Customer Reviews

Lucky Charm (Beacon Street Girls #8) (Beacon Street Girls (Paperback Unnumbered))

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The only reason I read this book is because there is one character with autism. Katani, of Beacon Street Girls (Boston) fame has an older sister named Kelley who has autism.

Katani is friends with a group of girls in the Boston area. They call themselves the Beacon Street Girls as a nod to their neighborhood. Although I didn't care for most of the characters, save for Katani and her family and the adult characters, I did like the realistic way Kelley was presented. The second youngest of 4 daughters, Kelley has limited social skills; her verbalizations are bizarre to those who don't know her; is highly charged; cannot stand bright lights or loud noises. At the story's opening, the girls go to an outdoor festival. Disaster abounds whn the BSG mascot (an adorable mixed breed dog) runs away. The girls go frantic; send each other text messages and e-mails; blame and self recrimination abounds. Kelley has a believable meltdown as she loves the dog and can't bear noise and confusion.

Luckily, a program called hippotherapy (horseback riding treatment) for autistic youth becomes available. Kelley is enrolled. Katani is enrolled against her will as Kelley has to have "a peer to supervise her." Naturally Katani grows to love riding; proves to have talent and enjoys trotting off with her sister.

Another disaster - the stable may close due to lack of funding. As you have already guessed by now, the BSG saves the stable; the dog is returned and readers will have to wade through the book to find out how.

A bit too girly for me - I could not stand the inane and irksome "OMG" talk among other things; pink and lavender (IKKKK); those silly girls save for Katani and her sisters, but I did like the Boston setting.

A good book to pair this one with is A challenge for Brittany (Choose the right)

Marty- the BSG's little mascot is lost but is finally found by the famous Robbie Flores. Flores offers 10,000 for the little dude and half of the BSG want to accept it. Katani would like to except the award because High Hopes riding stable (a stable that helps autistic kids like Katani's sister horseback ride)would be shutting down if it doesn't raise 10,000 dollars in a week. Charolotte though is putting articles about Marty everywhere, desperatly trying to find Marty. The BSG has one HUGE problem:they don't know if they should take the money or not. A MUST READ!!!!!!!

How long has it been since I have had so much fun reading?! My daughter, since age eight, has loved the BSG. She just finished Lucky Charm. She raves, "I've never seen a teen/tween book this fun! I...can't wait to read book 9!!!" Long story short: Aladdin, MAKE MORE BSG BOOKS!!!

Everyone in town is excited about the Brookline 300 Festival, and the Beacon Street Girls have made plans to meet up and experience the fun together.

On the day of the event, Charlotte decides to bring Marty, the BSG doggy mascot. Katani, who is unexpectedly forced to watch her autistic sister, Kelley, for the day, decides to bring her, too. Avery takes Marty over to the batting cages, and when Katani and Kelley show up, Marty scrambles out of Avery's duffel bag to run over to Kelley. However, a nearby squirrel distracts him, and, before the BSG know it, Marty is gone!

Accusations fly as Charlotte blames Avery, while Avery struggles to not break down over the dog's disappearance. The girls set up a website and put up fliers all over town, but turn up nothing but false hopes and wild goose chases. Finally, a lead pops up that might be legitimate, and the girls find themselves having to make a difficult choice.

Should they take the opportunity to save the special riding stable that helps people like Kelley, or is Marty too special to be bought for any price?

I loved the conflict in this particular BSG book. The author does a great job of showing multiple, legitimate sides to a difficult decision, and even demonstrated how solutions can be reached through everyday means. One does not need to be a fan of the series to appreciate this aspect.

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

This is a great book! Along with all the other BSG books this is great! A MUST read for all girls!!!

Wow! THis book is great! Its the best one yet, a MUST read!