wiseowl33's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I was going to like this book at first, but it really was a good book. I loved the story in the end and very much loved the characters. Great book!
23missb's review against another edition
4.0
What are the chances of being struck by lightning? Genesis Beam can answer that. Though it comes as no surprise that 11 year old Nate Harlow is struck by lightning and on his birthday nonetheless. He is, after all, the unluckiest person anyone in their small town of just over 700 people knows. So unlucky that his hound dog previously got snatched up and carried away by a tornado. So unlucky that Nate has never won a coin toss in all of his 11 years. The lightning strike changes Nate's luck though and with that comes changes in Nate and Gen's friendship. This is a light hearted story with the power of friendship firmly at its centre. The aspects of small town living and nesting loggerhead turtles give this book a little more depth. I think kids in grades 4-6 will enjoy this one.
luckyliza13's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Good story about a kid who thinks he's unlucky until he survives a lightning strike. His luck changes, but he comes to see it may not really be all that "lucky". When his best friend,who he has blown off since he's been asked to hang with the cool kids, gets struck by lightning too, he realizes what true luck is. I liked the Florida setting & side story of the conservancy of the loggerhead turtles.
kellerm's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. It is a good elementary book. Has diversity. Strong boy character. Friendship, popularity themes that run through the book. Florida book. A bit of luck makes this book very enjoyable. Appeals to a wide range of students. Even third graders would like. Would be a good read aloud as well.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
If Nate can count on one thing, it is his bad luck. His toast is always burnt, he calls the coin toss wrong every time, and no one wants him on their team. But all that changes when he is struck by lightening on his 11th birthday. His bad luck streak has reversed itself, and good luck follows everything he does. This brings a new found popularity -- instead of Gen, his one true friend, he finds the coolest kids in his class want him on their team. As Nate explores the limits of this luck, he enjoys it more and more. But will his friendship with Gen survive this lucky streak? A fun book about friendship, good luck, and what is truly important in life. Highly recommended to grades 3-7.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
3.0
JF book that I read aloud to the rest of the family as we traveled Iowa. Nate Harlowe was always unlucky--until he got struck by lightning, and suddenly seemed to be the luckiest boy in town. His best friend is very analytical, and she doesn't believe in luck. The change in circumstance strains their relationship.
I liked the way the author really grounded this book in a sense of place; it's definitely set in small-town Florida, and it shows in the details.
I liked the way the author really grounded this book in a sense of place; it's definitely set in small-town Florida, and it shows in the details.
chinacatsun76's review against another edition
2.0
Lucky Strike is your basic "outcast becomes popular, abandons his real friends for the new cool kids, and eventually learns that friendship and family are everything" story.
Though I enjoyed Nate's BFF Gen, gifted in all things practical and a lover of science and math, as an interesting foil to his "luck is everything" perspective, I couldn't find much to love about this book. The pacing is painfully slow, with not much going on in terms of plot or character development for the middle 60% of the book. Both the Nate is so super lucky and the Nate abandons his friends sections could have done without about 75 pages combined. And the turtles, which are meant to drive the plot to its climax, seem to come from no where after a one line mention earlier in the book. Writing-wise, I found the Southern quirkiness and sayings trite rather than reverent. Might appeal to 4-6th grade audience, but lacks the sophistication many upper-elementary books have in terms of avoiding an obvious ending.
Though I enjoyed Nate's BFF Gen, gifted in all things practical and a lover of science and math, as an interesting foil to his "luck is everything" perspective, I couldn't find much to love about this book. The pacing is painfully slow, with not much going on in terms of plot or character development for the middle 60% of the book. Both the Nate is so super lucky and the Nate abandons his friends sections could have done without about 75 pages combined. And the turtles, which are meant to drive the plot to its climax, seem to come from no where after a one line mention earlier in the book. Writing-wise, I found the Southern quirkiness and sayings trite rather than reverent. Might appeal to 4-6th grade audience, but lacks the sophistication many upper-elementary books have in terms of avoiding an obvious ending.
jillcd's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting choice of topic: unlucky versus lucky. Nate discovers the pros and cons of being both. Add to the fact that he becomes lucky due to being struck by lightning and you've got a fun, weird, "enlightening" book.
gothamgal's review against another edition
3.0
I love great recommendations and, sometimes, when I am recommended a book I get an advanced copy and I get to participate in a book tour—I LOVE blog tours, because it allows me to get introduced to some great new (to me) blogs. Today, we’re touring Bobby Pyron’s novel Lucky Strike.
Nate Harlow has had a pretty unlucky like, but all that changes on April 11th, the day of his 11th birthday. He is finally able to blow out all the candles from his cake. Nate is convinced the unlucky streak that has plagued him all of his life is finally over…until he gets struck by lightning at the mechanical dinosaur at goofy golf. It’s a miracle he survives, and it isn’t until much later that he realizes exactly how lucky he is.
From that moment, Nate’s luck begins to change (for his Grandfather, as well) for the better. And his best friend, Genesis (Gen, for short) is along for the ride. While Nate believes the strike gave him the good luck, Gen cites the statistical probability. But, is it more than that? Does Nate’s experience of being lifted up just after the strike, hold any water?
Bobby Pyron writes a fun, youth-oriented novel about beliefs and one young man’s journey towarding figuring out his place in this world.
Nate is a great character, so authentic and easily an ‘everyboy’ (with a strong helping of underdog). Most people can identify with this character, especially those at the ‘tween’ stage of life. He photographs single shoes and his parents died in an accident when he was four. As a result, he has lived with his Grandfather ever since. While the two have been close, neither are prepared for the tough decisions Nate will have to make, thanks to his newfound celebrity…especially when it comes to friends.
I sympathized with Gen. I was a bit of an oddball during this time of my life and I was struck by her strength—her commitment to being true to herself and working to save the turtles who nest at the local beach. She is heartbroken in Lucky Strike but she keeps going and stays true to herself.
This was a great read—perfect for the young reader in your life, or the older reader in search of a meaningful book, Check out the excerpt below—and pick up the book from your favorite retailer today!
Nate Harlow has had a pretty unlucky like, but all that changes on April 11th, the day of his 11th birthday. He is finally able to blow out all the candles from his cake. Nate is convinced the unlucky streak that has plagued him all of his life is finally over…until he gets struck by lightning at the mechanical dinosaur at goofy golf. It’s a miracle he survives, and it isn’t until much later that he realizes exactly how lucky he is.
From that moment, Nate’s luck begins to change (for his Grandfather, as well) for the better. And his best friend, Genesis (Gen, for short) is along for the ride. While Nate believes the strike gave him the good luck, Gen cites the statistical probability. But, is it more than that? Does Nate’s experience of being lifted up just after the strike, hold any water?
Bobby Pyron writes a fun, youth-oriented novel about beliefs and one young man’s journey towarding figuring out his place in this world.
Nate is a great character, so authentic and easily an ‘everyboy’ (with a strong helping of underdog). Most people can identify with this character, especially those at the ‘tween’ stage of life. He photographs single shoes and his parents died in an accident when he was four. As a result, he has lived with his Grandfather ever since. While the two have been close, neither are prepared for the tough decisions Nate will have to make, thanks to his newfound celebrity…especially when it comes to friends.
I sympathized with Gen. I was a bit of an oddball during this time of my life and I was struck by her strength—her commitment to being true to herself and working to save the turtles who nest at the local beach. She is heartbroken in Lucky Strike but she keeps going and stays true to herself.
This was a great read—perfect for the young reader in your life, or the older reader in search of a meaningful book, Check out the excerpt below—and pick up the book from your favorite retailer today!