Savvy

Mibs Beaumont approaches her thirteenth birthday with anticipation - in her family, turning thirteen means receiving a magical power called a savvy. Her plans change when her father is injured in a car accident and falls into a coma. Convinced her upcoming savvy can help save her father, Mibs embarks on an unauthorized journey to reach his hospital. She stows away on a pink Bible salesman's bus along with her siblings and the preacher's kids, leading to an eventful road trip across the Midwest. During her adventure, Mibs must learn to handle both her emerging savvy and the complications it creates. The story follows her as she navigates friendship, family bonds, and self-discovery while racing against time to reach her father. This coming-of-age tale explores themes of identity and acceptance, showing how extraordinary abilities can sometimes complicate the already challenging process of growing up. The magical elements serve as metaphors for the gifts and challenges that make each person unique.

Readers appreciate the unique magical elements and coming-of-age story, with many connecting to Mibs' journey of self-discovery. Parents note it works well as a family read-aloud, with themes that resonate for both children and adults. The dialect and voice feel authentic to many readers. Readers liked: - Creative take on supernatural abilities - Strong family dynamics - Engaging side characters - Appropriate for ages 9-13 - Positive messages about accepting oneself Common criticisms: - Plot moves slowly in middle sections - Some find the Southern/Western dialect distracting - Resolution feels rushed to some readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (41,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 (parent reviews) "A refreshing break from darker middle-grade fantasies," notes one Amazon reviewer. "The writing style took getting used to but the story won me over," writes a Goodreads user.

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🌟 "Savvy" was Ingrid Law's debut novel and earned her a Newbery Honor in 2009 💫 The word "savvy" in the book refers to magical powers that each member of the Beaumont family receives on their 13th birthday 🌟 The story was inspired by the author's daughter asking what special gift she might receive on her own 13th birthday 💫 The novel spawned two companion books: "Scumble" and "Switch," which follow other members of the Beaumont family 🌟 Despite the magical elements in the story, Law wrote many scenes based on real places she visited while driving through Kansas and Nebraska