(3) 4-6 Dear America series. In a book that is part mystery, part ghost story, Patron provides a multi-layered tale of one girl's experiences in the very wild West. Angie investigates the death of her father--who she doesn't believe is actually dead. She's a likable protagonist, and the many supporting characters give readers a good picture of life in a Gold Rush town as the boom turns to bust.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Erin McGuire. Just as things are going smoothly for Lucky and Brigitte (The Higher Power of Lucky, Lucky Breaks), trouble arrives in the form of restaurant inspector Stu Burping. Meanwhile, Lucky must draw up a family tree--no mean feat for her--which leads to gratifying, if bittersweet, closure. McGuire's black-and-white spot illustrations beautifully capture moments between characters as Lucky's important relationships are shifting.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Matt Phelan. With sensitivity and precision, Patron delves into the complexities surrounding friendship. Lucky (The Higher Power of Lucky) is thrilled to have a "normal" friend--a girl named Paloma. But, as in the first book, Lucky's show-off tendencies lead to trouble. Return readers will be contented to again pass some time in Hard Pan, while others will feel welcomed by its close-knit warmth.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2009

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Matt Phelan. Ten-year-old Lucky lives in Hard Pan, California, a tiny enclave on the outskirts of the Mojave Desert. Her legal guardian is a beautiful, melancholy Frenchwoman, Brigitte. Patron's episodic tale of a grieving, insecure little girl is never heavy-handed or maudlin, due in part to quiet bursts of humor. Her sensory descriptions, supported by Phelan's gentle spot art, animate this unique community.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2007