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Lucky Little Things
A funny and heartfelt realistic middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and the meaning of luck, from author Janice Erlbaum.
Eighth-grader Emma Macintyre could use some good luck. The popular kids at her school ignore her, the boy she likes is out of her league, and her best friend has been ditching her for the mean girls. Worst of all, her beloved Aunt Jenny died recently, leaving Emma and her single mom reeling with grief.
Then Emma receives a mysterious letter with no return address. The letter promises that ten lucky little things will happen to her over the next thirty days―she just has to make a list of what she wants. When the things on her list start coming true, she races to understand what’s happening. How does this lucky letter work? Who sent it? And what’s going to happen when the thirty days are done?
Eighth-grader Emma Macintyre could use some good luck. The popular kids at her school ignore her, the boy she likes is out of her league, and her best friend has been ditching her for the mean girls. Worst of all, her beloved Aunt Jenny died recently, leaving Emma and her single mom reeling with grief.
Then Emma receives a mysterious letter with no return address. The letter promises that ten lucky little things will happen to her over the next thirty days―she just has to make a list of what she wants. When the things on her list start coming true, she races to understand what’s happening. How does this lucky letter work? Who sent it? And what’s going to happen when the thirty days are done?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 24, 2018
30 people are currently reading
1709 people want to read
About the author
Janice Erlbaum
6 books180 followersJanice Erlbaum writes books, some of which are for tweens, others of which are for adults. She produces a weekly video series called "Advice for Young Writers."
Her books for adults include two memoirs, GIRLBOMB: A Halfway Homeless Memoir (Villard, March ’06), and HAVE YOU FOUND HER: A Memoir (Villard, Feb. ’08), and one novel, I, LIAR (Thought Catalog Books, 2015).
For tweens, her first novel, LUCKY LITTLE THINGS was published by MacMillan Books for Young Readers in July '18. Her next tween book, LET ME FIX THAT FOR YOU, is coming in July '19.
Her poetry and prose have been featured in anthologies including ALOUD: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café, THE BUST GUIDE TO THE NEW GIRL ORDER, THE BEST AMERICAN EROTIC POEMS FROM 1800 TO THE PRESENT, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHER’S HANDBOOK: The 826 National Guide to Writing Your Memoir, and VERSES THAT HURT: Pleasure and Pain from the POEMFONE Poets.
She was a contributor to BUST magazine from 1994 through 2007. Her work has been featured in Glamour, Redbook, Marie Claire, Elle, Elle UK, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, and New York Times. Janice teaches memoir writing and has addressed audiences at colleges, coffee houses, and theaters across the East Coast. She lives in her native New York City.
Her books for adults include two memoirs, GIRLBOMB: A Halfway Homeless Memoir (Villard, March ’06), and HAVE YOU FOUND HER: A Memoir (Villard, Feb. ’08), and one novel, I, LIAR (Thought Catalog Books, 2015).
For tweens, her first novel, LUCKY LITTLE THINGS was published by MacMillan Books for Young Readers in July '18. Her next tween book, LET ME FIX THAT FOR YOU, is coming in July '19.
Her poetry and prose have been featured in anthologies including ALOUD: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café, THE BUST GUIDE TO THE NEW GIRL ORDER, THE BEST AMERICAN EROTIC POEMS FROM 1800 TO THE PRESENT, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHER’S HANDBOOK: The 826 National Guide to Writing Your Memoir, and VERSES THAT HURT: Pleasure and Pain from the POEMFONE Poets.
She was a contributor to BUST magazine from 1994 through 2007. Her work has been featured in Glamour, Redbook, Marie Claire, Elle, Elle UK, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, and New York Times. Janice teaches memoir writing and has addressed audiences at colleges, coffee houses, and theaters across the East Coast. She lives in her native New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
July 16, 2018
2.5 stars. It was a charming enough little story, but it also felt like it was on the younger side of MG, which I don't often pick up personally these days. Plus, the pacing was a little bit uneven and the characters felt a little underdeveloped too.
