The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

At age 10, Lucky has already lost her mother and been abandoned by her father. The one thing Lucky is sure about is that her backpack survival kit is always packed and ready to go, along with her faithful companion, HMS Beagle. Everything else in Hard Pan, CA., Pop. 43, she’ll have to learn to live without. Lucky is sure that Brigitte, her guardian, is going back to France so Lucky’s gonna have to run so she won’t end up in an orphanage. And it’s really too bad because she’ll miss her best friend Lincoln, although he might not stop tying knots long enough to notice she’s gone, and Miles, although at age 5, he’s young enough to find someone else to share stories and cookies with.
What Lucky will miss the most is eavesdropping on 12-step anonymous meetings and learning how she can find this “Higher Power”.

2007 Newbery Award Winner