Lucky Breaks

Overview

"Eleven is much more intrepid than only ten."


On the eve of her eleventh birthday, Lucky wants to let loose and become intrepid; she's ready for life to change. But Hard Pan (population 43) drones on like it always has: Lincoln all tied up in knotty matters, Miles newly diagnosed as a genius but as needy as ever, Brigitte running her Caf� and trying to figure out what it means to be American.

Enter Paloma, tagging along on a visit to Hard Pan with a pack of hungry geologists. She's smart and pretty and fun -- definitely best-friend material. But will Lucky be able to cope with tomato worms, Short Sammy's mysterious box, the potential for disaster when Paloma's parents visit Hard Pan, and Lincoln's fame among knot tyers of the world?

Lucky's intrepidness is put to the test in this satisfying sequel to the Newbery Award-winning The Higher Power of Lucky.

Editorial Reviews

Riding the same wave of warmth and quirkiness that distinguished Patron's Newbery-winning The Higher Power of Lucky , this sequel continues the musings of Lucky Tipton as she looks for adventure and a best girl friend. Settled in a routine with her "adopted" French mother, Brigitte, almost-11-year-old Lucky has become bored with her tiny desert town of Hard Pan, Calif., but when a group of geologists which includes a girl Lucky's age visits Brigitte's caf�, things start to look up. Lucky instantly bonds with Paloma, her new "Pal," not worrying about the effects on her buddies: Lincoln, the knot-tying wiz, and Miles, the five-year-old genius. A mild drama involving an abandoned well plus a mysterious package delivered to the town hippie play a role in helping Lucky make room in her heart for all her true friends and begin to understand her absentee father. Lucky's occasional bratty behavior can be maddening, but her recognition of her mistakes and her efforts to rectify them are endearing. Although Patron breaks no new ground, she skillfully balances sentimentality and humor, allowing her characters to shine once more in their own idiosyncratic ways. B&w illus. not seen by PW . Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

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Author Information

Bio of Susan Patron

Susan Patron is the author of Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe (an ALA Notable Book, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and a New York Public Library Children's Book List selection) and four picture books. She has spent most of her life at the Los Angeles Public Library, both as a child and an adult. She is currently their Juvenile Materials Collection Development Manager. When not at work, Susan writes, reads, and makes f laming desserts. She lives with her husband, Rene, in Los Angeles and in a small cabin in the high desert of the Eastern Sierras.

Bio of Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan's black-and-white illustrations first appeared in The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney. His f irst picture book is The New Girl...and Me, written by Jacqui Robbins. Matt lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Additional Info

Imprint

Atheneum

Filesize

1.49 MB

Number of Pages

192

eBook ISBN

1439163766