The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
Here is the winner of the 2007 Newbery Award. The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to a children’s book judged to be the best written of the year.
This book tells the story of Lucky Trimble and her guardian Brigette as they make a life together in Hard Pan, California among a cast of unusual characters. Lucky’s best friend likes to tie knots. Really elaborate knots, but all the same, what is the point of this? It doesn’t further my understanding of the character, it doesn’t even develop him in my mind. There is another adult character who has fashioned his house out of the abandoned water tower. Weird? Yes. It makes me wonder what is in the water out there in Hard Pan.
The ending of the story is very sweet. However, the rest of it is just okay. Good thing it was a brief book. I felt like it has been done before (it has). And better (it has). The book ends up reading like just another orphan story with weird characters and a weak plot.
I wish I was wrong. I would love for someone to come to me and point out something lovely and fresh about this book that I missed. Help me out here. Read it, and clue me in.
