Savvy

Savyy, by Ingrid Law, snagged me a few years ago, enough that I recently read it again. And—I loved it as much the second time, maybe more.

This Newberry Honor book winds around Mibs Beaumont’s thirteenth birthday when she will receive her savvy. Fish, her older brother, creates storms. Grandpa Bomba makes the ground shake until tremors threaten to turn into earthquakes. Mibs is proud of the savvy in her family even though their extra-ordinary talents distance them from others.

She can’t wait to get her own powerful “jujubes.” But before the Mibs’ special day, her father is in a car wreck and doctors don’t give hope for his recovery. Her mother stays with him in a hospital in a different town, and Mibs is left at home. As she begins to discover her savvy, she believes it will save her father’s life so she must get to the hospital.

The plot turns and twists with funny surprises, and Lawson engages the reader with quirky characters and rich storytelling. Lawson flings words on pages until they dance. Here’s an example:The itch and scritch of birthday buzz was about all I was feeling on the Thursday before the Friday before the Saturday I turned thirteen.

I was hooked by the book’s first line:“When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he’d caused it.”

On one level, Savvy has touches of magical fantasy, but the story is grounded in real life lessons that add depth and meaning. Lawson explores friendships, self-identity, and challenges in growing up. It’s a fun read for middle graders, 4th-8th grade.

Savvy entertained me, and I giggled through pages. But better yet: This book reminded me to embrace my own savvy.

Happy reading! Gretchen http://gretchen-carlson.com gretchencarlsonwriter@gmail.com