The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

By Susan Patron

Newbery Medal 2007

Simon and Schuster, 2006 

The Higher Power of Lucky tells the story of a young girl from Hard Pan, California. She lives with her guardian and father’s first wife, Brigitte, because her mother passed away and her father never wanted children.  Lucky thinks that Brigitte wants to move back to France, so she decides to run away. Throughout the story Lucky wonders what her Higher Power is, until she realizes at the end that it was right there all along.

I really enjoyed this story because it had a lot of complex ideas going on. For me they may have been easier to pick up on than a student, but that allows so much room to guide and teach multiple things within a novel. Lucky had many complex thoughts and overheard a lot of very difficult stories, as she often listening in on AA and other “anonymous” meetings. Having conversations like these in a classroom always makes for a difficult topic, but also can be very real. A book like this allows students to really think deeply if they dive right in. Lucky is 10 years old and students may relate to her on different levels.  I think the best use for this book in a class would be to read it as a small group or assign it as an independent reading, for students who are mature and capable of reading and discussing some of the difficult topics.