[1] Wood drew on personal experience: her father won $6 million from the Washington state lottery, and her brother-in-law had Down syndrome.

[2] The novel focuses on Perry Crandall, a man with an IQ of 76, who wins $12 million in a lottery.

New York Magazine compared it favorably to Forrest Gump, calling it "heartfelt and totally not corny".

[3] The Independent gave it a positive review, noting that it wouldn't be to all tastes and sometimes the central character seemed a bit too wise, but found it offered a pleasing story of an underdog's triumph.

[5] The Guardian noted other critics' comparisons to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time but found it simple-minded with the simplistic morality of pantomime.