Higher Power of Lucky written by Susan Patron

2007 Newbery winner
When 10 year old, Lucky's mother is electrocuted and dies after a storm, Lucky's absentee father calls his ex-wife, Brigitte, to fly over from France to take care of the child. Two years later, the 10-year-old worries that Brigitte is tired of being her guardian and of their life in Hard Pan (pop. 42) in the middle of the California desert. While Lucky's best friend ties intricate knots and the little boy down the road cries for attention, she tries to get some control over her life by restocking her survival kit backpack and searching for her Higher Power and by eavesdroping on 12-step program meetings from her hiding place behind Hard Pan’s Found Object Wind Chime Museum & Visitor Center. Eccentric characters and quirky details spice up Lucky’s life just as her guardian Brigitte’s fresh parsley embellishes her French cuisine.

This was a lovely story. Sometimes I read the latest Newbery and say, ok, it was good - quirky and different. This one is all of those thing but it also has such a quiet feel to it. More descriptive than dialog and I think that is what makes it work so well. You feel like you are there with her in the heat and wind. This is truly a character who makes a difference in the lives around her. You want her to succeed and find happiness. Her worries became mine and I wanted her to find security.