Abandonment

The dominant theme in "The Higher Power of Lucky" is that of abandonment. Lucky Trimble, the 12-year-old protagonist, lost her mother, Lucille, when she accidentally stepped on to a power line that had fallen down after a horrific rainstorm. Lucky's father had abandoned her and her mother before she was born. He did not want children and having one on the way didn't change his mind. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that Mr. Trimble was married to Brigitte before he was married to Lucille. He and Brigitte got a divorce because Brigitte wanted children and he didn't. At least he was consistent but his serial abandonment is another example of this theme.

Miles is Lucky's five-year-old friend who is subconsciously looking for his mother. His favorite book is "Are You My Mother?" His mother is in prison and he is being raised by his grandmother. He...