Savvy

The book Savvy by Ingrid Law is a fantastic fantasy novel.It's about a girl named Mibs who is turning thirteen, and in her family, turning into a teenager means that she will receive her special ability called a Savvy. It's a great novel filled with a bunch of fun adventures.

In the book......more

The book Savvy by Ingrid Law is a fantastic fantasy novel.It's about a girl named Mibs who is turning thirteen, and in her family, turning into a teenager means that she will receive her special ability called a Savvy. It's a great novel filled with a bunch of fun adventures.

In the book Savvy Mibs lives between Nebraska and Kansas, she is no ordinary girl. In her family at the age of thirteen everybody gets their Savvy. On her older brothers thirteenth birthday his savvy was to control electricity, and her other brother named Fish, is able to control the weather. Everybody in her family seems to have a Savvy except her dad, but her thirteenth birthday is coming soon and she is very excited about her Savvy. What will Mibs's Savvy be? Will she be strong enough?

Ingrid Law is mind blowing! She's a great storyteller. Her characters are very delightful and Interesting. Ingrid Law handled this story perfectly,there were so many twist's in this story and great imagery.I could NOT put this books down, it was mesmerizing . In the end this book left you wanting more! The message of this book is, don't be in a hurry to grow up.I agree with this because, us as young students can't wait to get out of school, but we should stop trying to grow so fast and enjoy being young. We should just enjoy the little fun things before we have to grow up get jobs and pay bills, that's no fun!

In conclusion this book really interested me, and raised multiple questions in my mind, such as "What would my Savvy be?" and "Would my Savvy be life changing?" I would really recommend this book to elementary students and above. This book will change your perspective on how you view life as a young child, and maybe you'll end up having a great journey along the way.

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Meh. I wanted to like Savvy, but it felt manipulative and overwritten to me... the same vibe I got from

and

. This one, not surprisingly, is a Newbery contender as well. A florid style, faux vernacular, and over-the-top alliteration (and cutesy vocabulary) does not equal lit......more

Meh. I wanted to like Savvy, but it felt manipulative and overwritten to me... the same vibe I got from

and

. This one, not surprisingly, is a Newbery contender as well. A florid style, faux vernacular, and over-the-top alliteration (and cutesy vocabulary) does not equal literary merit! I felt like it lacked both strength and authenticity.

The story itself could have stood on its own, and with a different writing style I might have enjoyed it. I like stories of adolescents coming into a hereditary talent or power, though that's hardly an original idea. And I enjoy stories with strong families. But the bulky writing had me rolling my eyes the whole time, keeping me from enjoying the potentially exciting plot.

I can't think of a single child I can give this to. I can think of some parents who might luxuriate in it as a read-aloud, and children perhaps enjoying it that way.

I've heard only good reviews of this, though, and from friends and colleagues I greatly respect -- so my dislike of it is probably a matter of taste.(less)

is the new book from up and coming author author: Ingrid Law]. The book is an intriguing look into the life of an

special family known as the Beaumont's. The Beaumont's are endowed with what they refer to as their own personal "Savvy," some type of supernatural power that they develop o......more

is the new book from up and coming author author: Ingrid Law]. The book is an intriguing look into the life of an

special family known as the Beaumont's. The Beaumont's are endowed with what they refer to as their own personal "Savvy," some type of supernatural power that they develop on or around their thirteenth birthday. The story focuses on the young protagonist Mississippi (Mibs) Beaumont who is rapidly approaching this fateful date. When her father is involved in a car accident, Mibs and her two brothers (along with a few tag-alongs) set out on a journey to visit their father in the hospital.

is a wonderful book aimed primarily at young adults, but also easily accessible to an older age group. It is a refreshingly original adventure story which appeals to the inner child inside of each of us. Both boys and girls will find themselves enthralled as they follow Mibs, her two eccentric brothers, as well as a host of other wacky characters

trip to end all road trips! While often hilarious and zany, Savvy remains grounded in the traditional wholesome family values we have come to expect from the Walden brand. The story combines just the right amount of humor and heart to make it one of the most engaging children's books of recent memory.(less)

Kids, please don't hitchhike aboard a stranger's bus...

I actually had to look up the criteria for a

after reading this. Even as an "honor" medal, I couldn't believe that it deserved the title of "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." But I gu......more

Kids, please don't hitchhike aboard a stranger's bus...

I actually had to look up the criteria for a

after reading this. Even as an "honor" medal, I couldn't believe that it deserved the title of "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." But I guess that's not really up to me, it's up to 15 people to decide.

But...if it were up to me, this book would probably get a medal for "best concoction of invented and real words...without saying much." I fully admit that it's unique prose caught my eye in the beginning but after a while the story was so full of word fluff that when digging around for the story, I realized there wasn't very much there.

I appreciate beautiful prose but it just got to be too much. Much of the prose sounded like this:

...etc. etc. etc.

Now, don't get me wrong. I fully enjoy adjective-saturated imagery...but when the focus is more on the word usage than on the plot, I begin to wonder what was the point of the story in the first place?

In case you're wondering, the plot basically goes like this:

The End.

Obviously, the message here is one we've heard over and over again. Mibs, who is somewhat of a social outcast, is initially disappointed in her ability (i.e., Savvy) but ends up appreciating it, and through her adventure she develops friendships with other kids. Unfortunately, there is nothing awe-inspiring of this message. And for an honor book, I expected to be blown away.

1) Why would a group of teenagers along with a 7-year-old go hide in the back of school bus with a stranger driver. Did they not consider that their parents would be frightened to death by their disappearance? Furthermore, couldn't one of the townsfolk or even her Grandpa drive them to Salina to be with her dad? (Oh, but then we wouldn't have a story now would we?) And couldn't Mibs have told her Grandpa or left a note before they drove off?

2) Then when the bus driver, Lester, finally discovers them, does he insist on calling their parents? Is he the responsible adult he should be? Oh no, he lets them stay on the bus while he continues making his deliveries.

3) When the bus happens upon a broken down car with a lady (Lill) waiting by the side of the road, Lill decides to join them on the bus...because that's just what you should do when your car breaks down...climb aboard a bus of full of kids with a strange man. (Btw kids, it's really okay to hitchhike because it's a pink Bible Bus.)

4) But Lill is more of a responsible adult because she makes them call their parents...but isn't clever enough to know that the kids trick her by not really calling their parents. (And would any parent that had missing kids tell Lill to just wait until the next day to bring them home?)

5) And when the kids were finally found, when would a police officer ever say this: "I know how easy it is to make wrong choices and end up in difficult situations, but things don't always turn out badly. There will be consequences, of course, but no one got hurt, and no hurt was meant. So, as far as I know, no one's pressing any charges against those folks out there. [Lester] and [Lill] may have made some ill-advised decisions, but they did do a good job of looking after you and keeping you all safe."

6) So I guess the real message here would be: "Kids, if you make really bad choices, but nothing bad comes out of it, it's okay then."

I still can't believe this is what is considered a contribution to children's literature. If you are interested in a Newberry Medal read, there are much better choices out there: try

or

or

.

Should you read? Sorry but I have to say, "Skip it."

For this review and more check out:

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"Monday through Wednesday, we called our thin stretch of land Kansaska. Thursday through Saturday, we called it Nebransas."

It's writing like this that makes Savvy fun and quirky. Law especially captures the as the main character, a young girl named Mississippi (Mibs) Beaumont.

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"Monday through Wednesday, we called our thin stretch of land Kansaska. Thursday through Saturday, we called it Nebransas."

It's writing like this that makes Savvy fun and quirky. Law especially captures the as the main character, a young girl named Mississippi (Mibs) Beaumont.

Mibs and her family share a special secret: that on their 13th birthday they get a certain power. For example, Mibs' brother Fish can cause hurricanes and thunderstorms, and her other brother Rocket can generate electricity (which, by the way, jumpstarts their ancient station wagon). (I can't wait to discover what Mib's quiet younger brother, Samson, will get!)

A few days before Mibs' special birthday, her father is in a serious car accident and in a hospital almost 100 miles a way in Salina, Kansas. Her mom goes to the hospital with Rocket in the Rocket-powered station wagon, leaving the kids (Fish, Mibs, Samson, and baby Gypsy) at home. The day of her birthday party, Mibs realizes that Samson's turtle, previously assumed dead, has come out of hibernation. Thinking that her savvy is the power to wake animals and people up, she sets off on the quest to visit her dad and cure him herself.

Mibs finds a pink bible-salesman’s bus with "Salina" on the side to hide in, but Samson and Fish find her and decide to join in the impromptu journey, along with family friends Bobbi and Will Jr.

The characters in this book are lovable. The bible-salesman is a great "adult" to add to the story. Law's sentences are full of alliteration that bounces off the tongue (and fun to read to yourself). What Mibs' real savvy is something you wouldn't expect and unique, and the sidestory of Mibs and Will Jr. is wonderful!

Savvy is a lighthearted story with a deeper meaning, but it's not preachy at all. It was quite enjoyable, actually. It was a quick read; I wish there were more pages to read when I finished it!(less)

This book

exceeded my expectations! I haven't really read books with this kind of plot, and it was interesting for me to read. It seems like such a stereotypical type of story if you read something like a summary, but reading this book on its own is kind of its own thing. I also like th......more

This book

exceeded my expectations! I haven't really read books with this kind of plot, and it was interesting for me to read. It seems like such a stereotypical type of story if you read something like a summary, but reading this book on its own is kind of its own thing. I also like that even though each of the books in the trilogy is from different points of view in the same family, it can be read in any order.

This is an amazing book, and I feel like not many people have heard of it, not to mention that it's a bit underrated. I would have expected it to be an average of 4+ stars. As soon as I read this, I wanted to read the next book! Sadly, I couldn't find the book until a year after :'( At least, now I know the whole trilogy is great, and I hope anyone who is reading this loves it! NOTE: To anyone who has an older sibling who LOVES books and tells you to read something, READ IT. I regret not reading so many books earlier because I didn't listen to my sister.(less)

I liked just about everything about

Interesting characters--Mibs, Fish, Lester, Lill, Will Junior, Bobbi, all well-developed. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. I had high hopes for Lester, smiled when Lill brought out the best in him, and worried when trouble met the bi......more

I liked just about everything about

Interesting characters--Mibs, Fish, Lester, Lill, Will Junior, Bobbi, all well-developed. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. I had high hopes for Lester, smiled when Lill brought out the best in him, and worried when trouble met the big pink bus.

While the story concept is intriguing, it's Ingrid Law's writing that made the story shine. She has a wonderful savvy for words, if you will. Mib's description of her father, for instance:

In my mind I can see those eyebrows, dancing over a big grin.

And this line rings true, I believe:

Beautiful, and so true.

But I think my favorite thought of Mibs' from the book is this one that comes about 2/3 of the way through:

That's good stuff, thoughtful and true. I admire Law's ability to bring all these characters to life in such a vibrant, lyrical way.

I would've liked to have seen more of Gypsy and Grandpa Bomba. I have no idea if there are plans for a sequel, but I'd be interested in reading more about Samson's savvy. In fact, whenever Ingrid Law has another novel out, I'm there.(less)

Wow. Just wow. This book - so disappointing. Just wow.

This was the book we read for book club and I had to force myself through it. I mean, really? On like page 150 they were still on the bus! I am not sure if this is supposed to be an adventure book or what but some, I don't know excit......more

Wow. Just wow. This book - so disappointing. Just wow.