August 23, 2018
Emma has a lot going on in her life: she's navigating life as an eighth grader; she is growing apart from her best friend, Savannah; she is trying to find her place in the social stratum; and her surrogate mother, Aunt Jenny (her mother's best friend), has recently died.
Emma receives a mysterious letter that tells her she is lucky and to make a wish list of things she wants to happen and they will happen. Emma doesn't know the provenance of the letter, but she decides to make a list all the same. Her list of items keeps changing and it's nice to see Emma evolve as a character and how this affects the items on her list.
This is for middle grade readers and it is a book that I think raises all of the issues we see in this genre: mean girls, social media, bullying and ostracism. But, don't let that deter you. The central message of the book is positive and I found Emma a well drawn character with complex emotions.
Emma receives a mysterious letter that tells her she is lucky and to make a wish list of things she wants to happen and they will happen. Emma doesn't know the provenance of the letter, but she decides to make a list all the same. Her list of items keeps changing and it's nice to see Emma evolve as a character and how this affects the items on her list.
This is for middle grade readers and it is a book that I think raises all of the issues we see in this genre: mean girls, social media, bullying and ostracism. But, don't let that deter you. The central message of the book is positive and I found Emma a well drawn character with complex emotions.
February 26, 2018
Read in a single sitting. I was so curious to see how Emma’s luck could/would change. I liked the sass, too. Received at ALA Midwinter 2018.
August 3, 2018
So good
This is such a sweet, charming book About how everyone makes his or her own luck. It is aimed at middle school kids, but I still loved it and MIGHT have cried at the end.
This is such a sweet, charming book About how everyone makes his or her own luck. It is aimed at middle school kids, but I still loved it and MIGHT have cried at the end.
September 7, 2018
There are some good lessons to be learned from this story about the ten wishes Emma has made. As we grow up we realize that there are not just good days and bad days -- every day has some good and bad in it. How we deal with those moments is a crucial life skill. In Christian circles, we would point to God's providence rather than luck and the many ways our Creator cares for us.
July 24, 2018
A book with a great message that everyone of all ages could benefit from! Definitely a quick read! Loved the relationships in this book.
March 12, 2020
Depuis quelques mois, le moral d'Emma n'est pas au beau fixe : la meilleure amie de sa mère, Tante Jenny, est morte des suites de son cancer. Sa copine d'enfance Savvy lui a également tourné le dos, préférant traîner avec les filles populaires du collège. Celles-ci se moquent ouvertement d'Emma qui hésite entre rire ou pleurer face à leurs méchancetés.
Aussi, un matin, elle découvre sur le pas de sa porte une lettre à son nom contenant un billet de vingt dollars et la promesse de voir dix de ses vœux se réaliser sous trente jours. La lettre n'est pas signée. Elle ne doit en parler à personne non plus. D'abord sceptique, Emma se laisse convaincre et dresse sa liste « des dix petites chances qu'elle voudrait voir se réaliser ».
Comme toute adolescente, Emma rêve d'entrer dans le moule et pense qu'avec un téléphone dernier cri ses ennuis pourraient s'envoler. Elle aimerait également retrouver sa complicité avec Savvy, embrasser le garçon qu'elle aime en secret depuis deux ans, décrocher un rôle dans la pièce de théâtre, changer les plans de vacances d'été et pousser sa mère à renouer avec le monde.
C'est le microcosme des ados dans ce qu'ils ont de plus odieux et affligeant à offrir ! C'est aussi très actuel et tellement agaçant. Je me sens hélas dépassée. Par contre ce roman est parfait pour les plus jeunes (niveau collège ou dès 10-12 ans).
L'histoire parle en effet de harcèlement, de dérapage sur les réseaux sociaux, de trahison, de conformité et d'ostracisme. Ça fait froid dans le dos - que de cruauté et de bêtise - heureusement la réponse est encourageante. Le texte se veut donc positif avec une héroïne volontaire, qui cherche sa place et qui en a gros sur le cœur. Ses choix évoluent au fil des chapitres, son caractère s'affirme et sa liste prend forme si bien qu'elle relève haut la main le défi (et découvrira au final qui lui a adressé la lettre).
