Savvy by Ingrid Law
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Book Reviews of Savvy
Book Review: Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Summary: 5 Stars
Gold Star Award Winner!
This was a really fun book to read.
Mississippi, aka Mibs, and her family each get a magical gift, called a savvy, on their thirteenth birthday. Rocket, Mibs's brother, has the savvy of being able to control electricity. He is a lot like those comic book heroes, good-looking with electric sparks coming off of his hands. At thirteen, her other brother, Fish, found out that he can control weather, especially causing water storms. So at thirteen the kids become homeschooled and have to learn how to control their special abilities.
When the story opens, Mibs is two days away from turning thirteen herself. She is excited about her special birthday when her father is in a horrible twelve-car accident on the highway. He ends up in a coma in a hospital in Salina, Kansas.
When she gets her savvy, she is being taken care of by the minister's wife and all she can think of is how to get to her Poppa. Mibs, Fish, her little brother, Samson, and two of the minister's kids run away to find Poppa. SAVVY is the story of their adventures crossing Nebraska and Kansas, trying to control savvys, which is called scumbling, learning to see the good in people, and, of course, the courage it takes to act on your ideals and love.
I loved the writing in this book. The author uses a lot of figurative language. Besides metaphor and simile, Ingrid Law also uses a lot of alliteration in the telling of the story. Phrases such as pushing-pulling waves, itch and scritch of birthday buzz, or how about a gaggle of flat-footed goslings. It was remarkable how the author could use language to make this story even better than it already was.
So if you want to read a really good story about growing up or if you just love the sound of language, then this is the book for you. Have a really rad read!
Reviewed by: Marta Morrison
Book Review: The Best Intentions
Summary: 5 Stars
I had heard so many good things about this book that I was a little leery of picking it up. I finally just decided to go for it, and man, am I glad that I did! Mibs and her family are not like most other families. On the day of their thirteenth birthday they usually receive their Savvy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just something that makes them special. For example, Mibs eldest brother, Rocket has a serious connection with electricity and her brother Fish has a major connection to the weather. On the day of Fish's thirteenth birthday, he caused a hurricane which forced the family to move to Kansaska-Nebransas (her grandfather can make the earth move, literally).
This story deals with Mibs upcoming thirteenth birthday, an accident that befalls their father, and what happens when Mibs thinks her savvy is one thing, when it turns out to be quite another. The shenanigans she gets into with some help from two of her brothers and the preachers somewhat unwilling kids are priceless. The angst of a bad decision is part of the major crux of this story, but the journey of discovery that all of these kids go through is quite remarkable to follow.
A major reason I really loved this book was the writing: Law really gets you into Mibs' head, and you feel all of her reasoning and justifications as if you really were her. Also, Law has a tendency to use some of the most fun words I've seen in a book in a long time. Just look at Kansaska-Nebransas and you get just a small hint of the fun words to come.
And just so you know, this book TOTALLY deserved it's Newbery Honor status this year!
Notes on the Cover:
Bus? Check. Crazy weather pattern above it? Check. And there you have two huge parts of this book right on the cover. Spot on!
Book Review: Equally enjoyed by 10 year old girl and her mom
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved the imaginative plot. Becoming a teenager is a milestone for any girl, but in the Beaumont family, when you turn 13 you find out what your "savvy" is. The older Beaumont boys are still trying to figure out how to manage their powers over wind and electricity.
Mibs Beaumont's thirteenth birthday gets off to a bad start when her father is involved in a serious car accident. But when she wakes up that morning, she gets an idea about what her savvy might be, and she is sure she can use it to help her dad get better. So she stows away in the back of a pink Heartland Bible bus headed to Salina where her dad is in the hospital, miles away from their rural location equidistant from the Kansas and Nebraska borders (which the creative Beaumonts alternately call Kansaska or Nebransas)
This kind of creative literary expression is another stand-out feature of this novel. For example, Law describes Grandpa's milestone thirteenth birthday in this way:
"When Grandpa wasn't a Grandpa and was just instead a small-fry hobbledehoy boy blowing out thirteen dripping candles on a lopsided cake, his savvy hit him hard and sudden (page 4)"
But beyond the writing, a lot happens in this sort of early coming-of-age novel. Mibs doesn't jump on that bus alone. Others join her: her brothers, the sixteen-year-old preacher's daughter and her brother Will (who thinks Mibs is awfully special, savvy or not), not to mention the bus driver who is trying to make something of himself, and the waitress who ends along involved in the caper as well. And on that bus trip, they each take their own journey of self discovery, as they learn what it means to have someone be there for you.
Book Review: Jake From Lake Tapps says "THIS BOOK HAS VERY WACKY THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAYS"
Summary: 5 Stars
Written by Ingrid Law, Illustrated by Brandon Dorman, Savvy is a great 342 paged, fantasy book. Well what do you think of when you hear "thirteenth birthday?" Presents, candles, and cake right? Well for Mississippi A.K.A "Mibs" Beaumont and her family you would usually think of hurricanes, moving mountains, and talking tattoos.
This book is about a girl named Mississippi A.K.A "Mibs" Beaumont, and her dad gets into a car crash and gets taken to a hospital in Salina, Kansas called "Salina Hope Hospital." Her thirteenth birthday is coming up which all the Beaumont's know is when they get their savvy. Mibs will do anything to get to her Salina and her poppa to wake him up out of a coma. So, to find out how she gets to Salina, Kansas and her poppa you'll have to read the book.
My favorite part of the book, Savvy is when the bus driver of the "Heartland Bible Supply Bus," Lester finds out that Mibs and her friends are on his bus as stowaways. Then, they become friends and work together to get to "Salina Hope Hospital."
The moral that the author, Ingrid Law, wants all kids and adults to know is that everybody is special in their own special way.
A book that is similar to Savvy is, Stoneheart. Stoneheart is about a boy named George who can see statues, gargoyles, and carvings come to life, and talk to him and help him on an adventure.
I recommend the book Savvy to ages 9-15 this book could also be enjoyable to adults but more suitable for kids. This is a great book and will soon be a great family movie!
Book Review: find your savvy
Summary: 5 Stars
i picked this book up by chance and bought it after reading the first 10 pages because i didn't want to put it down. Mibs (short for Mississippi) is a wonderful character who turns 13 in the beginning of the story. it is an important age for anyone but especially for the Beaumonts, who find out at 13 what their "savvy" is. her brother Rocket can create electricity. her brother Fish can make hurricanes. her grandfather can move mountains. now it's her turn.
but her father gets into an accident, turning everything upside down and sending them on an adventure that teaches them some hard life lessons.
it's a refreshing story about growing up, about being different, about listening to your voice instead of others around you to figure out who you are. i especially love the message that we shouldn't be in such a hurry to grow up.
the story moves along quickly and vividly due to Ingrid Law's use of language and illiteration:
"like the ticks and tocks of a clock"
"with a zest and a zing and a zeal"
"hurly-burly fluster of truth telling"
the ending is touching but believable, not syrupy or fantastical, which stories like this are in danger of doing. i sincerely hope she'll continue the story and write a series because this one book wasn't enough!