Crossing the path of a black cat. Walking under a ladder. Stepping on cracks in the sidewalk. Having your birthday on Friday the 13th. Unfortunately for Sadie Bleeker, she is what's called an Unlucky, and all these superstitions are destined to have a deleterious effect on her. Like snowflakes on a car windshield, misfortune dots and obscures her life. Unsurprisingly, Sadie dreads the unknowable and unthinkable things that will occur in her time on earth. 

The knowledge that Sadie will be permanently separated from her family at age 12 does not help alleviate her sense of foreboding. Unluckies are sent away upon their 12th birthdays in to keep their families clear from the path of destruction. Sadie's only hope is to hit the books hard with a fleeting hope of passing the Luck Test. This is her only hope and prayer of remaining with her parents and sibling.

Four-leaf clovers. Blarney stones. Lucky charms. The Luckies are blessed by all things good in their worlds. They sit with each other in the lunch room and fraternize. They eat their delectable, pretty lunches in their high-class clothing. The kids laugh, exude joy, and seem to be the picture of perfection. All because a throw of the dice granted them a dose of privilege. 

Fortune Falls by Jenny Goebel, 2016

This is an awesome book about the widening income gap and concept of privilege in our society. The Luckies tend to take advantage of their status and mistreat the have-nots.

Jenny Goebel's website
 

Since the moment she was born, Samantha Gray has been immersed in all things elephant. Being raised on an elephant sanctuary is perhaps not your typical childhood, but Samantha is having a ball. She loves interacting with all the elephants as they provide constant companionship and learning opportunities.

Trixie is the largest female elephant, the matriarch of the herd. The others look to her for guidance. Bacca is young and a bit clumsy. Peanut's illness distresses all her relatives. One elephant is pregnant, and Sam eagerly awaits the joyful event. The elephants stroke the girl with their trunks affectionately.

Sam's father makes all the decisions regarding herd maintenance. Joyce, his lawyer girlfriend, is a volunteer at the refuge and helps feeding the animals and with other tasks. Doc Morgan is always available to provide expert medical assistance when needed.

When the baby is born, she is unusually hairy. Christened Woolly, the youngster is the apple of Jimmy's eye, Jimmy the guardian who arrives in style in a private helicopter. 

Since Woolly is an orphan, Joyce helps feed her. Jimmy, Sam and Samantha's father regularly visit the baby, who is very special. Woolly is a bit shy and sometimes hides behind the large elephants—and that's seven to eight tons of large. All of the humans and elephants anxiously monitor Woolly's progress and want the best for her.

Elephant Secret by Eric Walters, 2019

This book was well-researched, and I learned much about elephants by reading it.

Eric Walter's website

Books about elephants
 

It all starts off innocently enough. Nora wants to ride a rollercoaster but needs moral support. She wants a buddy to ride with her, and picks her cousin, Riley. However, at the last minute, Riley starts to wimp out. She is nervous and tearful, and begs Nora to let her out of the deal. Nora is most displeased with this change of events, and threatens to blackmail her cousin. Under this pressure, Riley capitulates.

Then tragedy strikes.

The unthinkable happens… Riley has a brain stroke.

The girl is rushed to the hospital, and therein begins the real cyclone. Family and friends are nervous for her and her recovery options. How many of her previous skills and functions will she regain? Half her face is paralyzed. Not one, or two, but four therapists fill Riley's days with recovery and skill development. She has physical, occupational, speech, and art therapists, and the girl puts 100% effort into getting better.

Nora, on the other hand, is plagued with guilt for contributing to her cousin's downfall. The fact that the adults are arguing incessantly does not help the situation. They disagree over seemingly every aspect of Riley's care. Deciding who gets to visit Riley in her room and when particular relatives come to assist are the sources of contention. Long days and evenings in the hospital wears everyone's nerves thin. All Nora can do is hope for Riley's continued recovery.  

Cyclone by Doreen Cronin, 2017

I learned much about the medical condition of a stroke from this work.

Doreen Cronin's website

Books about strokes