Sympa, mais vraiment pour jeunes lecteurs.
Aussi, un matin, elle découvre sur le pas de sa porte une lettre à son nom contenant un billet de vingt dollars et la promesse de voir dix de ses vœux se réaliser sous trente jours. La lettre n'est pas signée. Elle ne doit en parler à personne non plus. D'abord sceptique, Emma se laisse convaincre et dresse sa liste « des dix petites chances qu'elle voudrait voir se réaliser ».
Comme toute adolescente, Emma rêve d'entrer dans le moule et pense qu'avec un téléphone dernier cri ses ennuis pourraient s'envoler. Elle aimerait également retrouver sa complicité avec Savvy, embrasser le garçon qu'elle aime en secret depuis deux ans, décrocher un rôle dans la pièce de théâtre, changer les plans de vacances d'été et pousser sa mère à renouer avec le monde.
C'est le microcosme des ados dans ce qu'ils ont de plus odieux et affligeant à offrir ! C'est aussi très actuel et tellement agaçant. Je me sens hélas dépassée. Par contre ce roman est parfait pour les plus jeunes (niveau collège ou dès 10-12 ans).
L'histoire parle en effet de harcèlement, de dérapage sur les réseaux sociaux, de trahison, de conformité et d'ostracisme. Ça fait froid dans le dos - que de cruauté et de bêtise - heureusement la réponse est encourageante. Le texte se veut donc positif avec une héroïne volontaire, qui cherche sa place et qui en a gros sur le cœur. Ses choix évoluent au fil des chapitres, son caractère s'affirme et sa liste prend forme si bien qu'elle relève haut la main le défi (et découvrira au final qui lui a adressé la lettre).
Sympa, mais vraiment pour jeunes lecteurs.
July 7, 2023
This book is wildly underrated. The writing was hilarious and read true-to-life. The plot was clever. And did I mention the characters?
This book had me laughing out loud so many times, reading parts aloud to my teenage daughter to delight in, and crying. Even the author's thanks (and no thanks) at the end had me laughing.
I saved this one for last out of the book club selections because I liked the title the best; as it turns out, I liked this book the best, too.
This book had me laughing out loud so many times, reading parts aloud to my teenage daughter to delight in, and crying. Even the author's thanks (and no thanks) at the end had me laughing.
I saved this one for last out of the book club selections because I liked the title the best; as it turns out, I liked this book the best, too.
August 18, 2018
It's been said that luck is what you make it, and many of us keep searching for good luck, but as this wonderful middle grade novel demonstrates, life itself, with its good, its bad, and its seeming chances and off occurrences, is luck. The novel focuses on eighth-grader Emma Macintyre who is still mourning the loss of her mother's best friend, the woman she called Aunt Jenny and who lived with them for several years. Emma's not having the best year of her life and could use some luck. In addition to her heavy heart over Aunt Jenny, she is worried about the way her best friend Savvy is treating her. She seems more interested in impressing the popular crowd than remaining loyal to Emma. When Emma finds an anonymous letter that seems to promise good fortune over the next month, she is curious about who sent it but also unsure as to whether it will actually work. Things go from bad to worse with Savvy, who is the object of ridicule after sending a sexy picture to Tyler, the boy on whom Emma has been nursing a crush. I loved the way everything is wrapped up and how truly lucky Emma turns out to be--although not necessarily in the ways she might have expected. I also appreciated the fact that Emma does more than just wallow in her misery and do her schoolwork. She volunteers at Waggytail Rescue, animal rescue organization, and cares deeply about animals, even the crabs that are stranded along the beach on Fire Island where her grandmother lives. It's funny that I just read two books back to back in which the protagonist finds unexpected acceptance through acting and the drama crowd. Hmmm. There must be a message here for me. This one is rich in nuance and craft, and it features characters that seem true to life. I'm sure many of us know someone just like Emma, confused by the way her world is changing and wishing that everything could stay the same.
