The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

I know there has been controversy regarding this book and I'm sure in some circles the word scrotum is unmentionable. Seeing past that word though you find a sweet little story and an irresistible title character. Abandonment issues abound with Lucky whose parents are dead or deserted and Miles who carries around a copy of Are You My Mother? You get a sense of the isolation in Harp Pan, CA and the scraggly Lucky is a testament to folks that live in weather-beaten climates. Her search for her Higher Power mirrors our own search for security in the face of the great unknown. Winning the Newbery Medal is a fitting prize for this little gem of a book.