A Big Dose of Lucky
4/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
Part of the SECRETS—a series of seven linked novels that can be read in any order.
Marthe Jocelyn
Marthe Jocelyn is the award-winning author and illustrator of over thirty-five books for babies, kids and teens. Her illustrated books have been shortlisted for both the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. In 2009 she was the recipient of the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. One Red Button and One Piece of String are the result of her lifelong obsession with scraps, and her delight in surprising the reader with unexpected details. Originally from Toronto, Marthe settled in Stratford, Ontario, after a thirtyyear stretch in New York. For more information, visit www.marthejocelyn.com.
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Reviews for A Big Dose of Lucky
19 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When the orphanage that has been her home since she was abandoned there at birth closes, 16-year-old Malou is sent out on her own, with only a hospital bracelet as a clue to her true identity. This is a well-written, captivating tale of a young girl's resilience and ingenuity as she heads outs to discover the truth about her mother and family. Highly recommended.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Malou has grown up in a Canadian orphanage believing her parents were dead. However, when the orphanage burns down, the former headmistress gives Malou some clues that may indicate her family is alive and can be found. With no where to go and very little money, she sets off on a journey to track down her heritage.Malou is also one of the few "brown" people living in her area of Canada. She's been pretty sheltered at the orphanage, but has faced some racial prejudice in town. She runs into more during her journey, but not as much as I'd have expected, particularly considering the book takes place in the 1960's. Maybe Canada has always been a slightly nicer place? Maybe the realism was toned down because this is a YA title?The story also seems a little too convenient to be believed, although the title indicates that Malou is very lucky in her quest, but things seem to fall into place for her pretty quickly without a lot of hardship. Malou also has read an impressive amount of fiction books on the subject of orphans and relates herself to them frequently, referencing Anne of Green Gables, The Jungle Book, A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Readers unfamiliar with those books will probably not be confused by the references, as they are pretty well explained, and maybe prompted to seek out those excellent titles. The book was entertaining and a pretty quick read, but not terribly challenging or remarkable.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Marthe Jocelyn has created a wonderful, engaging character in Malou, a black orphan living in 1960's Canada. Malou tells us of her life as if she were writing a diary which puts us directly in her head. Surrounded by racial prejudice and the strange mix of kindly guilt many feel towards orphans, it is a surprising twist for most modern readers that 16-year old Malou is left to the streets after the orphanage burns. Setting out to seek her birth-mother guided by an old hospital bracelet, Malou journeys to Parry Sound in Canada against the backdrop of the American Civil Rights Movement she learns of vicariously. In Parry Ound, Malou finds a job, other black people who may, or may not be her relatives, and makes a group of new friends who want to help her in her quest. Take this journey with Malou from her fear and uncertainty at the start as she gains in strength and surety. You won't be disappointed.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Big Dose of Lucy was an easy and engaging read that I would recommend to teenagers and above. I liked how the plot was very forward thinking covering issues such as race, class, and sexual orientation without being too obvious about them. Though the plot was slightly unbelievable at times (a properly run home for girls is just sending children off into the world without any guidance? Probably not) it was fun to follow. I also liked how Malou gained friends and a place in the world by the end of the story.I would be interested in reading the rest of the Secrets series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An emotional and ultimately sweet novel that explores what it means to belong, to have a family, and to be an individual. As the parent of an adopted kid (though not an orphan), some of it was rather emotional for me. I enjoyed it, but would really like to hear from the perspective of people of colour as to if it spoke to them.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A unique book from a unique perspective. I enjoyed A Big Dose of Lucky very much because it was not the usual young adult read. A young person of color surrounded by white society in 1960's Canada, Malou's brave search for answers about her background led her to new experiences. She faced road blocks and struggles carefully but with determination. I would certainly recommend this book to young people and adults alike. Thank you to Library Thing's Early Reviewer program for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a fantastic coming of age story with a sweet and innocent main character named Malou. After a fire forces her out of her orphanage and into the real world she is met with every challenge a 16 year old, mixed race girl could imagine during the 1960s and assuredly, many she had never even dreamed. This is definitely not your typical "orphan" story, although Malou references and connects with many of them throughout the book. I love the creative twist that brought her story to completion, definitely unexpected. As she makes new friends and tries to find family, you can't help but root for her to get her happily ever after.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secrets series follows 7 orphans after the Benevolent Home burns down. Malou is given a hosptial ID bracelet that was the only thing left with her when an old white woman left her on the door of the orphanage. She travels from somewhere in southern Ontario to Parry Sound to track down information about her birth from the hospital named on the bracelet. She's always been "the brown one" at the orphanage and she's happy to find other non white faces, befriending an First Nations boy and, after getting a job as a cleaner at the hospital, finding that most of the cleaning staff isn't white. As she digs deeper into the mystery of her birth, she finds a young woman who looks a lot like her and secrets start to be revealed. The book is set a few years back, there's definitely a lot of racism at play, and it's addressed head on.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I think this book could have turned out better than it did. It had a really good premise, interesting and kind of unique, but for me anyway, the story dragged and I had a hard time caring very much whether Malou discovered her roots or not. I did like how the story progressed in fits and starts and Malou ran into dead ends with her research, like she would have in real life, but there wasn't much else I liked about the story. I struggled to finish it, though I admit I liked the ending because what happened was something that had literally never occurred to me.I know this book is part of a series. Based on what I've read so far, I don't think I'm going to read any of the others.