VVMBookBlog

Lucky is a girl, 10 years old, whose life doesn’t seem to live up to her name–Lucky.  Her mother was killed in a storm when she accidentally touched some power lines that blew down.  Her very absent father then arranged to have his FIRST wife, Brigitte from France, come to the little nowhere town in the deserts of California to be Lucky’s guardian.

But it was Lucky’s part-time job cleaning up garbage outside the location of the local 12-step anonymous self-help groups–alcoholics, smokers, gamblers, etc. that adds to the story.  A hole in the wall allowed her eavesdrop on the many secrets told in the group sessions, and things she heard caused her to look for her own meaning in life and her “Higher Power.”  Her fear was that Brigitte would get too homesick for France and Lucky would have to go to the orphanage.  What can she do to cause Brigitte to realize she needs to stay here with Lucky? Or should she go by the prayer she hears people at the 12-step meetings reciting–the one about accepting what we can’t change but finding the courage or wisdom to know what we SHOULD do?

This book was the Newbery Award winner for this year, and I think it was a big surprise to most people.  We always try to predict what the Newbery winner will be based on all of the “best book” lists we’ve seen recently, but this book really came out of nowhere.  I’ve heard it compared to Because of Winn-Dixie because the main character is younger and has issues with family members.  All of the references to 12-step meetings–the slogans, prayers and traditions–aren’t a part of the experience of most younger readers, so I don’t know if that part will be appreciated.  So honestly, I don’t know what kind of an opinion to give about this book.  I’m glad I read it, I’ll buy a copy or two for our media center because it’s a Newbery, but that might be it!