Savvy is a coming of age story with a little bit different twist. When the members of the Beaumont family turn thirteen they receive their "savvy" - a supernatural gift or ability of some kind. Fourteen-year-old Fish has the ability to stir the wind and the rain into gale force winds while older brother Rocket causes electrical surges wherever he goes. (Sometimes this is a good thing, and sometimes not so much).Mibs is the next sibling in line to turn thirteen and the book start on the eve of her birthday. The family is somewhat on pins and needles as the day approaches. You never know what someone's savvy is until it arrives - and with the case of Fish's weather disrupting abilities, the family was forces to relocate inland to keep him away from oceans and large bodies of water.
Unfortunately, on the eve of Mibs' big birthday, her father and the light of the family's life is seriously injured in a car crash. The book takes off as Mibs and her siblings try and find their way to the neighboring town without being notices or causing too much havoc on their way there ... all the while Mibs is discovering and trying to tame her savvy that shows up right on time.
This book is extremely creative. I love the idea behind this story and the fact that the abilities that the Beaumont family has are not the normal "superpowers" that one would expect of them (such as X-Men type abilities). They are all just a little bit on the quirky side, which add to their charm.
Savvy would be a great read-aloud for summer for older kids ... 9 and up, I'd say. There is one instance where Mibs' name is combined with a slang word that I wouldn't want my girls to hear (and I thought was unnecessary), but that could be completely avoided in a read-aloud. This book has screen play written all over it as well - I won't be surprised when I see this adventure coming to the local theater!
Savvy has been selected as a Newbery Honor book. Named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, the Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Thanks to Kids Book Buzz for the opportunity to review this book! Other blogs reviewing this book: A Christian Worldview of Fiction, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, Hyperbole, KidzBookBuzz.com, Looking Glass Reviews, Maw Books Blog, Never Jam Today, Olive Tree, Our Big Earth, The 160 Acrewoods, Through a Child’s Eyes.
hmmm reading aloud and leaving out the Mib-slang name completely sets off the censorship alerts that have become ingrained in me as an English Lit major. .. but i don't have kids yet, so i really cannot be a fair judge of that! :)
ReplyDeletethis book sounds cute, and it does seem to have screenplay written all over it!
This book has received some excellent reviews. Sounds like something I'd like to read at some point.
ReplyDeleteThanks, also, for your prayers, btw. I appreciate it.
I know what slang word of which you speak. It is one I don't like, either, and yet many of the kids in my youth group use it instead of saying someone is mad.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder when it became so accepted. But, I must say, the King James Bible used it, too, lo those many years ago. 1 Kings 16:11.
heh heh Those men and the way the relieve themselves. LOL
@Lexie: I don’t know what I’m suggesting is censorship so much as it is sheltering my munchkins. I’m sure there will be books that come along in her schooling that deal with topics and use words that I choose not to use. I would rather err on the side of caution and not even let them hear those words that I don’t want to have to explain yet. That is something that I as a parent appreciate other parents warning me about, especially in regard to media that the girls may/may not watch. :)
ReplyDelete@Sally: I didn't grow up with the KJV so I didn't even know that!!! Ha. :) Thanks for organizing this tour. :)
I'm thinking I would enjoy reading this book. Stephanie, do you think it is appropriate for my 10 year old to read? He is an avid reader. He just finished the whole Narnia series.
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