May 24, 2024
Cute, easy read
July 29, 2018
I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade novel in exchange for a review. There’s a saying that luck is believing you’re lucky. This story illustrates that belief very well.
Emma Macintyre is a typical eighth grader dealing with the ups and downs of friend drama, school stress, and the heartbreaking loss of a dear family friend. When she receives a mysterious letter that tells her that her luck is about to change, with an enclosed $20 bill to start the upswing in her fortune, she’s not sure what to make of it. The letter tells her to list ten things she would like to have happen in the next thirty days and then watch as things start happening for her. The letter also tells her that she can’t tell anyone about it.
As the month passes, Emma rides a roller coaster of fortune with lots of dramatic ups and downs. Middle grade readers will definitely be able to relate to many of the important issues addressed in this book: bullying, cyberbullying, technology, and family tension. This book is written with a pretty authentic voice – although grown-up me bristles a bit when she’s a bit mouthy with her mother. The book also explores the topic of luck and superstition, which gives young readers something to think about. The book employs a bit of rough language and some situations that might be best for older middle school students, maybe seventh or eighth grade.
Emma Macintyre is a typical eighth grader dealing with the ups and downs of friend drama, school stress, and the heartbreaking loss of a dear family friend. When she receives a mysterious letter that tells her that her luck is about to change, with an enclosed $20 bill to start the upswing in her fortune, she’s not sure what to make of it. The letter tells her to list ten things she would like to have happen in the next thirty days and then watch as things start happening for her. The letter also tells her that she can’t tell anyone about it.
As the month passes, Emma rides a roller coaster of fortune with lots of dramatic ups and downs. Middle grade readers will definitely be able to relate to many of the important issues addressed in this book: bullying, cyberbullying, technology, and family tension. This book is written with a pretty authentic voice – although grown-up me bristles a bit when she’s a bit mouthy with her mother. The book also explores the topic of luck and superstition, which gives young readers something to think about. The book employs a bit of rough language and some situations that might be best for older middle school students, maybe seventh or eighth grade.
June 28, 2018
I surprised myself with how much I liked this book. Emma gets a note shoved under her door with $20 telling her to have a lucky month. It's anonymous, but I think we all know who it's from since her Aunt Jenny just died. Aunt Jenny was her mom's best friend who helped to raise her, even though they weren't technically related. I loved that detail in the book, as well as the fact that the lucky month was a nice outline for the book and gave Emma something to think about but it didn't overwhelm the story. Emma just kept living her life and reevaluating what it means to be lucky. Most of the twists and turns are predictable, although there is one part where Emma's best friend Savvy winds up with a topless photo of her all over school which I did not see coming.
This book is set very well in 8th grade, covering topics of childhood and of adolescence all at once. It's got real heart.
This book is set very well in 8th grade, covering topics of childhood and of adolescence all at once. It's got real heart.
May 17, 2018
This is Erlbaum's first foray into middle grade fiction after the scorching memoirs "Girlbomb" and "Have You Found Her," and she acquits the transition well. Her voice and command of characters remains intact, and she preserves the grim but hopeful tone of her own memoirs for this story of a young girl who's lost an important family member, and tries to deal with it through a tough year. It's immensely satisfying, and I love casting the movie version of it in my head as I'm reading along, wondering who they could get to play the adult parts. It's a fun exercise, and there was ample opportunity to do that with this book.
December 15, 2019
The novel “Lucky Little Things” follows a girl named Emma Macintyre. Emma receives a mysterious letter that says that she will get 10 lucky little things to happen to her. The thing is that she doesn’t know who gave her the letter. She also is questioning whether it will actually be possible for her wishes to come true. She can not tell anyone about this or else the things that she wants to come rue will never come true. She also won’t figure out if these lucky little things will actually come true if she tells someone. When Emma’s wishes start to come true she doesn’t understand how it is possible and is very confused. She really wants to know who sent the letter and what is going to happen after all her lucky things are granted. Will she get bad luck? Will everything just go back to normal?
