The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had [Hardcover]

Kristin Levine (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The last thing Harry ?Dit? Sims expects when Emma Walker comes to town is to become friends. Proper -talking, brainy Emma doesn?t play baseball or fi sh too well, but she sure makes Dit think, especially about the differences between black and white. But soon Dit is thinking about a whole lot more when the town barber, who is black, is put on trial for a terrible crime. Together Dit and Emma come up with a daring plan to save him from the unthinkable.

Set in 1917 and inspired by the author?s true family history, this is the poignant story of a remarkable friendship and the perils of small-town justice

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–9—This spirited, early-20th-century coming-of-age story presents a small-town cast of well-drawn characters, an unlikely friendship, engaging adventures, and poignant realizations. When a new postmaster arrives in Moundville, AL, 12-year-old Dit is surprised to discover that Mr. Walker is African American and that his refined daughter knows nothing about baseball, hunting, or fishing. With his best friend gone for the summer and in search of companionship other than his nine siblings he reluctantly hangs out with proper, opinionated Emma, who tags along with him asking questions and trying to keep up. Gradually, Dit begins to respect her independence, intelligence, compassion, and determination. But the harsh realities of segregation and racist attitudes threaten their friendship and open Dit's eyes to injustice. After witnessing the town barber's self-defense shooting of the alcoholic and abusive sheriff, Dit and Emma hatch a plan to save the black man's life. Dit's episodic story resonates with youthful authenticity. Peer pressure and racial barbs weigh on his competitive but sensitive spirit. Dit's insular world expands on drives to Selma with Dr. Griffiths, when the influenza epidemic of 1918 invades Moundville, during his pa's shotgun vigil to protect neighbors from nightriders, and in his shared exploits and lively discussions with Emma. Adult characters offer a range of guidance, perspective, and tolerance that helps shape Dit's understanding of his world. Readers will find humor in his candid account, universality in his dilemmas and blunders, and inspiration in his friendship with Emma and their mutual desire for social justice.—Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC
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From Booklist

While most of the residents in the tiny, World War I–era Moundville, Alabama, are shocked that their new postmaster is African American, Dit is simply surprised that said postmaster’s child turns out to be a girl, not the boy his own age he was expecting. Bookish, timid Emma can hardly fill the role of fellow adventurer and baseball player that easygoing Dit, with more than a trace of a Huck Finn–like charm, had his heart set on. In unexpected ways, though, the unlikely twosome cross each other’s paths and slowly build a partnership of complementary strengths. When Jim Crow rears its ugly head in the person of the menacing and blatantly racist sheriff, Emma and Dit embark on a risky adventure to save the life of a man sentenced to hang on trumped-up charges. Levine’s story treats racism frankly and with no mincing of words. The highlight of this coming-of-age journey comes from watching the two kids learn about the world and come to care about each other in the way of 13-year-olds. Grades 5-8. --Anne O'Malley

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399250905
• ISBN-13: 978-0399250903
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #608,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it win many awards, March 4, 2009

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (Hardcover)

Henry Otis Sims is 12 years old in 1917. His mom and dad, his nine brothers and sisters, the sheriff called Big Foot, the barber called Doc Haley, and everyone else in the small town of Moundville, Alabama, knows him as "Dit." Dit loves playing marbles, baseball and going fishing, and he's very efficient at killing animals with his slingshot. In fact, he's looking forward to entering the big July hunting contest next year; if he wins, maybe his father finally will be proud of him and be able to call him the correct name without running through the list of his brothers' names first.

Dit is excited when he finds out that the new postmaster has a son his age. He doesn't care that the family is African American and he's white; he's just glad to have a pal to hang with all summer. But then he drowns in disappointment when the "son" turns out to be Emma. And she's not just a girl, but a prissy one --- with fancy clothes and always toting a thick book around with her. Dit is not at all happy when his mom insists he show Emma around town.

There's something about Emma though that Dit notices right away --- she makes him think. She comes from another world, from far north in Boston, and they are both as different as a cat and mouse. But for some reason, they can't help but like one another. They each push the other to step outside of their comfort zones and experience more out of life; Emma tries her hand at fishing and baseball, while Dit begins to understand that it's not okay to kill animals for fun. They eventually form a very special friendship, despite being warned by some townsfolk that a black girl and a white boy shouldn't be friends.

But then a friend of theirs, who happens to be black, is wrongly accused of a crime. Nothing they do can stop the judge from sentencing him to hang. Emma and Dit feel responsible for his innocent part in the mistake, and they work together to form a plan to free him. Unfortunately, Emma's father receives word that he's being transferred again, and soon Emma and Dit must say goodbye. It's a year they will never forget --- and neither will anyone else who shares in their story.

I knew from the first page that THE BEST BAD LUCK I EVER HAD would be a very special book. Kristin Levine is the author of this captivating tale that is sure to be a gift to everyone who reads it. Rarely have so many vibrant characters filled one book. Dit is especially raw and alive, with a unique way of looking at the world; Levine's exceptional and natural writing style really connects Dit to the reader. Every page has something important happening, and then she brings all of the parts together by the end. Another plus is that Levine approaches the difficult themes of racial tension with grace and honesty. And then there's her sense of humor as sampled with this quote: "Chip was handsome and popular, with golden brown hair and eyes as green as emeralds. (Least that was the way my sisters described him. Tell me, which one of them had ever seen an emerald? But I guess eyes as green as pond scum just don't sound as nice.)"

THE BEST BAD LUCK I EVER HAD is an amazing story, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it win many awards. In the meantime, Levine's new fans will be waiting impatiently for her next book.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Find, March 12, 2009

By 

K Quilt - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (Hardcover)

What a wonderful book! After my 12 y/o inhaled the book, I had to see what was so captivating. The story is timeless, the writing sharp and realistic and the plot was great! I exepct this book to be an award winner this year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adults will enjoy this book, too!, February 7, 2009

By 

Marlene S. Walker - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (Hardcover)

Though this book is categorized as a children's book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to sharing it with my adult book club. Though the story takes place in 1917, it is timeless AND timely. The friendship that develops between Dit and Emma is a model for all friendships, particularly in their quest to do what is "right."