The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

Author: Susan Patron

When I first started reading The Higher Power of Lucky, I could not get into the text. I was unsure of why this is considered such a phenomenal piece of literature, but I began to realize towards the end and after our discussion in class, how important it is to pay attention to the details that we might not notice by just quickly reading.

In The Higher Power of Lucky there are so many literary elements that can be discussed. There are dynamic characters, the point of view is important, time and place, symbols, and themes, all play a part in making this novel so special.  Lucky, the main character grows so much throughout the course of the novel. All while trying to find her higher power she grows and experiences so many things. The story is told in third person limited which is Lucky, which allows us to know what is happening through her eyes.  The time and place are both important to the novel as well. The time takes place after her mother’s death, and we learn about the challenges she faces living with Brigitte, her guardian. The place that the novel is set is in Hard Pan, CA, where there is much desert. The setting plays a huge role in that when Lucky runs away, she seeks out the desert to hide herself.  Two main symbols that stand out in my mind from the novel are the urn for her mother and Brigitte’s passport. The urn is a reminder of her mother’s death and that letting go is hard for Lucky to do. The passport on the other is a symbol of loss, confusion, and the feeling of being alone for Lucky. When she see Brigitte’s passport her ideas spiral out of control and she thinks Brigitte is leaving her. All while Lucky is escaping in the desert, she finds her higher power and it helps describe the theme of the novel. Letting go of negative feelings and embracing new, good feelings helps Lucky to define a new meaning to family, which is belonging with Brigitte.