My favorite part about this book is when she gets her first wish granted. The main reason it is my favorite part about the book is that it lets me know that her wishes actually do get granted. Her first wish that was granted was that she got a new phone. In the novel, it states, “She handed me a smooth white box, still in the cellophane.” this shows that her first wish was that her wish did actually come true. Emma was very excited that it came true but also very suspicious about how it actually came true. She starts to wonder if her mom was the one that made it up but she still has no clue.
I would recommend this book to people who love suspense. The reason I say this is because you never know what is going to happen next. You don’t know what wish is going to come true next or if it won’t come true. You are on the edge of the seat trying to figure out who gave her the letter wondering why they would do this. The suspense of this story is, in my opinion, amazing because I always want to know what the effect of what the wish is going to bring after it comes true. Last but not least the best part about why I recomend this novel is because overall it is very fun to try and solve why these wishes are getting granted.
My favorite part about this book is when she gets her first wish granted. The main reason it is my favorite part about the book is that it lets me know that her wishes actually do get granted. Her first wish that was granted was that she got a new phone. In the novel, it states, “She handed me a smooth white box, still in the cellophane.” this shows that her first wish was that her wish did actually come true. Emma was very excited that it came true but also very suspicious about how it actually came true. She starts to wonder if her mom was the one that made it up but she still has no clue.
I would recommend this book to people who love suspense. The reason I say this is because you never know what is going to happen next. You don’t know what wish is going to come true next or if it won’t come true. You are on the edge of the seat trying to figure out who gave her the letter wondering why they would do this. The suspense of this story is, in my opinion, amazing because I always want to know what the effect of what the wish is going to bring after it comes true. Last but not least the best part about why I recomend this novel is because overall it is very fun to try and solve why these wishes are getting granted.
July 23, 2022
The book was just meh. I feel like it didn’t display an accurate 8th grade experience. It did include the r slur which is kinda accurate to middle schoolers. The book denounced the word but I feel like they couldve said the r slur instead of spelling the whole word out. I’m not the one who can decide if it’s ok if books use slurs to make it more accurate. But I know some authors do. Anyways the concept was good but the execution fell short. The whole bloop thing was cringy. I also hate when they show text and it’s all abbreviations and stuff. But what happened to Vannah is very serious and a good thing to bring light to. Also the message about bringing your own luck was nice. Overall it had a good message and was a fairly quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2025
This was part brilliant/part cringe ... and although the back cover tells me it's for ages 10-14, I don't think I'd want your average 10 year old reading it!
Cover - stunning. MC - great kid. Plot - interesting and emotional, with valuable lessons offered. Narrative voice - great, chatty and colloquial.
BUT - Bloop? (Aargghhhh, I hated that so much). And the fact that neither parents or teachers intervened in some astoundingly bad bulling was not ideal.
But it was a weepy, and I enjoyed it, I just think there are conversations to be had around some of the scenarios within the story.
Cover - stunning. MC - great kid. Plot - interesting and emotional, with valuable lessons offered. Narrative voice - great, chatty and colloquial.
BUT - Bloop? (Aargghhhh, I hated that so much). And the fact that neither parents or teachers intervened in some astoundingly bad bulling was not ideal.
But it was a weepy, and I enjoyed it, I just think there are conversations to be had around some of the scenarios within the story.
July 8, 2021
great for an easy summer read
August 22, 2023
a cute story! i didn’t really read the back of the book when i checked it out but i’m pretty sure it’s made for younger audiences. very easy read. 3.75!
May 10, 2024
This book was really good. I don’t know why I liked it so much, it was pretty average. (I read it super fast though hahahaha)But it had a really sweet ending that I didn’t expect. I liked it!
