The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

Author: Susan Patron

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2006)

ISBN: 1416901949

4 (out of 5) STARS

Summary: Ten year old Lucky Trimble is worried that her guardian is going to abandon her and return to France. Lucky decides to run away and hopes to find her higher power on her journey.

Review: Lucky Trimble lives in a tiny town with a population of 43 in the middle of the desert in California. Her job is to clean up the Hard Pan’s Found Object Wind Chime Museum after all the meetings that are held there. “All the anonymous people left lots of litter, and each group could not bear to see the butts or the cans or the candy wrappers of the group that met before it. The reason was that they were in recovery. The recovering alcoholics hated to see or smell beer cans left by the recovering smokers and gamblers; the recovering smokers could not stand cigarette butts left by the recovering drinkers, and the recovering overeaters hated to see candy wrappers left by the recovering drinkers, smokers, and gamblers” (pg. 6). This passage is an accurate portrayal of the writing style of the book.

Lucky’s mother is electrocuted, her father’s first wife comes from France to care for her. But Lucky feels her position is unstable and that Bridgette could leave at any time. Lucky knows Bridgette really misses France and her family there. Lucky wants to find her higher power that she hears all the adults talk about at their anonymous meetings. She also wants Bridgette to be happy and stay with her forever. I found this book to be very well-written and quite enjoyable to read.