I just now finished reading the newly awarded Newberry Award winner for 2007, The Higher Power of Lucky. I was kind of surprised that this book won because I hadn’t really noticed any buzz about it. I also hadn’t read it so I promptly placed a hold on it at the library.
It’s about a girl whose mother has died. Electrocuted after a storm in the desert. Brigitte, Lucky’s father’s first wife, comes all the way to to California from France to take care of Lucky. All goes well until one day Lucky notices that Brigittes’ suitcase is packed. Lucky is afraid Brigitte is going to move back to france, and leave her at an orphanage in L.A. So Lucky decides to run away. She decides that the best, most perfect day to run away is the day there is a terible windstorm in Hard Pan, California.
I’m not sure what to think of this book. I did enjoy it. It was beautifully written. The illustrations were wonderful. But was it Newberry Medal good? I don’t know. I think I need to brew on that for awhile.
Blatherskite 
I love the idea for the Newbery Read-along. I want to run off right now and put check-marks on a list myself.
I have a tangental question for a fellow librarian. I have recently started a blog for my school library (http://parkviewlibrary.edublogs.org) and have already posted images of book covers – and plan to post more. I don’t feel I’m violating copyright, but there seems to be a gray area here. I read something recently in SLJ that gave a very wishy-washy answer.
Any thoughts?
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I have always looked to the Newbery seal as a guarantee of fine quality; no more.
The Higher Power of Lucky stank! It seemed to me the author said, lets do a Kate DiCamillo, and through together a small town and a bunch of quirky characters – but without the magic and the charm that Kate employs.
No magic, no charm; it’s just servicable.
Ick.
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I agree with Maggie. This year’s Newbery selection was awful. I would hate to read the books that were rejected. However, I must also say that this is the third year in a row I have been disappointed.
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