October 17, 2019
The book Lucky Little Things by Janice Erlbaum is a story about friendship and love. A girl named Emma is going through a tough life. A letter comes to her house and she tries to find luck. Does she ever get lucky? A connection I have with Emma is my old friend once betrayed me for a group of mean people. I can relate a lot to Emma. I feel a quote for this story is don't go find luck because in rough times, it will come to you. I recommend this book to middle school students, high school students and kids who are going through a rough life. I hope you enjoy this book just as I did
October 15, 2018
Don't you ever just get stressed over school and home and just drama in general? I know for a fact that Emma did. Her best friend, Savvy, stopped being friends with her and became friends with the "popular" kids in school. One of which Emma had a crush on all through school, but he didn't even know Emma existed. One day, Savvy had supposedly made out with Emma's crush. That made Emma furious that she would betray her like that. But that kiss got Savvy into some trouble. The guys began asking Savvy for nudes. At first, Savvy resisted, but the other girls said they did it all the time and if she didn't they couldn't be friend. After all, it was just a picture? Emma had serious struggles with herself to decide if she should help Savvy or stay out of the mess. Along with struggles between just finding a way for Savvy to stop ignoring her in real life. Overall, I really liked this book because it opened up to the possible struggles of being a teenager in school. Which also makes me believe it is realistic fiction because it can happen in real life and seems very real. I also just really liked the relatability level the book had, really giving me a way to connect with the book. I do believe that this book should be read by middle schoolers and high schoolers especially. Just to help them out with understanding how their could have certain consequences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2018
Emma is struggling with the death of her mother's best friend, who was a second mother and bringer of magic into her life. Also, some of the kids at school bully her and her best friend is getting in with the meanest crowd and distancing herself from Emma. This particular morning, however, there is a letter waiting under the door with her name on it. The letter holds a magical promise, ten small wishes that Emma writes down will come true. The letter affirms that the magic is REAL as long as she doesn't tell another living human. The letter starts Emma on a road of adventure as she wonders who it came from and what luck really is. Is luck getting what you want? Is luck not getting things that could hurt you? Is luck tied to destiny? Do you make your own luck? When Emma finds out who sent the first letter and the subsequent two, she also receives her answer--and realizes how lucky all of us are to be alive.
This book drips with heavy content, but does not become heavy itself. The story deals with sexting, peer pressure, cancer, death, bullying, gay parents and single parenthood. All unexpected things that the book endeavors to help a young girl deal with and resolve. It does so in a surprisingly age appropriate way. For a reader who are dealing with these or similar issues this book could be very beneficial and a marginally insightful read. What holds the book away from greatness is that it fails to capture any of the very real anguish of these things. This is what makes it age appropriate but also makes it unrealistic in an off putting way when it comes to the main character. The maturity of her response to these situations is admirable but devoid of the typical emotions and emotional intensity of a young tween girl. For this reason it is only a dependable book overall.
This book drips with heavy content, but does not become heavy itself. The story deals with sexting, peer pressure, cancer, death, bullying, gay parents and single parenthood. All unexpected things that the book endeavors to help a young girl deal with and resolve. It does so in a surprisingly age appropriate way. For a reader who are dealing with these or similar issues this book could be very beneficial and a marginally insightful read. What holds the book away from greatness is that it fails to capture any of the very real anguish of these things. This is what makes it age appropriate but also makes it unrealistic in an off putting way when it comes to the main character. The maturity of her response to these situations is admirable but devoid of the typical emotions and emotional intensity of a young tween girl. For this reason it is only a dependable book overall.
May 12, 2019
What a charming, quick read. Great story, diverse characters, and some GREAT lessons for older middle school girls. Definitely an upper middle grade/young YA book.
