The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

Infobox Book
name = The Higher Power of Lucky
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Susan Patron
illustrator = Matt Phelan
cover_artist = Matt Phelan
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Children's novel
publisher = Simon & Schuster
release_date = 7 November, 2006
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 144 pp
isbn = ISBN 1416901949

"The Higher Power of Lucky" is a children's novel written by Susan Patron and illustrated by Matt Phelan. Released in 2006 by Simon & Schuster, it was awarded the 2007 Newbery Medal. [cite news|url=http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=146679|title=American Library Association announces literary award winners|accessdate=2007-03-24]

Plot summary

The novel features Lucky, a 10-year-old girl who lives in a small town named Hard Pan (population 43) with her two friends Lincoln and Miles in the California desert. After her mother died two years ago from being electrocuted, her father called upon his ex-wife, Brigitte, to come to the United States from France to take care of Lucky. Lucky fears that Brigitte is tired of being her guardian and of their life in Hard Pan. Her experiences led her to believe that Brigitte will abandon her and return to France. This anxiety prompts Lucky to seek help from her "Higher Power", a notion she gets from eavesdropping at her town's 12-step meetings. She runs away with her dog, HMS Beagle but realizes she needs to come back home. Before she leaves the dugouts, she casts her mother's ashes out in the wind. Brigitte takes Lucky home and explains the papers Lucky had found in Brigitte's suitcase were actually to legally adopt Lucky.

Controversy

Controversy has arisen over the book due to the use of the word "scrotum" on its first page. A number of school libraries have decided to ban or otherwise censor the book according to a New York Times article. [cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18newb.html?ex=1329454800&en=0abee84c6d8ad9f4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|title=Bosman, Julie. "With One Word, Children's Book Sets Off Uproar." New York Times. Published Feb. 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-03-24] While some accuse the author of attempting "Howard Stern-type shock treatment", author Susan Patron described the passage in question as being based on her personal knowledge of a rattlesnake biting a dog's scrotum, as well as an explanation of anatomy for readers 9 to 12 years old. She appeared on NPR's Talk of the Nation to defend her choice of words. [cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7644587&ft=1&f=5&sc=emaf&sc=emaf&sc=emaf|title=Are some words off-limits in children's books?|accessdate=2007-03-24]

The American Library Association responded to the NYT article with a statement regarding the value of the book. [cite news|url=http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/february2007/hpls07.htm|title=ALA statement|accessdate=2007-03-24] The authors of the three Newbery Honor books, Cynthia Lord, Jennifer Holm, and Kirby Larson also supported the "scrotum" usage. [cite news|url=http://www.jenniferholm.com/01_aboutme/02_news.html|title=jenniferholm.com|accessdate=2007-03-24] The story gained further exposure when the blogosphere chimed in. [cite news|url=http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/02/absence-of-scrota-your-guide-to-quality.html|title=Neil Gaiman's Journal|accessdate=2007-03-24] [cite news|url=http://susiebright.blogs.com/susie_brights_journal_/2007/02/you_say_scrotum.html|title=You say scrotum, I say Hoo-Haa|accessdate=2007-03-24] Kristen McLean, executive director of the Association of Booksellers for Children, provided the industry's response. [cite news|url=http://pixiestixkidspix.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/thoughts-on-the-great-scrotum-kerfuffle-of-2007/|title=Thoughts on the Great Scrotum Kerfuffle of 2007
accessdate=2007-03-24]

Simon & Schuster have posted a video on their website where Patron discusses the book and her influences in an interview by fellow Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata. In this video Rick Richter, President and Publisher of the Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, states "Simon & Schuster ultimately hopes that readers will recognize this wonderful book as a whole, and the charm and innocence of its main character Lucky, and will see beyond one word and the controversy surrounding the book. Susan Patron has written a masterful novel celebrating small town values and we can only hope that her deserved Newbery winner is recognized for the treasure that it truly is." [cite news|url=http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=4&pid=522283|title=The Higher Power of Lucky (Hardcover)|accessdate=2007-03-24]

Footnotes


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