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Beginner’s Luck by Laura Pedersen, reviewed by Leah H.

In the book Beginner’s Luck by Laura Pedersen an eleventh grade Hallie Palmer learns that she is soon to be the second of eight children. All Hallie wants is to buy a car to drive to Las Vegas to put to use her gifted ability to gamble. However, after her parents don’t give her the money she needs for the car, Hallie leaves home and leaves school. After answering an ad for the position of a yard person she soon enters the life of a wacky family with Mrs. Olivia, a bohemian sixty-five year old woman, Mr. Bernard, her culinary son, and their unconventional lifestyles. Hallie learns with the help of this unusual family that finding your own way, acceptance, and having fun.

The book is comedic with a very unique plot. The author successfully combines the reality of school and family life with this odd family that somehow seems believable. When Hallie expresses frustration towards her family and school, you can truly relate to it. Also, even though Hallie is gifted with math and the uncanny ability to gamble, she still has her flaws and appears as a normal teenage girl with different expectations towards life. All of the characters have humorous characteristics, and interesting views and experiences on life. The humor is simple yet so ingenious, and the wise words of wisdom are so inspiring. It subtly intertwines the themes of acceptance and choosing your own path.

The negative of this book is that towards the end I felt it dragged on a little bit. The main problem in the story was solved, and the subplot was very faint and not much action was going on.

However, this book is an interesting read with new twists and surprises. The book makes you want to run away to an eccentric family that doesn’t mind employing a sixteen year old that doesn’t go to school. I rate it four and a half stars.