The Luck of the Buttons

"Subtle humor, a clever narrative style, and an endearing heroine." — School Library Journal

Tomboy Tugs Button was born to a luckless family. And when she looks at them, all she sees is her own reflection looking back, until she befriends popular Aggie Millhouse, wins a new camera in the Independence Day raffle, and stumbles into a mystery only she can solve. Suddenly this is a summer of change — and by its end, being a Button may just turn out to be what one clumsy, funny, spirited, and very observant young heroine decides to make of it.

Short-listed for Iowa Children's Choice (ICCA) Award 2013
Short-listed for Grand Canyon Reader Award (Intermediate) 2014

“The tale has a whiff of nostalgia (the Brownie box camera, "dagnabit"), but the good old days are balanced by the strongly realized, immediate characters and the delicacy and originality of the writing --Horn Book An increasingly suspenseful tale revolving around a dapper, silver-tongued newcomer with plans for starting a newspaper with citizens' money (think The Music Man). --Publisher's Weekly The main message here is uncomplicated, but important--with a little faith in ourselves and a willingness to take some risks, anything is possible --Kirkus Reveiws Ylvisaker's lively writing style and appealing characters will charm readers. --Booklist Subtle humor, a clever narrative style, and an endearing heroine. Details of photography of the time period add interest, and readers who enjoy a good story with only the mildest of sinister overtones will find this one appealing. --School Library Journal Tugs is nothing but good luck for young readers, and they'll appreciate her role in this perceptive exploration of identity. --Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books A heartwarming story about a sensitive girl who exhibits innovation, ingenuity, and creativity. --Library Media Connection Combines mystery with unusual characters, including even a well known town cat. --Chicago Tribune Ylvisaker's prose reads like poetry as she creates beautiful images that never feel contrived or self-conscious. --Star Tribune Books like THE LUCK OF THE BUTTONS by Anne Ylvisaker are some of the best in the biz. A svelte little novel that's chock full of plum, pluck, and vinegar, Ylvisaker gives us a heroine you can believe in but never pity....Hand this one over to the kid that wants a good story with humor and spice and a family that's practically cursed itself. It'll stick in your brain long after you've read it, this one, and you'll be glad that it's in there. --A Fuse 8 Production (SLJ blog)”

The tale has a whiff of nostalgia (the Brownie box camera, “dagnabit”), but the good old days are balanced by the strongly realized, immediate characters and the delicacy and originality of the writing
—Horn Book

An increasingly suspenseful tale revolving around a dapper, silver-tongued newcomer with plans for starting a newspaper with citizens' money (think The Music Man).
—Publisher's Weekly

The main message here is uncomplicated, but important—with a little faith in ourselves and a willingness to take some risks, anything is possible
—Kirkus Reveiws

Ylvisaker’s lively writing style and appealing characters will charm readers.
—Booklist

Subtle humor, a clever narrative style, and an endearing heroine. Details of photography of the time period add interest, and readers who enjoy a good story with only the mildest of sinister overtones will find this one appealing.
—School Library Journal

Tugs is nothing but good luck for young readers, and they’ll appreciate her role in this perceptive exploration of identity.
—Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books

A heartwarming story about a sensitive girl who exhibits innovation, ingenuity, and creativity.
—Library Media Connection

Combines mystery with unusual characters, including even a well known town cat.
—Chicago Tribune

Ylvisaker’s prose reads like poetry as she creates beautiful images that never feel contrived or self-conscious.
—Star Tribune

Books like THE LUCK OF THE BUTTONS by Anne Ylvisaker are some of the best in the biz. A svelte little novel that's chock full of plum, pluck, and vinegar, Ylvisaker gives us a heroine you can believe in but never pity....Hand this one over to the kid that wants a good story with humor and spice and a family that's practically cursed itself. It'll stick in your brain long after you've read it, this one, and you'll be glad that it's in there.
—A Fuse 8 Production (SLJ blog)

Anne Ylvisaker is the author of Dear Papa, which Booklist named a Top Ten Youth First Novel, and Little Klein, a Book Sense Pick and winner of numerous awards. Formerly of Iowa and Minnesota, Anne Ylvisaker now lives in California.

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