# Is "The Higher Power of Lucky" by Susan Patron a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Atheneum / Richard Jackson Books, 2006) is identified by: First edition 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers / Richard Jackson Books (New York). US true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers / Richard Jackson Books (New York)
- First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; copyright 2006
- Illustrated by Matt Phelan; red boards; first-state color pictorial dust jacket has no Newbery seal
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum / Richard Jackson Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Susan Patron |
| Publisher | Atheneum / Richard Jackson Books |
| Year | 2006 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers / Richard Jackson Books (New York) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers / Richard Jackson Books (New York). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1; copyright 2006. Illustrated by Matt Phelan; red boards; first-state color pictorial dust jacket has no Newbery seal.

## Is this the true first?
US true first edition. Newbery Medal awarded 2007.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Atheneum reprints drop the 'First Edition' line or show a number line ending in a higher digit (e.g. a line to 2 = second printing); post-award jackets add the Newbery seal; book-club editions lack a price on the flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Higher Power of Lucky* by Susan Patron a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-higher-power-of-lucky
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.