The Lucky Poor by Mazie Lovie was read via an online reader copy, even though it has been out since mid-March. It is an introduction to several years of the author’s life with moving a few times, living with her grandparents and finally in a house made especially for them, as we see what it really means to be part of the oxymoron term, “the lucky poor.”
We watch as Lovie goes from a five-year-old kid to a young woman going off to college. We see the small apartment they lived in as kids, the things her grandparents are able to provide (summers in a cabin by the lake, being on a farm, lots of love) and we see how though things were tough for her mother, they always had a roof over their heads and food on the table. She sees her mothers love life have its ups and downs, she starts to see people for what they really can be, and she deals with the love, hurt and embarrassment of having an autistic brother. It is not until Habitat for Humanity steps in and grants them a house does Lovie start to see things differently. And then she will see the strings that are attached to this “gift” and how others, even family and friends, can react negatively. 
The part I enjoyed was, even though Lovie is reflective of the events that happen to her, she never gets into a “oh sad, poor me! My world is so horrible!” voice, but takes things head on and grows. As she says, if she didn’t have some of/all of the opportunities she did have, where would she be now? She started to realize that her family was, yes, “lucky” and things “could be worse” but what does that really mean?
The illustrations are supportive, but do not take away from the theme, allowing the narration to flow and you to join the author on her journey. Colors and details are minimalist, but are not skimping. It is a quick read for the adult reader, and for strong ages 10 and up (though in many ways this is not for kid readers) it would be a solid, medium paced read.