This book by Susan Patron won the 2007 Newbery Award. Ms. Patron is a longtime children’s librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library and the author of several books, both YA novels and picture books.

    Ten-year-old Lucky Trimble is the plucky* star of this bittersweet survival story.

    Lucky’s father was once married to a French lady named Brigitte and then divorced*. Later he was married to an American artist named Lucille and then divorced, but after Lucky was born. When Lucky was 8, her mother Lucille was accidentally electrocuted* following a desert rainstorm, and Lucky’s father in absentia* contacted ex-wife Brigitte in France to come to America and serve temporarily* as Lucky’s guardian.

    Two years later Brigitte is still watching over Lucky in Hard Pan, California. Now Lucky carries a survival kit daily and prepares herself to be abandoned once more, feeling certain that Brigitte will soon tire of caring for her and return to her beloved France.

    Listening to stories of alcoholics* who have found their Higher Power, lucky hopes to learn how to find her own Higher Power.

    What follows is the story of Lucky and her friends, 10-year-old Lincoln Clinton Carter Kennedy, presidential wannabe* and “knot tyer” extraordinaire*, and 5-year-old motherless Miles who lives with his grandmother. They share childhood adventures.

    Lucky decides to run away from home before Brigitte leaves her. Her plan goes wrong when Miles, too, runs away, ending up near the dugout* where she plans to hide.

    Brigitte will stay. Lucky is capable of taking care of both herself and Miles in the dust storm, and thankfully she can put away her survival backpack, for now. (SD-Agencies)