The Higher Power of Lucky Review

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky. New York: Random House, Listening Library 2006.


PLOT SUMMARY
The format for this audio version was an unabridged production on 3 compact discs. The reader is Cassandra Campbell, adult female voice-over artist.

This contemporary realistic fiction story offers an in-depth look at the life of Lucky, a ten-year-old girl protagonist, living in Hard Pan, California, on the edge of the Mojave desert. The episodic plot is presented in a seemingly disjointed fashion, much like the thought process of a child her age. The development of Lucky’s character is packed with vivid descriptions of her thoughts, feelings, surroundings and people in her life, including her dog, HMS Beagle. Her mother has passed away and her father is not a presence in her life while her guardian is a French woman that he has brought to take car of Lucky. Lucky’s interests mirror those of a preteen, wondering about the word scrotum, while at the same time not sure she wants to know and looking for higher powers, a term garnered from listening to 12-step programs while on-the-job at the Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visitor Center. The point of view is centered in what Lucky’s mind is thinking. Grappling with issues of abandonment, the plot climaxes with Lucky’s attempt to run away from Brigitte, her guardian.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Higher Power of Lucky reveals characters through the thoughts and interactions of Lucky. Although, her guardian, Brigitte, is one of the most important people in Lucky’s life, she is introduced to us after Short Sammy and HMS Beagle. The character introductions are subtle and matter-of-fact. For example, Brigitte, is the title of chapter 2 and we see her “Inside, Brigitte stood barefoot at the far end, feeding dirty towels into the washer and talking French on the phone.” (Patron, 9). Events in the story are well staged because much of the narration occurs in Lucky’s thoughts. Patron goes to great lengths to explain in much detail what the child is thinking, deciding, and feeling. Based on such detail, mental images of the characters are easily drawn.

The setting is in the desert and the description of the heat, the dust storm, and the poor socio-economic status of the community are not only plausible, but exceptionally believable. Universal implications present are the changing mind of a preteen, beginning to have feelings of “like” for Lincoln, the looming uncertainties of abandonment that the audience can recognize but Lucky may not understand at her young age.

The underlying theme of searching for the higher power to guide one’s life is a universally human trait. The more tangible theme involves Lucky trying to make Brigitte stay with her rather than going back to Paris is one that children can relate to and is more evident. The ending of the story is a great example of what happens when one forms an opinion with not all the facts. Lucky is convinced that Brigitte is returning to France after seeing the course for restaurant management, the passport and Brigitte’s loss of patience.
Another universal theme is extremely common with children. Lucky believes that the way to solve her dilemma is to run away. The detailed style of writing shows us that the character is very prepared yet still packs the toilet paper at the bottom of her survival backpack!
The balance of narration and dialogue seems acceptable, especially through the cd used for the audio listening version. The speaker does not perform obvious speech changes, but does changes the tone and cadence of her voice for the different characters.

I listened to these cd’s in my car with my 9-year-old daughter, who enjoyed the experience as much as I did! She is not a big talker in the car anyway, so this was a great conversation starter for us. The performer gave us a a steady calm voice, providing an even interest without many high or low moments.

REVIEWS
Kirkus starred (October 15, 2006)
The facts of Lucky's life in Hard Pan, Calif. (population 43), scarcely qualify her as "lucky." One parent is dead and the other disinterested. Her future with her unemployed French guardian Brigitte, who was tricked into caring for her, feels uncertain. When Lucky discovers that Brigitte is taking an online course in restaurant management from Paris, she anticipates being abandoned. To find her higher power and take control of her life, Lucky runs away in a dust storm, hoping to cause worry, sadness and a change of Brigitte's heart. Potential disaster leads to Lucky's discovery that Brigitte loves her, which helps her come to terms with her mother's death. The plot is not what elevates Lucky's memorable story. Hard Pan may be lightly populated, but every soul is uniquely unforgettable, from 5-year-old Miles, shameless cookie hustler, to Lincoln, serious knot-tying addict.

School Library Journal (December 1, 2006)
Gr 4-6-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.



CONNECTIONS
This story could be used with broken families, blended families or adopted children to help give a framework for discussing and sharing feelins associated with the changes which affect families during the types of trials.

The book could serve as a backdrop for the 12-Step Recovery Process since there is quite a bit of humor about the different types of anonymous groups that met at the Museum and Visitor Center.

My daughter and I enjoyed listening to this story on the cd’s in the car. It was easy to follow, even with numerous interruptions.