Dolphin Luck

Porridge Hall Trilogy #3

by Hilary McKay

The Robinson's need to go away for awhile, leaving their four children in the care of different people. Beany and Sun Dance stay with Mrs. Brogan; and the twins, Ant and Perry, stay with Great Aunt Mabel. Sun Dance settles down to capture any burglar who may attempt to rob their house. Beany is determined to find a magical sword with a dolphin-shaped hilt. Ant and Perry find their old aunt not quite what they expected. Before the Robinson family is reunited, each one of them has had extraordinary, sometimes scary, frequently harrowing adventures that make for touching, often hilarious, utterly absorbing reading.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, German Literature, Contemporary, Kids, Fantasy

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Hilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire and is the eldest of four girls. From a very early age she read voraciously and grew up in a household of readers. Hilary says of herself as a child "I anaesthetised myself against the big bad world with large doses of literature. The local library was as familiar to me as my own home."

After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.

One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them

Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.

Reviews

[Cheryl Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilary McKay is probably my favorite living not-edited-by-me children's book author. Stylistically, she barrels right through much of what I think of as the rules of good storytelling, but she does it with such confidence and such unique payoffs that it leaves me questioning the rules and not *her*. If she wrote for adults, she'd be acclaimed as a comic genius and showered with prizes; as it is, I'm torn between trying to share her books with other people and keeping their pleasures for myself. She is definitely not for every taste, but if you like Jane Austen, Elinor Lipman, Natalie Standiford, or the Penderwicks novels -- books that treasure domestic life and character, and are funny and beautifully written to boot -- do give her a try. (Also, I think, if you're a fan of Megan Whalen Turner, because while their subject matter is very different, Hilary McKay is a maestro on the order of MWT in terms of authorial control, of every word being used just right, not one wasted, information doled out on HER terms and no one else's.)

DOLPHIN LUCK, like all her middle-grade novels, has the children of a large family (two large families here) getting into trouble simply by being themselves, as their equally quirky parents struggle to maintain order and/or sanity -- and somehow it all comes together to be both hilarious and moving. It didn't quite reach the glories of the third-person Casson novels for me, though -- I think in part because it's a sequel, and I haven't read the first book (or the one that follows) as yet.

If this review intrigues you into reading Ms. McKay's work, I recommend starting with SAFFY'S ANGEL or, if you love A LITTLE PRINCESS as I do (and she does), her lovely sequel to that book, called WISHING FOR TOMORROW.

[Elizabeth]

I really, really loved this, mainly because it is HILARIOUS.

It was wholly far-out--McKay's earlier books make more obvious use of kind of unbelievable coincidences and the supernatural, but they are just so in the tradition of "family adventure story" that I don't really mind. As with many books set/written just ten years prior to the present day, their timelessness is marred by the lack of mobile phones! Because so much of the playing out of the plot relies here on the fact that the kids end up out of communication, and have to trek back and forth to a phone box in the snow. (On second thought, it DOES take place on the North Yorkshire coast, where there is no phone coverage ANYWHERE.)

There, that was a useless review that gives nothing away. It's not McKay's best book, it's not her best series, but it's still a cracking good story. Go read it. You'll laugh your head off and it won't be time wasted.

This is the first of her early books in which I can kind of see McKay gearing up to move on to the Exiles series. She is really the only contemporary author that I wish I could write like.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this aloud to my son so much that I upped it a star from my original rating. I don't think I'd read it since its American publication in 1999, and I'd forgotten how funny it is -- it's definitely the best of the three Porridge Hall books. McKay writes in a style I like to think of as eccentric realism. Technically, everything that happens is possible, yet anything that can go strangely wrong will. The ending is just over the top absurd, almost in the manner of opera buffa -- misunderstandings, miscommunications, and some not entirely probable behavior that you don't mind because you're enjoying being swept along for the ride. It's not many books where you're really and truly invested in the fate of children who are pushing a wheelbarrow full of cats topped off by a caged parrot shrieking "You have gone too far!"

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Porridge trilogy is brimming with sweetness and hilarity. Oh, how I love Hilary McKay! I can't recommend this children's author highly enough. She's got a zany imagination and a heart for mischievous children. Great stuff.

