While it has some interesting elements, overall The Higher Power of Lucky just isn't at all in the league of books I'd consider Newbery Award worthy and it has some definite readiness issues to consider for its intended age range.
On the plus side, I enjoyed some of the quirkiness of the characters and found the desert setting interesting, especially after a recent family trip to the general region described. The progression in Lucky from fear of abandonment to trust of her guardian is sweet.
In the "should be considered on an individual basis" zone is the use on the first page of the word "scrotum" which caused a swell of controversy after the book received the Newbery Award. The context is a rattlesnake bite on a dog's scrotum. While I think the word unnecessary - the dog could just as well have been bitten on the leg or neck - the use of the anatomically correct term in a non-vulgar setting is not of any great concern to me. Parents will want to note, however, that near the end of the book the word is defined in the context of procreation. If you do not wish to discuss how babies are made with your child yet, you'll likely want to shelve this story at least until you are.
There are numerous heavy issues that parents will want to consider in deciding whether The Higher Power of Lucky is right for their child, including the fact that Lucky's mother was electrocuted when she stepped out in a storm near a downed power line, the convoluted series of divorces in her family , and her father's desertion because he does not want children. Also, Lucky's search for her "Higher Power" is vague. It sometimes seems to be a humanistic search for strength from within, but the meaning is unclear. In the story's climax, Lucky is able to deal with her mother's death and trust Brigitte as her caregiver. This is symbolized by her ability to scatter her mother's ashes. The "Higher Power" that causes a breeze to blow at this time and the singing of "Amazing Grace"by the townspeople may allude to God as a Higher Power but be aware that the term is ambiguous throughout. For parents who want their children to know a personal, loving, involved God, this will at least warrant some discussion. Lucky's emulation and the book's positive attitude towards Charles Darwin as a great scientist will be an issue warranting consideration also, as well as the acceptance of evolution as fact by the protagonist.
Lastly, the writing quality, in my opinion, is uneven and not worthy of the highest honor given to a children's book. Lucky's friends, for example, have interesting quirks. Lincoln is obsessed with tying knots and little Miles yearns for attention .., and cookies. Yet these characters remain mainly "quirks" without substancial character development. Some elements simply don't ring true or are not adequately explained. WHY, for example, would Lucky's father's first wife come overseas to care for the child of his second wife? Why, in a town of only 42 residents, with virtually no businesses and no churches, are there so many types of meetings available for addicts? In addition, the message of the story is muddied and the plot is thin.
I don't think it would be harmful for my children to read The Higher Power of Lucky , with a little parental discussion, though I certainly wouldn't have introduced it at the recommended 9-11 age range, but I really have no desire or reason to want them to read it. It was merely a mildly interesting, unevenly written story with a vague and murky message and was a real disappointment as a Newbery winner.