Start with Lucky at age ten
The Higher Power of Lucky introduces Hard Pan, Lucky's fear that her guardian will leave, and the neighbors who become her larger family.
Book Series · 3 Books
Hard Pan Trilogy Books
In order from The Higher Power of Lucky to Lucky for Good.
A completed trilogy follows Lucky Trimble as she grows from a restless ten-year-old into a more confident member of her unusual family and tiny California desert community.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Hard Pan Trilogy
Read The Higher Power of Lucky, Lucky Breaks, and Lucky for Good in order. Lucky's adoption, friendships, questions about her parents, and increasing independence develop directly across the three books, and Lucky for Good is the finale.
Sources: Simon & Schuster's official trilogy teacher guide, The publisher's official final-book page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Abandonment and grief are central: Lucky's mother has died, her biological father rejects her, and another child's mother is incarcerated. The books also discuss twelve-step recovery, running away, a dangerous desert storm, religious questions about hell, Charles Darwin, bullying, and fighting.
The first book briefly uses the anatomical word “scrotum,” and later stories include age-appropriate questions about puberty and where babies come from. These subjects are handled within Lucky's curious, candid view of growing up rather than with graphic detail.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$799
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 9–11 · 2006
The Higher Power of Lucky
By Susan Patron, Matt Phelan (Illustrator)
A girl plans to escape her small town, fearing abandonment and seeking a higher power.
160 pages· 29,977 words· Est. 4 hour read
Paperback
Summary: Ten-year-old Lucky fears her guardian will leave her for France, abandoning her to an orphanage. Determined to escape, she faces a dust storm and the desert with only a heavy backpack. Can she find the higher power she seeks and keep her beloved dog and friends? Discover Lucky's journey of courage and discovery in Hard Pan, California.
In reading order
Hard Pan Trilogy Series
3 books · Published 2006–2011
#1
Sale price
$799
The Higher Power of Lucky
Chapter Book · Ages 9–11 · 2006
A girl plans to escape her small town, fearing abandonment and seeking a higher power.
#2
Sale price
$858
Lucky Breaks
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2009
In a tiny town, Lucky's boredom leads to unexpected adventures and secrets.
#3
Sale price
$1597
Lucky for Good
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011
Can Lucky unravel life's mysteries before turning twelve?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Hard Pan Trilogy series?
There are 3 books in the Hard Pan Trilogy series. It began with The Higher Power of Lucky in 2006, and the newest book, Lucky for Good, was published in 2011.
What order should you read the Hard Pan Trilogy books in?
Start with The Higher Power of Lucky and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #3.
What ages are the Hard Pan Trilogy books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Hard Pan Trilogy book is the longest?
Lucky for Good (Book #3) is the longest book in the series at 44,290 words (224 pages).
Which Hard Pan Trilogy book is the shortest?
The Higher Power of Lucky (Book #1) is the shortest at 29,977 words (160 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Hard Pan Trilogy to life.
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