Fortune Falls - A Book for Friday the 13th

by Jenny Goebel

Scholastic Press, 2016. 201 pgs.

Fortune Falls: a town where superstitions aren't just superstitions. Here rabbits' feet cost more than diamonds, and children are tested the year they turn twelve to determine if they are a Lucky or not. For the safety of the town, Unluckies get shipped far away to attend the Bane Boarding School for Unlucky Adolescents. Eleven-year-old Sadie Bleeker is an Unlucky. Of course she hasn't been tested yet, but everyone knows it's true. Sadie's life has been one terrible event after another, and to make matter's worse, her important twelfth birthday falls on Friday the 13th!

Sadie can't imagine leaving her widowed mother, little brother, or her best friend, Cooper. But she also doesn't want her unfortunate presence to put them in danger, especially after her luck takes an impossible turn for the worse. With the help of friends, family, and a suspicious black cat, Sadie sets out to change her fortune no matter what tricks fate pulls on her. This tale is the cheerful story of a middle-school underdog who learns to accept bad luck, loss, bullies, and growing up; all with a magical twist.

Comments

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Review: Fresh Start

Fresh Start By Gale Galligan New York: Graphix, 2025. Graphic novel. 270 pages. Ollie Herisson is only in 7th grade, but she has already lived all over the world. Her father is an American diplomat, whose job has taken their family to France, Singapore, Thailand (where her mom is from), and now to Chestnut Falls, Virginia. Ollie loves that her family doesn't stay in one place very long, it allows her to have a fresh start and hide from any embarrassing moments each time they move. But Ollie's parents have big news -- they've decided to buy a house in Virginia and put down roots. Now, Ollie and her younger sister Cat have to figure out how to build lasting friendships which means resolving conflict rather than running away when things get hard. Loosely based on the author's own childhood experiences, this graphic novel is sure to be popular with readers who like coming of age stories. Watching Ollie learn to think of others as she advocates for her sister Cat, and navig...

Review: Will's Race for Home

Willl's Race for Home By Jewell Parker Rhodes Little Brown & Company, 2025. Fiction. 256 pages. Will is a young man whose father and family are working the land as sharecroppers in Texas. When Will's father comes home with the news that there is land available in Oklahoma to those who can stake and settle it, Will's father expresses his deep desire to go and claim land for their family. Will begs to be included, but his mother is reluctant to let him go. After input from the entire family, they decide that Will is ready for the responsibility. Along the way Will and his father develop a deeper appreciation for each other, form deep friendship, discover hidden enemies, and encounter many challenges which force them to make difficult decisions. Will's father has to rely heavily on him, especially as they get closer to their final destination. Will's bravery is inspiring and commendable. This book is full of many amazing elements: suspense, adventure, fr...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog