The Well-Read Child: Savvy by Ingrid Law

Savvy by Ingrid Law

When I saw Eva's review of this book at Eva's Book Addiction, I was intrigued by the story and immediately visited my library's website to see if it was available. I was thrilled to see an audio book version available and listened to it during my commute to and from work last week.

Missippi (Mibs) Beaumont is getting ready to turn 13. In her family, it is a very special birthday, the birthday where family members get their "savvy," a very special and secret magical know-how. For example, Mibs' brother Fish can create storms, powerful hurricanes even; her oldest brother Rocket can create electricity; and her deceased grandmother could catch radio waves out of the air and put songs and news stories in jars to be heard over and over again (unless you took the lid completely off.)

Right before her birthday, Mibs' Poppa gets into a horrible car accident, leaving the family separated. On her birthday, Mibs is convinced that her savvy is the ability to wake people up, so she's determined to get to the hospital in Salina to wake up Poppa. She hides on a bible salesman's pink bus and is joined by two of her brothers and Bobby and Will Jr., the preacher's kids. When the bus heads away from Salina instead of towards it, they go on quite an adventure where Mibs not only discovers her true savvy but also discovers that people are not quite how they often appear to be on the outside.

This is a fantastic book about friendship, family, and growing up mixed in with a little magic and adventure. I liked Mibs from the very beginning and think that young tween girls will definitely identify with her. Even though she has a special magical power, she is down to earth and real. The fresh concept, fast pace, and plot twists will keep readers engaged throughout the book, and it makes a perfect read aloud. This was just the type of "feel-good book" I was looking for after a rather stressful month and after reading some more intense, dark novels.

Highly recommended.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Eva's Book Addiction: "This is an all-around satisfying book that kept me intrigued all the way to the end. " (read more...)

Library Queen's Weblog: "Mibs and her family and friends are believable, full of life, and interesting. I thought I would do a quick read to see who might like the book and found that I can excitedly recommend it to." (read more...)

Little Willow: "It's almost as if the kids from the Maggie Valley books by Kerry Madden (Gentle's Holler, etc) were given the powers of the X-Men." (read more...)

Everead: "The pacing in the book was great -- by 3/4 of the way through you're just dying to know how it all works out. Recommended wholeheartedly." (read more...)

Kinnelon Library Teen Blog: "Following Mibs and her gang on this journey is one of the better reading experiences I've had in a long time. I can't imagine that there's a middle school girl around who wouldn't get a kick out of this story on so many levels." (read more...)

Abby (the) Librarian: "Savvy is poetic. It's full of fun words, real words, that are used in unique ways. It also feels like a tall tale, which I love. Rich descriptions and multi-dimensional characters make this a novel not soon forgotten." (read more...)

Yat-Yee Chong: "If this way of writing is Ingrid Law’s savvy, then I hope she stays with it. Because with it, she conveys warmth and generosity, and creates a story that is grounded in the things that matter: love, faith, and hope." (read more...)

Cool Kids Read: "I liked the originality of this book. It was an enjoyable read and the story pulled me in and carried me right along." (read more...)

Studentofsagas Weblog: "I think any teen can identify with the idea of being a bit different and standing out, and the process of coming to terms with it. " (read more...)

Random Wonder: "Savvy is an excellent tale with special recommendations for girls in the 10 - 13 age bracket, readers who enjoy magical tales, or those interested in coming-of-age tales." (read more...)

Goddess of YA Literature: "This was a sheer joy to read, a perfect book for someone feeling a tad sick and needing, like Poppa, some healing." (read more...)

Sarah Miller: "As for the plot, in retrospect it should feel far-fetched; instead it comes off as charming and fanciful. Nevertheless, the story itself didn't leave me smitten the way so many other readers are." (read more...)

Literate Lives: "Ingrid Law allows the reader to see the world of growing up through both sides' eyes, and develops the characters so well that the reader forgets that we are dealing with the fantasy world." (read more...)

Becky's Book Reviews: "Savvy is another book that had me at hello." (read more...)

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