Law, I. (2008). Savvy. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780803733060.
B. Plot Summary:
A superb fantasy novel, Savvy is about a young girl who develops her own savvy like her family members. A savvy is a special ability given to you once you turn 13. Set in the Nebraska-Kansas area, Mississippi Beaumont (Mibs) looks forward to her thirteenth birthday. Two days before her big day, her mother gets news that her dad has been in a huge car pile up on the highway. All plans of a big party to reveal her savvy are diminished. While Mibs' mother and older brother stay with her dad at the hospital to wait for him to wake up from a coma, the preacher's wife comes to babysit and plan a party.
While at the party, Mibs' and her crew jump on a school bus and begin a crazy journey filled with ups and downs, while she tries to convince the bus driver to take her to her father. During this journey, Mibs' discovers her telepathic savvy which leads her back to her father and miraculously wakes him up from his deep coma.
C. Critical Analysis:
I found myself hooked from the first page of Law's fantasy novel. The reader instantly connects with Mibs' fun and caring personality. The story is full of heartwarming memories that Mib has had with all of her family members. Mibs' and all the characters in this book overcome their own obstacles, such as Mibs' determination to reach her dad using a new savvy to wake him out of his coma, a sad bible salesman becomes a confident businessman and falls in love, and a lonely teenager becomes friendly and develops special friendships. The fantasy aspect of this novel comes from the magical abilities that all the Beaumonts possess.
Law's storytelling keeps the reader turning the page quickly, hoping to reach the point where the family reunites. My only wish is that they would have incorporated the mom and older brother into the story more. I thought the story went too long to reach the dad in the hospital. I would have liked Mibs' to somehow keep in touch with the mom during the story. The theme of this fantasy novel is to put family first and have faith while never giving up.
D. Review Excerpts:
**Publisher's Weekly states "Short chapters and cliffhangers keep the pace quick, while the mix of traditional language and vernacular helps the story feel both fresh and timeless."
**Kirkus Reviews states, "Law displays both a fertile imagination (Mibs's savvy is telepathy, but it comes with a truly oddball caveat) and a dab hand for likable, colorful characters. There are no serious villains here, only challenges to be met, friendships to be made and some growing up to do on the road to a two-hanky climax."
E. Connections:
Students will enjoy reading other books where characters have mysterious powers such as the Harry Potter series. Ingrid Law also wrote a similar book in which Mibs' cousin Ledge develops his own savvy at age 13. Readers of Savvy will enjoy going on another savvy adventure! I also read that the book is now becoming a movie production. How exciting!
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