The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott - HIGH

The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott, 304 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. $18.99 

Language: R (23 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG (skinny-dipping, sexuality discussed); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS- OPTIONAL 

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

17yo Emily has not been the same since her mother died three years ago. She went from being lucky, social, and daring to feeling isolated, unlucky, and afraid. The story begins at the end of summer when Emily’s dad’s friend from high school and his teenage daughter, Blake, are moving to town from Hawaii. Emily’s dad has brought her back to Huckabee’s Bingo night (which was a special activity she participated in with her mother) to try to nudge her back to her normal life. Emily has been isolating herself since the end of the last school year when she had impulsively kissed another boy in front of her boyfriend and split up the friend group. Her dad has been packing up her mom’s stuff and preparing to sell their house. In reaction to all of these changes, Emily tries to find pieces of her mother to hold onto. She finds a bucket list that her mom fulfilled the summer before her senior year. Emily decides to complete the “lucky” list herself to feel closer to her mom. Blake helps her try items on the list and Emily embarks on her own journey of self-discovery. 

The Lucky List is a beautifully written book about grief, self-discovery, and acceptance. Emily works through her grief and eventually uncovers more about herself than she had bargained for. Her exploration of suppressed feelings and denial of her sexuality lends to a sweet friendship turned love story. At times, it was frustrating to read about Emily’s misguided actions and lack of empathy for other characters, but it was a realistic portrayal of a teen letting emotion guide her decisions. The “F” words were unnecessary and the skinny-dipping part was quite innocent. It seems to be a great coming-of-age read for teens who might have their own need to see characters struggling with the same questions and feelings that they do. The exploration of grief is genuine. The beautiful cover will draw teens to the book and the hearfelt story will keep them reading to the final page. Emily is white and Blake is half-Japanese, half-white. 

Reviewer: Stacee S, reading teacher