Lucky for Some

by Fleur Beale

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade

253 pages

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Fleur Beale is the author of many award-winning books for children and young adults, best known for her novel I am not Esther which has been published worldwide.

Beale was one of six children of a dairy farmer Cedric Corney and of a teacher and author Estelle Corney (née Cook). She was born in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, on the farm where her father was born. Beale grew up in the town before attending Victoria University, Wellington and Christchurch Teachers' Training College, where she met her husband. Since 1985 she has taught at Melville High School in Hamilton, Waikato and in Wellington. Beale's first stories were written for the children's radio programme Grandpa's Place. Her first book was a small reader and picture book for young children and she started to write for teenagers in 1993. Her stories often involve troubled adolescents engaged in outdoor activities.

Beale was a finalist in the Aim Children's Book Awards (junior fiction) and her 1998 novel I am not Esther was shortlisted for the senior fiction section of the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Awards. In 1999 she was awarded the Children's Writing Fellowship at Dunedin College of Education and quit teaching to write full time. Her 2001 novel Ambushed was a finalist for the Junior Fiction section of the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Her 2004 account of how an indigenous girl discovers how her education can save her tribal lands (My Story A New Song in the Land. The Writings of Atapo, Pahia, c.1840) received a Notable Book award in 2005 as did Walking Lightly.

Reviews

[Annabelle Laurance · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a cute book! A typical book about a girl- Lacey Turner who has to leave her city, school, shops and friends and replace them for a farm in the country side, a way-too-small school and a grumpy old darned neighbor. Lacey has very tiring, boring rugby/football school days with all the boys but luckily manages to teach them some dancing! A very realistic book about family, relationships, adaption, the country side and the heart & mind.

[Sharlene Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being open to other sporting interests proves to improve ability in your sport of choice in this cute novel about a girl who moves away from her city gym into a small country, 1 class town with only male peers to hang with. I love how it breaks down barriers between what is considered feminine and masculine sport.

[Anna Fennell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute YA book set in New Zealand about a girl in the 8th grade who moves from the city to the country. The girl goes from a large school to a two classroom building. Her grade only has two other students who in it. I liked the book because it was not about the girl liking a boy but dealt with other conflicts.

[Watermelon Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST IMPRESSION:
Something light-hearted, cheesy, maybe a young adult book? I actually quite liked the cover, which is better than others of similar designs.

WRITING STYLE:
Third person and I loved it. There's something you don't hear from me very often, but it was true. Amazing detail was added to Lacey's thoughts, making me laugh at the perfect timings. I loved the writing!

PLOT:
Simplistic. I thought it was going to bore me, but there was never a dull moment in the book. Also, it doesn't have the typical romance I'd expect from a story-line like this (it doesn't have any at all!) The main character's twelve, so that it up to you whether you'd enjoy it or not.

CHARACTERS:
I really loved Lacey and her friends. All the people in the new town were quirky in their own way. Oh, and Vanesa's hair was the best (it stuck out in all directions.) And I really liked Scott and Miles.

OVERALL:
A surprisingly wonderful novel about moving. The author clearly knows how "moving" feels, and has portrayed it magnificently.

AMOUNT OF STARS:
4

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had Fleur Beale's books when my daughter was young. She's rightly a writer who has won prestigious awards. She manages to write page turners on many different topics.

'Lucky for Some' sees budding ballerina, Lacy Turner, ripped from her lovely city home, friends, school and her perfect life to become a country girl. Her parents and brothers really want to live in the country but Lucy knows she is going to hate it.

The good thing about Beale's books is that her main characters have to adapt, change and grow. They do but in such realistic and believable ways that it makes change possible to the reader. It's a good thing that YA and older children can read about someone like them who takes control of his/her life.

Lacy has to put up with all boys at the small country school and rugby! She is a battler though and wins through, teaching the boys to dance and even entering a calf in calf club. It's a delightful read and a good one to read aloud with your kids.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was ten-years-old and it absolutely captivated me. I got it out of the school library and read it about 6 times in a week. Ten years later, it remains one of the most vivid books of my childhood. I think, at that age I really related to the bratty Lacey, and as an infrequent reader, it was easy for me to read and paced well for me to pay attention.

I find it hard to stomach lots of kiwi authors, but Fleur Beale writes amazing YA books. I recommend this for the 8-12 age bracket.

[Sophie Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because it fits into the category of a book written by a New Zealander. I found this book a bit boring because it didn't really have a good story line from the start. I don't have a favorite quote from this book. I would recommend this book to someone in intermediate because it is an easy read. The main character is Lacey and the story is about her not wanting to move to the country.

[Liz Yardley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beale captures the transient attitude of her character perfectly. She also manages to keep the other siblings in the background just to the right degree, so the reader gets into the main character's mind. Some writers make the other siblings too upfront. Not Beale. This is an excellent story. She has such a talent. I will be on the look out for more of her books.

[virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was about 10 years old. I instantly fell in love and wish to read it again.

[T-La Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite books as a child.