Patron << pah TROHN >>, Susan (1948-…), is an American author of children’s books. She won the 2007 Newbery Medal for her book The Higher Power of Lucky (2006). The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the most distinguished children’s book written by an American. The Higher Power of Lucky focuses on a 10-year-old girl named Lucky Trimble who lives in a small town in the California desert. Lucky’s mother has died and her father’s former wife, Brigitte, has come from France to look after Lucky. Lucky is afraid that Brigitte will abandon her and return to France. Lucky’s story continues in two sequels, Lucky Breaks (2009) and Lucky for Good (2011).
Susan Hall was born on March 18, 1948, in San Gabriel, California, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She married Rene Albert Patron, a restorer of rare books, in 1969. Susan Patron received a bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College in 1969. In 1972, she received a master’s degree in library science from Immaculate Heart College. She worked as a children’s librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library from 1972 until her retirement in 2007.
Patron’s first book, Burgoo Stew (1991), contains stories about a man named Billy Que. Her later books Five Bad Boys, Billy Que, and the Dustdobbins (1992) and Bobbin Dustdobbin (1993) contain more stories about Billy Que and two creatures named Hob and Bobbin who live in the dust under Billy’s bed. Patron’s other books include Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe (1993) and Dark Cloud Strong Breeze (1994).
