One Lucky Girl

by George Ella Lyon, Irene Trivas

Even though their trailer is destroyed by a tornado one summer Sunday in 1961, Nick's family is grateful because they find his baby sister alive still in her crib. By the author of Book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

George Ella Lyon is a Kentucky author who has published in many genres, including picture books, poetry, juvenile novels, and articles.

Reviews

[Debra]

In these days of weather phenomenon events that are frightening and horrific we need stories that show families surviving and jumping into action. Story is descriptive and honest and illustrations moving from serene to devastation to calm.

[Melissa]

Fiction
1st-3rd grades
This book does a good job of using figurative language to keep the reader engaged. I really enjoyed the plot line and the illustrations.

[Makenzie Miller]

This book teaches the importance of family. Perfect for a unit about family or for a science lesson about tornadoes.

[Erika Graves]

This book is about a little boy and his family. One day he was outside with him mom and dad while his baby sister napped, when a tornado came through. Their home, where the baby was sleeping, was gone. Fearing the worst, they began digging through the rubble. Eventually the little boy found his sister still sleeping in her crib. I think this book could be used to discuss point of view. While reading it, I assumed this book was being told by a little girl because of the title. I was very confused during the first few pages until I discovered that the girl's brother was telling the story. You could talk with the students about why the story was told from the brother's point of view rather than the baby's. You could also discuss how the story would be different if the book was told from another point of view. However, I didn't necessarily care for this book overall. I felt that it lacked details and left me wanting to know more.

[Reanna Brown]

Grade: 3rd-4th
Genre: Realistic fiction
This book can actually relate to those who live in tornado ally, I’ve experienced a tornado before and it’s a scary thing. So reading this book and seeing how things turn out and seeing what it means to love each other and to be together is very important.

[Jackie]

Based on a true story, One Lucky Girl recaptures the horror and devastation a violent and massive tornado will bring to an unsuspecting rural community. Baby Becky was asleep in her family's trailer when the storm hit. Everyone quickly took cover, but the trailer was swept up into the arms of this unrelenting beast. Mom, Dad and brother, Hawkeye, searched in vain through the metal rubble of what was once their home. Hawkeye had other ideas, though, and he ran to the open fields of grass and flowers, and there was Baby Becky still snuggled up in her blanket inside her crib...all rejoiced the fact that she was "one lucky girl".

[Brittany N]

This is a non-fiction story of a mother, father, their son and infant daughter. One Sunday, a tornado hits, and afterwards the family realizes that their trailer, which baby Becky was asleep in, is destroyed. While looking through the ruins the boy notices something in the grass, it is Becky’s crib, and she is still inside. Everyone is overjoyed. Becky is one lucky girl. This book can be used when discussing family structures or tornadoes.

[Tiffany Young]

This is a non-fiction story of a mother, father, their son and infant daughter, and what happens to them when a tornado hits their trailer. This story could be used in the classroom to teach students the difference between fiction and nonfiction, a unit on personal narratives, or even a unit on families and community building.

[Andrea]

used for personal narrative

[Lupine]

Evidently based on a true story of a tornado, a baby and her big brother Hawkeye. A lovely story of community, hope and gratitude.

[Jeanette]

Very suspenseful!!!

[Matthew]

The story of a tornado that destroys a family home, but miraculously spares the infant that was sleeping inside. Simple text, but still entertaining.

[Vivian]

Children give their rapt attention as this adventure story unfolds.

[Olivia]

Its good now I want to read it again