From: Christine McDonnell <christine.mcdonnell>
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 15:30:38 -0500

I enjoyed The Higher Power of Lucky and found the setting and characters fresh and vivid. However, I have a concern about the beginning of the book. I found Lucky's eavesdropping of the twelve step programs to be a gimmick, not central to the plot. Short Sammy's dog story is part of this eavesdropping. This chapter seemed forced and not as fluid or believable as the rest of the book. (Where are all these twelve steppers coming from? The town has a miniscule population.) What interest do kids have in these programs? Is it necessary or just a jazzy lead-in/hook? The higher power issue isn't well developed, nor does it appear often. I don't think it's the question that drives the story.

Chris McDonnell librarian Edward Devotion School Brookline, Mass.


On 2/6/07, bfahey at comcast.net <bfahey at comcast.net> wrote:
> I can get away with it in fifth grade without too much of a problem. If I
> take the giggling in stride it will be a funny moment for us all. It makes
> me wonder, though, why Patron chose to put that detail in there. What was
> the desired effect? Did she succeed? Obviously, she could have gone in a
> thousand different directions. If I had 7th or 8th graders, instead of 5th
> graders, it woul be a good topic for discussion.
>
> Brian Fahey
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Robin Smith" <smithr at ensworth.com>
> > Oh goodness! That was the part my husband read aloud to me and I think
> > it was the part that hooked him. So funny.
> >
> > I hear your concern and I think some teachers might not feel comfortable
> > with the word "scrotum." I personally start laughing when I hear that
> > particular word (much like my second graders cannot read the word
> > "underwear" without melting into giggles), but I think I could read it.
> > If I couldn't, I suppose I would read "private parts." Not so funny. Not
> > at all.
> >
> > And, I WILL be reading this aloud as soon as I get another copy.
> > Can't risk having my only copy disappear into a second grader's desk or
> > backpack...
> > Robin
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> > [mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Brown,
> > Susan Carr
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 10:31 AM
> > To: Megan Schliesman; ccbc-net, Subscribers of
> > Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Newbery Award
> >
> > I thought The Higher Power of Lucky was a gem; a perfect example of the
> > power of good writing.
> >
> > I am curious, however, what others think about the snake biting the dog
> > on the scrotum mentioned in the very beginning of the book. I liked how
> > she used this event in the beginning and in the end to kind of tie it
> > all together. But in today's sensitive world, does anyone think this
> > might hinder teachers from reading the book aloud to classrooms? I know
> > that many teachers use Newbery winners as classroom read alouds, and I
> > would hate to think that a discussion of the scrotum might prevent some
> > teachers from reading it out loud due to possible parental complaints.
> >
> > Susan
> >
> > Susan Carr Brown
> > Youth Collections Selector,
> > Collection Management Department
> > Minneapolis Public Library
> > sbrown at mplib.org
> > phone: 612-630-6282
> > fax: 612-630-6468
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> > [mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Megan
> > Schliesman
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 10:17 AM
> > To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of
> > Subject: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Newbery Award
> >
> > Today we begin our discussion of the 2007 Newbery Award winner and honor
> >
> > books:
> >
> > Winner:
> >
> > The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. A
> >
> > Richard Jackson Book / Atheneum, 2006
> >
> > Honor Books:
> >
> > Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. Delacorte Press, 2006
> >
> > Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm. Random House, 2006
> >
> > Rules by Cynthia Lord. Scholastic, 2006
> >
> >
> > When I read The Higher Power of Lucky, I was struck by many things,
> > including the distinctive and well-drawn characters and setting. It's a
> >
> > book that was quiet on the surface but explosive underneath. The climax
> >
> > in the midst of the raging dust storm was a perfect physical metaphor
> > for the power of Lucky's feelings.
> >
> > We hope that many of you have had a chance to read The Higher Power of
> > Lucky and the Newbery honor books, we we invite you to share your
> > responses to them.
> >
> > Megan
> >
> > --
> > Megan Schliesman, Librarian
> > Cooperative Children's Book Center
> > School of Education, UW-Madison
> > 600 N. Park St., Room 4290
> > Madison, WI 53706
> >
> > ph: 608-262-9503
> > fax: 608-262-4933
> > schliesman at education.wisc.edu
> >
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Received on Tue 06 Feb 2007 02:30:38 PM CST