What’s Your Savvy?

by recesstec

Since I rarely watch TV…and I mean RARELY, I was unaware that Oprah has begun a reading list for kids. So how did I stumble upon this little tidbit of reading information? It was on the back of the latest book that I just completed. “Savvy” by Ingrid Law. Among other honors, right smack-dab in the middle of the back is listed as “Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List“. I guess it looks like I will be heading over to this list to see what is included. As for now, my 7th review of  the summer, “Savvy”.

7.) Savvy by Ingrid Law

AR Level – 6.0
Points – 9
Interest Level – Middle to Upper Grades

A special 13th birthday, super human powers, and a bi-state travel adventure are the three ingredients that make this book infectious.  Mibs, short for Mississippi, is quickly approaching her 13th birthday upon which she will finally grow into her “savvy”.  Her only problem…she has no idea what her savvy will entail.  Her two older brother’s have already grown into theirs even though they are having a difficult time (as her Mother puts it…) “scumbling” them.  Fish rumbles up storms when faced with stressful situations while Rocket has been given the savvy of conducting electricity.  Two days before Mibs’s birthday, her Poppa is in a terrible car accident that leaves him unconscious in the hospital.  Since Momma and older brother, Rocket, will be staying at the hospital to tend to Poppa and not be available to throw her a party, the local minister and his wife decide to take it upon themselves to help the family by hosting Mibs’s 13th birthday at the church.  Mibs is very concerned about getting her savvy while away from her parents…and righteously so.  After all, on Fish’s 13th birthday, after acquiring his savvy and being in the wrong place at the wrong time (on the coast), he had caused a hurricane.  On Mibs’s 13th birthday, she awakens to a series of odd happenings only to discover that she has received her “savvy”.  And it is a good one…maybe even one that can help Poppa recover from his accident.  During her birthday party at the church, Mibs decides she must get to Salina where her Poppa is in the hospital. What to do? Sneak out and hitch a ride with the Bible delivery man.  Let the adventures begin!  It is one catastrophe after another from here on out.

As always, I am including any questionable content.  I feel this is important as not to be caught off guard while reading the book cold with your students in class.  Two bully girls that attend school with Mibs refer to her as “Missy-Pissy” since her real name is Mississippi.  While this is not terrible, I can see some younger students heading straight to my desk to show me the word “Pissy”.  The other part is a kiss between Mibs and a male character.  It is a pretty innocent kissing scene and quite frankly I am proud of Mibs for telling him that she is not ready for that type of friendship.

I am not typically a fantasy genre fan.  However, this fantasy mixes with enough of a modern day storyline to keep me “buying in”.  I really enjoyed it and think kids ranging from grades 4-8 will too.  It really allows for a personal reflection regarding each individual’s special talents a.k.a their “Savvy”.

My daughter asked me about the word savvy after closely looking at the cover of this novel. (I have to admit that I was VERY MUCH drawn to this cover even though I try to stay near and dear to the old “don’t judge” adage.) The response that I gave her at first was pretty dictionary-like…and after realizing I was being a teacher and not a mom, I looked up and said, “You know…savvy is what you’re good at!”  Her response made my day. “Oh, like you being a tech-geek.  That is your savvy!”

 

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