Savvy

By Ingrid Law

For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" -a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it's the eve of Mibs's big day. As if waiting weren't hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs's birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman's bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up -and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

This book ended up being a delightful find for me as I read Mib's unconventional story about growing up within an extremely unconventional family. Savvy was a Newberry winner, and for good reason. It's cute and fun, with some serious themes, and talks about the importance of finding your own Savvy in life. I absolutely loved Ingrid Law's characters, not only Mibs, but they all get the royal treatment and have depth and color. Go on a trip with Mibs on the pink bible bus to rescue her Poppa, make new friends, and begin to understand other people. I highly recommed this book.