The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

Susan Patron

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006

Awards: 2007 Newbery Award winner

Suggested Delivery: Small Group

Reading Level:

·      Grade Level: 5

·      Fountas and Pinnell: V

·      Lexile Measure: 1010L

Key Words:

1.     Family

2.     Faith

3. Friendship

4. Values

5.  Running Away

Vocabulary: anonymous (1), ward (16), impression (21), contribute (21), burro (33), commodities (35), elegance (74), discouraged (107), cholla (112)

Summary: Meet Lucky, a ten year old girl, living in Hard Pan, California (pop: 43). After finding her guardian’s passport, Lucky is convinced she is doomed to be sent to an orphanage without her dog HMS Beagle. Having heard about “higher powers” from eavesdropping on the local AA meeting, Lucky needs to find her own in order to solve all of her problems…and fast!

Before: Students will review the concept of symbolism.

·          In literature, symbolism is the use of objects or symbols to represent ideas and thoughts.

•     What are some symbols we’ve seen in other books we’ve read this year?

Additionally, we will briefly discuss the question of, “What is a “higher power”?

During: Throughout the book, Lucky finds various symbols that represent a fellow character’s “higher power”. Students should be looking for these symbols and will record them as they read them. Some examples of “higher power” symbols include:

• ·      The town of Hard Pan
• ·      A colony of ants
• ·      The moon
• ·      Lincoln’s knot

While reading, students will also make predictions for the following questions:

• ·      On page 59, Lincoln suggests to Lucky that Brigitte should open a restaurant. What do you think will come of this idea?
• ·      What will Lucky’s higher power be? How will she find it?

After: When students have finished reading, we will have a class discussion on the symbols they found in the novel. As a class, we will make a t-chart exemplifying both the symbols found, and the evidence that supports them.

Writing: Throughout The Higher Power of Lucky, Lucky is desperately searching for her higher power. Do you think she found it? What was it? Think about your own life. Do you have a higher power?

Electronic Resources:

·      http://www.susanpatron.com/index.html

o   Author’s Website

·      http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18newb.html?_r=0

o   Information for Teacher: article on HPoL controversy and censorship

Patron, S. (2006). The Higher Power of Lucky. New York: Atheneum Books for Young             Readers