Fortune Falls- by Jenny Goebel

Let me start with a little backstory of how I learned about Fortune Falls. At my school we have a thing called Accelerated Reader. This is a program to see if you are reading books at your level and reading enough books. Since I got so into the "His Dark Materials" series, I fell just a few points short of my AR (Accelerated Reader) goal. I went to the school library to find a book and by chance my friend was in there too. She said that Fortune Falls was among one of the best books in the library, so I decided to give it a try.

In the town of Fortune Falls superstitions are true, and you are either lucky or unlucky. Up until sixth grade, everyone is undetermined; after that you must take the luck test. Sadie has always known she was unlucky. Now that she is in sixth grade she is freaking out about the luck test because she does not want to be sent to Bane's School for Luckless Adolescents (a boarding school). The week before the luck test she encounters a black cat, breaks a mirror, and doesn't find any luck charms (4 leaf clovers, lucky pennies, rabbit feet, etc).

Family stuff is also getting in the way. Sadie's dad passed away a year ago. Sadie's younger brother is obviously lucky. Also, Sadie cannot step on a crack or she'll break her mother's back. Not to mention this year her birthday lands on Friday the 13th. Sadie has to make a lot of decisions and sacrifices but will any really matter if she turns out to be unlucky? Does she even have chance of being lucky? Will her family be brought down with her?

My final point to make is that this book can represent something. Obviously this is up for interpretation but to me it represented the thoughts pre-teens entering adolescence. Some may feel lucky or unlucky, but all will probably feel self-conscious. Despite everything Sadie goes through at school, she still has a profound love for her family. The message is probably whether you are lucky or not, you being who you are is what really matters. It does not matter what other people think of you or how you do on a silly test. This is something everyone can share. As twisted as Fortune Falls is, it is also relatable.

Fortune Falls was an AMAZING book and an easy read at that. If you are looking for something just to read for fun but not have to be committed, this would be the perfect fit for you. I think the author painted the picture of the emotional, fun, and disappointing scenes in the book fabulously. Will Sadie pass the luck test? Find out now, READ THE BOOK!