July 12, 2021
A funny, sad, and endearing novel about an eighth grader who is still mourning the death of her Aunt Jenny (really her mom's best friend) while dealing with the usual middle school drama. Emma's best friend Savannah has been ignoring her to hang out with the popular clique, the boy she has a crush on ignores her, and she doesn't think she'll ever get a speaking part in the school play. Then Emma receives a mysterious letter informing her that she will have good luck for a month, so she should make a list of ten small things she wants. Feeling both hopeful and skeptical, Emma writes the list, and almost immediately things start to change: She gets the new phone she's been hoping for, and also lands the lead role in the play. Certain aspects of her life don't change: the popular crowd is mean to her; her friend Savvy betrays her and then is humiliated by the clique; and Emma's mom meets a couple of men who don't seem suitable. Are her small victories really good luck, or just coincidence?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I cared about the characters and wanted them to find their good luck, and the mysterious letter writer was also intriguing. In addition, I loved Emma's observations about boys she liked and men her mother wanted to date. There were only a couple of details that bothered me, and they were small: (1) Emma is still only 12 in spring of 8th grade? If she skipped a grade or started school early, it isn't mentioned. (2) The popular crowd seemed almost unbelievably cruel, but maybe my memory of them has just faded. As an unpopular person, I remember some snide remarks and prank calls, but mainly they ignored me. The way several of them sent cruel texts on Emma's "friend's" phone was really appalling. The cyber-bullying is a modern twist, of course. (Thank God that wasn't around in the 80s!)
Overall, a really fun read. Recommended for upper elementary, middle school, and even some adults!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I cared about the characters and wanted them to find their good luck, and the mysterious letter writer was also intriguing. In addition, I loved Emma's observations about boys she liked and men her mother wanted to date. There were only a couple of details that bothered me, and they were small: (1) Emma is still only 12 in spring of 8th grade? If she skipped a grade or started school early, it isn't mentioned. (2) The popular crowd seemed almost unbelievably cruel, but maybe my memory of them has just faded. As an unpopular person, I remember some snide remarks and prank calls, but mainly they ignored me. The way several of them sent cruel texts on Emma's "friend's" phone was really appalling. The cyber-bullying is a modern twist, of course. (Thank God that wasn't around in the 80s!)
Overall, a really fun read. Recommended for upper elementary, middle school, and even some adults!
September 27, 2018
Emma is an 8th grader struggling with the recent loss of "Aunt Jenny," a beloved friend of her mom's (who took care of Emma during her first 3 years) and who died from cancer. A mysterious "Lucky You!" letter appears under her apartment door with a $20 bill in it and directions to write a list of ten lucky little things while indicating that many lucky little things would occur over the next 30 days. She didn't know what to think; but the letter declared it was not a hoax, and yet she must not tell anyone about it until after the 30 days. It's a fascinating construct as a backdrop for the life events of a middle school student suffering bullying, the loss of another best friend to a clique, and withering harassment until she gets a part in the school play and acquires a new set of interesting friends. A sexting incident figures prominently in the denouement, but a satisfying conclusion observes that, "Luck is EVERYTHING that happens to you." (both good and bad) "And, luck is what you make happen," by how you choose to respond to life's circumstances. Emma's voice in the novel is authentic-sounding, which also includes the close relationships with her single mom and her family dog. The "lucky list" would also be a great idea for a class assignment to help students both recognize the good in their lives and articulate what it is they really hope for in their lives.
January 20, 2019
Watch my video of "Lucky Little Things" here: https://youtu.be/8RYAvkV0kCE
This was a fun and cute book to read. While it is targeted for a younger audience, I felt there were some topics relevant for adults as well. There are a lot of things I enjoyed about this book. Firstly, the plot is very interesting. You keep guessing as to who is sending Emma these mysterious letters, and how they are coming true. Secondly, the story also revolves around some relevant topics that students face today. This includes peer pressure, sending inappropriate pictures via social media, and losing friendships.
We also see Emma going through the various phases where she wants to get her friendship back with Savannah, having a single parent, and losing a loved one. I also liked that the author made some of the parents as same sex partners, without making a big deal out of it. The only part I disliked was that it was repetitive at times, particularly in the first half. At times, I thought the story was not progressing as I would have liked it to.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading “Lucky Little Things” and would rate it 4/5 stars.
