The Higher Power of Lucky By Susan Patron

There is a curious part of me that always wants to know what all the hubbub is about and of course I love a good book so, I decided to give The Higher Power of Lucky a whirl. I was completely engrossed from page one. In this novel, Patron has captured the curiosity of a ten year old girl who wants to know all about the world and everything in it. The story centers around Lucky and a host of quirky and vibrant characters that make the town of Hard Pan in the Mojave Desert home. In this novel, Patron has managed to use wit that does not patronize young readers while sending a message of hardship and hope addressing the difficult topics of alcoholism and foster parents. Patron writes as a kid for all the kids that live in such households and for other empathetic young readers who want to take the journey along with her.
Lucky is on a journey to find a sense of security and her higher power. Lucky's mother was killed by a lightening strike, her father left her mother because he didn't want children and Lucky's guardian misses her own family in Paris so badly Lucky is afraid she too will disappear.
I read Susan Patron's response to all of this hubbub about the word "scrotum" and her use of this word in her book and I loved what she said. "Tbere's a direct correlation between the fear of naming body parts and kids' interest in finding out about them. To figure out the world, children have to unscramble a mishmash of secrets, clues, overheard tidbits, half-truths, out of context information, and their own observations."
Anyone who has ever been a ten year old kid knows exactly what Susan is talking about:)