This was the book we read for book club and I had to force myself through it. I mean, really? On like page 150 they were still on the bus! I am not sure if this is supposed to be an adventure book or what but some, I don't know excitement would have been preferable. They only met one new person and of course everything works out just peachy. Of course the kids names have to do with their powers (Rocket-electricity, Fish-water) even though the parents didn't know what their kids savvies would be at the time of their birth. And really, I was excited to have them finally get off the bus, but then they got back on? Why? Just Why? And I'm sure Gypsy just magically appeared at the hospital as soon as the Bus Clan (that's what I'm calling them now since their life purpose is to ride that dang bus) arrived. This book was a waste of paper.(less)

There are certain things that the Beaumont family knows about secrets: they need them, they have them, and they keep them. In just a few days, when Mibs turns 13, she’ll join her mother’s side of the family and will have a secret of her very own. That’s when she’ll get her own savvy and her world—as......more

There are certain things that the Beaumont family knows about secrets: they need them, they have them, and they keep them. In just a few days, when Mibs turns 13, she’ll join her mother’s side of the family and will have a secret of her very own. That’s when she’ll get her own savvy and her world—as she currently knows it—will never be the same. But before her big day, her father is involved in a terrible accident and left seriously injured. With her newly acquired supernatural power and a pink bible bus filled with a handful of misfits, Mibs encounters bikers, brawls, and plenty of banana cream pie in a race to bring her whole family together and to save her broken father.

A 2009 Newbery Honor Book, Savvy is an imaginative and heart-pounding adventure story filled with many relatable themes that are standard fare for young readers: bullying, standing out, fitting in, first love, and making friends. The first in a series of three books (Scumble and Switch are both complete stories, but make small references to the original book), Savvy is an easy-to-read, thrilling ride that introduces us to a quirky set of characters including the preacher’s daughter, a belittled bible salesman, and a waitress with a heart of gold. Each of these people allow Mibs to slowly understand that perhaps the Beaumonts aren’t the only ones that possess supernatural powers. The ability to encourage, to help, to listen, and to accept are just as powerful as any savvy and Mibs quickly realizes just how special her new friends are in their own way.

Ingrid Law packs so many wonderful lessons in this book and that alone is worth the read. Along the way, Mibs learns that sometimes a bad thing can make a good thing happen or that happy endings come in all shapes and sizes or that things don’t always happen the way you want them to. Perhaps the most valuable lesson Mibs receives was from her mother who told her, “In most ways, we Beaumonts are just like other people. We get born, and sometime later we die. And in between, we’re happy and sad, we feel love and we feel fear, we eat and we sleep and we hurt like everyone else.” Through the eyes of an awkward teenaged girl, Law reminds us of how much good can be accomplished and gained when we focus on our similarities rather than our differences.(less)

I picked this up because of a strong recommendation and when I heard some of it was set in Kansas I was sold. Since I'm a native Kansan I knew I was going to like the book even more because of that little fact.

Mississippi (most commonly known as Mibs) is just about to turn thirteen. A bi......more

I picked this up because of a strong recommendation and when I heard some of it was set in Kansas I was sold. Since I'm a native Kansan I knew I was going to like the book even more because of that little fact.

Mississippi (most commonly known as Mibs) is just about to turn thirteen. A big step in any kid's life, but in Mib's family turning thirteen means a whole lot more than becoming a teenager, you also get your savvy. A savvy is a special power you have and for everyone it's different. Mib's oldest brother Rocket can blow out a whole grid of lights without even blinking, and her other brother Fish can make it storm even if there isn't a cloud in the sky. Now it's Mibs turn to see what savvy she'll receive on her birthday. Unfortunately Mib's father gets into an accident before her birthday, and it won't be a birthday soon forgotten. Before she knows it she's on a pink bus with pink bibles with a the timid driver named Lester, her brothers Fish and Samson, and the local preacher's kids to boot. What follows is a wild tale of how these kids will do just about anything to get to their dad, and along the way come to learn quite a few lessons.

What I appreciated the most was the dynamic between the sibilings. How they annoy you to no end, but will always have your backs regardless. You hardly ever see that in books, and it's one of the most complex and close relationships you'll see in real life. The Beaumonts are the best from Grandpa Bomba to little Gypsy. The author could have easily made this into a darker fantasy but I'm glad she didn't. It fits much better how it's shown here, and gives a chance for younger audiences to read this story of how no matter who you are things are hard; whether you have a savvy or not. It really hits on the point that it's hard to know somebody by just looking at them, and friends come from the most unlikely places.

I will definitely will be reading the sequel

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