If You're Lucky

Gr 9 Up—After 17-year-old Georgia's adored older brother Lucky dies in a surfing accident in Australia, Fin, Lucky's self-proclaimed "best friend," shows up in their small California hometown. Charismatic Fin quickly assimilates himself in town, dating Lucky's girlfriend, taking Lucky's dog for walks, and getting a job at Lucky's father's business. Georgia soon becomes convinced that Fin killed Lucky in order to take over his life. Georgia, however, is a diagnosed schizophrenic, and no one believes her. When she decides she needs to go off her medications to get a clearer mind in order to prove Fin killed her brother, things start to spin out of control. Amanda Leigh Cobb narrates, and since the book is written in the first person, listeners experience Georgia's erratic behavior and paranoid delusions with her. Although Georgia may be an unreliable narrator, Cobb's intimate portrayal makes listeners want to believe her. Her pacing and wrought emotions are spot-on as Georgia spirals downward, leaving listeners wondering if Georgia has discerned the truth or if she is just hallucinating.