This was a fun and cute book to read. While it is targeted for a younger audience, I felt there were some topics relevant for adults as well. There are a lot of things I enjoyed about this book. Firstly, the plot is very interesting. You keep guessing as to who is sending Emma these mysterious letters, and how they are coming true. Secondly, the story also revolves around some relevant topics that students face today. This includes peer pressure, sending inappropriate pictures via social media, and losing friendships.
We also see Emma going through the various phases where she wants to get her friendship back with Savannah, having a single parent, and losing a loved one. I also liked that the author made some of the parents as same sex partners, without making a big deal out of it. The only part I disliked was that it was repetitive at times, particularly in the first half. At times, I thought the story was not progressing as I would have liked it to.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading “Lucky Little Things” and would rate it 4/5 stars.
April 3, 2019
Lucky Little Things by Janice Erlbaum, 274 pages. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018. $17.
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Emma finds a letter outside her apartment door telling her she will have a special dose of luck this month. Emma could use some luck since her aunt just died, her best friend has new friends and she really wants a part in the school play. As if by magic, good things do indeed happen and Emma tries to puzzle out who sent the letter and how luck works.
This is a book stocked full of relatable middle school moments and good messages to go with them. One of the more sensitive topics is that of inappropriate texting. A boy asks Emma’s friend to send a topless photo and, when she does, it goes viral and all kids involved are suspended. These are the situations and lessons better read and learned from in a book than experienced in real life!
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Emma finds a letter outside her apartment door telling her she will have a special dose of luck this month. Emma could use some luck since her aunt just died, her best friend has new friends and she really wants a part in the school play. As if by magic, good things do indeed happen and Emma tries to puzzle out who sent the letter and how luck works.
This is a book stocked full of relatable middle school moments and good messages to go with them. One of the more sensitive topics is that of inappropriate texting. A boy asks Emma’s friend to send a topless photo and, when she does, it goes viral and all kids involved are suspended. These are the situations and lessons better read and learned from in a book than experienced in real life!
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
June 17, 2020
This spunky little book about luck really hits the mark by being funny, realistic, and poignant. Emma, a middle school student, considers herself rather unlucky. So many little unlucky things have happened to her (a close family friend dying, Emma's best friend dropping her for a more popular clique, and a boy she's had a crush on forever not even noticing her), that it is a complete surprise when a mysterious letter is slipped under her front door. The letter, which states that she must not tell anyone about the letter, includes $20.00 and asks her to list what she most wishes for in the next month. While Emma makes the list, she is skeptical. Who wrote the letter and why? The result of receiving this letter is that Emma takes notice of her life, both the unlucky and lucky aspects. She changes her list of 10 wishes several times as various events transpire in her life. What she realizes by the end of the story is that it is she herself who makes her life lucky or unlucky. This is a book for middle school students because of a mention of a topless photo going viral.
September 9, 2018
I enjoyed this read but the end was a bit too convenient, particularly in light of some of the mature content in the book. It's definitely for the older end of the middle grade spectrum. (The characters are 8th graders)
One major, mature theme is the topic of sexting. A peripheral character sends a topless photo to a boy she likes and he shares it on social media, leading to lots of problems. This particular bit of the story reminds me of Goodbye Stranger from Rebecca Stead. While it's an important topic, and I don't mind the content at all, I think it's important for grown-ups to be aware of this, particularly if considering the book for an advanced, but younger reader.
Also revealed is that Emma, our protagonist, is the result of an unplanned pregnancy her mother had with a married man. This is a brief statement tied to Emma's concern that her mother is engaging with a man who Emma thinks is already in a relationship.
One major, mature theme is the topic of sexting. A peripheral character sends a topless photo to a boy she likes and he shares it on social media, leading to lots of problems. This particular bit of the story reminds me of Goodbye Stranger from Rebecca Stead. While it's an important topic, and I don't mind the content at all, I think it's important for grown-ups to be aware of this, particularly if considering the book for an advanced, but younger reader.
Also revealed is that Emma, our protagonist, is the result of an unplanned pregnancy her mother had with a married man. This is a brief statement tied to Emma's concern that her mother is engaging with a man who Emma thinks is already in a relationship.
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