Scumble

Nine-year-old Ledger Kale discovers his savvy - a supernatural power that runs in his family - on his thirteenth birthday. His particular savvy turns out to be destructive, causing machines and technology to break apart and malfunction around him. Ledger spends the summer at his uncle's ranch in Wyoming, attempting to learn control over his abilities. He meets Sarah Jane Cabot, whose family's connection to the ranch leads to complications for Ledger and his relatives. The story follows Ledger's journey to "scumble" - or gain mastery over - his savvy before a looming deadline, while navigating family relationships and small-town life. His experiences at the ranch introduce him to relatives with their own unique powers and challenges. This coming-of-age novel explores themes of self-acceptance, family bonds, and the balance between embracing one's true nature while living in the wider world. The supernatural elements serve as a metaphor for the turbulent changes of adolescence.

Readers found this companion novel to Savvy less impactful than the original book. Many noted that while it maintains similar themes of self-discovery and family relationships, the story moves at a slower pace. Likes: - Connection to previous book's world and characters - Messages about accepting oneself - Humorous moments with quirky family members Dislikes: - Slower plot development compared to Savvy - Less engaging main character - Some found the writing style repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (12,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Not as magical as Savvy but still a fun read" - Goodreads reviewer "The first half dragged but picked up later" - Amazon reviewer "My kids enjoyed the humor but missed Mibs" - Barnes & Noble review Parents and teachers note the book works well for middle-grade readers who enjoyed Savvy, though many suggest reading the original first.

Savvy by Ingrid Law A young girl discovers her magical power on her thirteenth birthday while dealing with family expectations and finding her place in the world.

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis A Depression-era girl uses her determination and wit to keep her family together through hardships in Gary, Indiana.

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd A twelve-year-old girl inherits her family's gift for magic in a town where words manifest into tangible things.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage An eleven-year-old foundling solves mysteries in a small North Carolina town while searching for clues about her own origins.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead A sixth-grade girl receives mysterious notes that predict the future and connect to her everyday life in 1970s New York City.

🌟 Like its companion novel "Savvy," Scumble explores the concept of special magical abilities that appear on a person's 13th birthday - a fresh twist on the traditional "coming of age" story 🎨 Author Ingrid Law wrote this novel as a companion rather than a direct sequel, setting it nine years after "Savvy" and following different members of the same extended family ⚡ The main character Ledger Kale's "scumble" (ability to break things apart) reflects the common teenage feeling of being destructive or out of control, making the magical element relatable to real adolescent experiences 🏆 The book earned a place on several state reading lists and was nominated for the 2013 Mark Twain Readers Award, following the success of its predecessor "Savvy" which was a Newbery Honor book 🌍 The story takes place in Wyoming, and Law incorporated real locations and regional culture into her fictional world, blending magical elements with authentic American West settings