Three Times Lucky is a gem of a book, told with clever humor and wit, and Mo LoBeau is a memorable and unique character. She is spunky, honest, resourceful, courageous, and endearing. An excellent role model, Mo is utterly unafraid to speak her mind, a fierce protector of her loved ones and a strong willed proponent of justice. Reminiscent of another time, this story takes place in the backwoods of North Carolina, with plenty of drawl and slang and charm. A main character's parent is a violent alcoholic, whose drinking problem is known to all in town, and who is abusive to his family. Tupelo Landing is a tight-knit and supportive community, that comes together when times are tough and when a neighbor needs a helping hand. Underage drinking takes place amongst older teens, and language is extremely mild--one use of the word "jack-ss." This is a murder mystery, so the death of a community member is mentioned, and main characters do find themselves in dangerous, life-threatening situations. Mo has spent her entire eleven years desperate to discover the identity of her birth mother, who she calls her "Upstream Mother." What Mo learns over the course of the story is that the Colonel, who found her as a baby and took her in, and Miss Lana, who also cares for her, are her real family. Three Times Lucky would make a great read aloud, as it is suspenseful, funny, and charming, and Mo is an extremely discussion-worthy character.
