★2016年波隆那書展重點兒童小說

Critically acclaimed author Cammie McGovern's middle grade debut is a powerful and heartwarming story that will appeal to readers who loved R. J. Palacio's WONDER, Ann M. Martin's RAIN REIGN, and Holly Sloan's COUNTING BY 7S.

Everyone keeps telling Benny that what happened to his Dad this summer wasn’t his fault. Which only makes him feel like it was…at least a little bit. The accident that caused his Dad’s severe brain trauma (and has convinced Benny to never ride a bike again), has left Benny trying to outrun a looming cloud of guilt. And to make matters worse, he’s just about to start the fourth grade.

Middle school is a jungle gym of obstacles—from bullies, to homework, to trying to find a best friend. Benny tries to take his mom's advice and focus on helping others, and to take things one step at a time. But when his dad ends up in the hospital again, Benny doesn't know how he and his family will overcome all the bad luck that life seems to have thrown their way.

JUST MY LUCK is a deeply moving and rewarding novel about a down-on-his-luck boy whose caring heart ultimately helps him find the strength to cope with tragedy and realize how much he truly has to offer his friends and family.

 

Cammie McGovern is the author of SAY WHAT YOU WILL as well as the adult novels NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, EYE CONTACT, and THE ART OF SEEING. Cammie is also one of the founders of Whole Children, a resource center that runs after-school classes and programs for children with special needs. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband and three children.

 

“I loved this portrait of a young boy struggling to find his role in a family determined not to be defined by their differences. Benny’s brave story, told with wry humor, is inspirational.”──Ann M. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of RAIN REIGN

“In narrator Benny, readers find a resilient and very observant 9-year-old who accepts those around him with their strengths and shortcomings alike. His story is insightful and inspirational.”──Kirkus

“McGovern’s thoughtful depiction of a family facing difficult situations without fracturing, coupled with a gentle message about not being too hard on oneself, will surely speak to middle schoolers with their own slate of worries.”──Publishers Weekly

“A heart-filled story of a likable boy who doesn’t realize that his natural gifts are recognizable and valued by a supportive family. There are many moments that will ring true to middle grade readers: feeling anxious about friendships, wanting to be noticed, and trying to do the right thing.”──School Library Journal

“McGovern writes convincingly about characters trying to figure out how best to live with the complications of a disability, both the person whom it most affects and also those around him or her. Benny’s voice deserves to be read aloud in a classroom.”──VOYA