This novel by A.S. King focuses on the tormented life of Lucky Linderman. Since he was seven, having just lost his grandmother to cancer, Lucky has been the victim of relentless bullying. His parents seem incapable of dealing with their own demons, much less helping him confront Nader McMillan. Lucky escapes from his world through dreams. He is on a mission to rescue his grandfather, who was MIA in Vietnam. Just before she died, Lucky's grandmother told him it was up to Lucky to find his grandfather and bring him home. The dreams are vivid; it seems as if he is actually in the jungle. At times Lucky wakes with evidence from his grandfather or Vietnamese soil in his hands.
On top of everything else, a school survey he developed to track suicidal tendencies of his classmates has landed him in hot water with the administration, counselor, and his parents. He obviously needs therapy, but no one wants to explore what--or who-- really is bothering him.
Lucky is an appealing character and while his suffering at the hands of Nader is difficult to hear, he struggles to be resilient and it is easy to root for him.
