where the story was somewhat predictable. As Lucky leaves, she learns of a local preschool boy who is missing. There is a terrible dust storm and Lucky ends up finding Miles, the missing boy. She stays with him and learns that she has misunderstood Brigette's intentions. The ending gives a sense of closure for other ten year olds reading the book. They learn from Lucky that everyone has fears they keep inside and that things can turn out for the best.

I was aware of the controversial mention of the word "scrotum" in this book before I began reading. While I think Patron could have told a complete story without this reference, she does explain what it means for those who might not be familiar with the word.

PERSONAL OPINION
I was not a fan of this book. As a parent, it had more information than I would want my ten year old to know (Alcoholics Anonymous and the other dependency groups, a father who didn't care, the mention and further explanation of scrotum). There were many redeeming qualities about Lucky but I just didn't like it. The ending was too predictable.

AWARDS
Newbery Award 2007
ALA Notable Children's Books
Cooperative Children's Book Council Choice
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List (Vermont)
Focal Award
Kirkus Editor's Choice

REVIEW EXCERPTS
From School Library Journal
"When Lucky's mother is electrocuted and dies after a storm, Lucky's absentee father calls his ex-wife, Brigitte, to fly over from France to take care of the child. Two years later, the 10-year-old worries that Brigitte is tired of being her guardian and of their life in Hard Pan (pop. 42) in the middle of the California desert. While Lucky's best friend ties intricate knots and the little boy down the road cries for attention, she tries to get some control over her life by restocking her survival kit backpack and searching for her Higher Power. This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating. Lucky's tendency to jump to conclusions is frustrating, but her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death and with her new life ring true."

From Booklist
"Lucky, age 10, lives in tiny Hard Pan, California (population 43), with her dog and the young French woman who is her guardian. With a personality that may remind some readers of Ramona Quimby, Lucky, who is totally contemporary, teeters between bravado--gathering insect specimens, scaring away snakes from the laundry--and fear that her guardian will leave her to return to France. Looking for solace, Lucky eavesdrops on the various 12-step meetings held in Hard Pan (of which there are plenty), hoping to suss out a "higher power" that will see her through her difficulties. Her best friend, Lincoln, is a taciturn boy with a fixation for tying knots; another acquaintance, Miles, seems a tiresome pest until Lucky discovers a secret about his mother. 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."

CONNECTIONS
Amazon.com has a video of the author. Students might enjoy watching that so there is a connection of what they author looks and sound like plus what she says about writing the book.

As a writing exercise, students could be asked to change the ending. What if she didn't find Miles in the dust storm and decide to stay? What might have happened if she left for good?

Look at a map of California and locate desert areas. Where do you think Hard Rock Pan might be located?

Students who liked this book might enjoy:

Larson, Kirby. HATTIE BIG SKY. ISBN 9780440239413

Lord, Cynthia. RULES. ISBN 9780439443821

Perkins, Lynne Rae. CRISS CROSS. ISBN 9780060092740