[MQR]

the other reviews are correct in that this author wastes no words and throws all other writing rules out the window making a very quirky interesting read. just too bad though that its a childrens author however I dont think adults should even call their parents drunk insensitive murderous jerks. not even if they deserve it,. or in jest if they dont. also it was this model which seemed to be the social premise of the entire book. its just the way that everyone gets treated until they are proven either innocent or worthy so theres no favorites. ah. okay. dont think thats at all a beneficial role model for children to normalize.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action. Definitely original. All good characters. Humorous, not at all stressful.

One character, Sun Dance, is described on p 3 as ...
Sun Dance — the unpredictable and innocent, with his sparkle and his darkness, his nightmares and his courage and his incomprehensible logic—needed handling with care. Always, always, ever since he had been able to speak, Sun Dance had needed handling with care. ... and defused, when necessary, like a self-destructing bomb.
I expected to read about a child who was significantly beyond the norm, but he seemed pretty much like many imaginative kids.

[Ejayen · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the start of the book, things have been going downhill for the Robinson family. And Mrs. Brogan tries to cheer them up before their family is scattered.
After a series of almost unbelievable events, most of the family comes back together and they learn that all of their problems have been solved.
Is it one of the most ridiculous, unbelievable, and corny things I've ever read.
Maybe, but I'm reading the rest of the series one day.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Dolphin Luck’ is a sequel to ‘Dog Friday’. It’s the story of two families who live next door to each other and are close friends. Mrs Robinson has been very ill, which rather casts a blight over the family Christmas, as do subsequent events. Nevertheless, it manages to be an amusing romp, on the whole, cleverly written with a lot of insight into some very different children. Events are exaggerated, some people extreme caricatures, but there's still an impression of warm-heartedness and loyalty.

The writing is fast-paced and enjoyable; I would have liked reading this aloud to my sons when they were perhaps six or seven or a little older, although it's recommended for fluent readers of about nine and above. It reminded me in many ways of the Bagthorpe Saga, without the extreme giftedness of the children.

Definitely recommended.

[Franziska · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely, messy story and what a great end to the Porridge Hall trilogy! This was definitely my favourite book from the series, although I couldn´t help feeling sorry for poor old Mrs Brogan, having to put up with all those children! Still a great read- and don´t we all need some more dolphin luck in our lives?

[Debrarian]

*Companion novel to Dog Friday and The Amber Cat
Sent by their vacationing parents to visit Mad Aunt Mabel, Perry and Ant have an adventure, while their younger siblings Sun Dance and Beany stay at home making burglar traps and searching for a magic sword.

[The awesome one · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and humerous short story that is perfect when you need a good laugh! This amusing story tells of the Robinson family, and the chaos that arouses when the family must separate for a week. Odd characters, interesting events, and a good sense of humor add up to make a gear story!

[Laura McGinnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second time reading this book, and I still couldn't put it down. Hilary McKay has a way of writing the most lovable, wacky characters you could imagine, and never ceases to leave me a little dazed and teary by the final page.
Highly recommended.

[EJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

fellas did u know its actually quite easy to read books when ur not hampered at every turn by crippling executive disfunction? COMPLETELY wild.

anyway this book was GREAT the second time around also.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was around 12 or 13, and from what I remember it was really good.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny children's book by an excellent British writer. Realistic fiction about the adventures of four siblings. I recommend her books about the Casson family (starting with Saffy's Angel) too.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny tween/ya tale about what happens when mom and dad leave for a few days; based in the UK. A bit of a slow start, glad I stuck with it.

[Maureen E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third in the Dog Friday trilogy. My thoughts on Amber Cat could pretty much be repeated here. [July 2011]

[erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

third book in a trilogy, but a stand alone too. two families, a cold Yorkshire coast winter, a lot of silliness with some adventure and patience...my daughter & I enjoyed this!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Very entertaining

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilary McKay is a master of children's emotions and comic timing - oh, the scenes with the dog's grave and the burgler! The train rides, the wishes - it all rings true. I wish her older books were all back in print in the US with more enticing covers, but in the meantime I'll check them all out myself to save them from weeding.