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By Ingrid Law
$16.99, ages 8-12, 416 pages
Ledger Kale never imagined he'd turn into a human sledgehammer on his thirteenth birthday and now, unless he learns to control his power to break stuff, he could lose everything his uncle has fought so hard to save.
In this dazzling companion to the Newbery Honor-winning Savvy, Law weaves a magical tale of a boy who is "dangerously different," but learns to put aside his fears and make the most of the talent he has.
Like his cousin Mibs in Savvy, Ledge is struck by a mysterious "savvy" when he turns 13, an ability to do things no other human can -- in his case, pull things apart in bits and pieces -- for starters Dad's stop watch and nose-hair trimmer.
His dad, a gifted runner with no savvy of his own, always hoped Ledge would become supersonic fast. But when it turns out Ledge's talent is busting things up, no one is prepared for how to deal with it.
Ledge is told to keep his savvy a secret so bad folks can't use it to their advantage. But destroying stuff isn't an easy savvy to hide and with a wedding to go to at Uncle Autry's ranch, Ledge had better learn fast how to keep his cool and his savvy from getting the better of him.
Learning to "scumble," or finesse his power to do what he wants it to, takes time, and it isn't long after his family takes off in a minivan from their house in Indiana toward the The Flying Cattleheart ranch in Wyoming that everyone regrets their decision to go.
Along the drive, Ledge accidentally busts engine parts and sends a tire down the interstate. Then at a pit stop in Sundance, near the ranch, he inadvertently blows apart a vintage Harley and unhinges a sheriff's truck door after tripping over the shoelaces of a girl named Sarah Jane.
Sarah Jane, a pert gal with sparkling green eyes, operates a homemade tabloid The Sundance Scuttlebutt and now that she's seen Ledge's savvy in action, she wants to make it her next big story. In no time, she's stowed away in the van and conned Ledge into letting her crash the wedding.
But this isn't an ordinary ranch -- Uncle Autry wrangles insects not cattle -- and soon Sarah Jane is seeing far too much, like the bride floating down the aisle and radio music coming out of late Grandma Dollop's wedding jar.
12 Comments on Scumble, last added: 8/28/2010
Revision update: Got through two chapters yesterday and one and a half today. I’m really hoping to get the whole book done by the end of the year, but … hmmm, not sure. We’ll see. My husband said he’d read the book this weekend, which hopefully will give me a boost in my revision. He’ll be the first other person to read the whole thing. It’ll be nice to see how it plays out.
I’m reading Ingrid Law’s Savvy right now, and it strikes me that this is a great example of a strong, fresh voice.
Voice is one of those weird things to identify. When I first started researching writing novels and going to conferences, I heard about “voice” all the time, but the explanations didn’t really pinpoint exactly what this quality was. Voice always seemed to be this vague thing my writing was supposed to have, something that was strong and fresh, but what was it?
Finally, in a conference I attended a few years ago, I heard an explanation I could understand: Voice is the way YOU write, the words YOU choose and how YOU use them in a sentence. It’s basically, your style of writing.
For beginning writers, their style often mimics their favorite writers or the writers of the novels they’re reading at the moment. But over time, with practice, writers develop their own style that’s unique to them. Some write in a subtle way, others big and bold, some rhythmic, others slam you across the face.
From the first page of Law’s Savvy, I was slapped in the face with her style. She writes first person, so you could say the voice is the voice of the character. Either way, it’s bold, flowery and beautiful. The story is fun, but more fun is Law’s language. Here’s a taste:
When Grandpa wasn’t a grandpa and was just instead a small-fry, hobbledehoy boy blowing out thirteen dripping candles on a lopsided cake…
And another:
The itch and scritch of birthday buzz was about all I was feeling on the Thursday before the Friday before the Saturday I turned thirteen.
Brilliant, huh? Can’t you see the voice oozing out of these word choices?
Now, of course, voice is absolutely personal, so you shouldn’t try to immitate Law’s style. Like any art, often our style is influenced by others, but after a while, it’s ours.
Whatever our style is, subtle or brash, it should be solid, come across strong as our style and no one else’s. I don’t think it’s something you can manufacture; it’s you.
What are your favorite examples of voice?
Write On!
0 Comments on Voice as of 1/1/1900
I realize I should be doing push ups right now, but I thought I'd avoid them for a few minutes longer by doing a book review. Tara Lazar alerted me to Write a Review Wednesday so I'm going to try to remember to post a review of a children's book each week.
This week's review is of SAVVY, by Ingrid Law. If you take a look at my reading list, you'll see that most of the MG/YA I read is fantasy/adventure. What can I say. I like action. But every so often a simple coming-of-age story will capture my attention and make me want more. SAVVY is that kind of book.
Now some of you who have read the book might disagree with me about the genre of this book because it does have a lot of fantasy-like elements. As Editor Kate Harrison said, "It's fantasy lite." But really the book is about family, friendship, secrets and figuring out who you are in a given moment of time. The book is filled with memorable characters, a crazy adventure and funny situations. It's a great summer read.
Here's the publisher's blurb:
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 is 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. For ages 9 and up.
So what are you reading this summer? Any good recommendations?
Oh, and for all Blogger/Facebook/Twitter fans, you've got to read this article.
For this third day in the Savvy blog book tour I thought that it might be interesting, and perhaps amusing, to talk about savvies. In Ingrid Law's book a 
savvy is a magical gift that you acquire when you turn thirteen. In Mibs' case she became able to hear the voices of tattoos and other markings that people around her had on their skin. In my town this would be very disquieting because so many people have tattoos. What would the Mayan glyphs that a friend has tattooed on his arms say? What would the ivy tattoo on my own hand tell me?
After I had my inteview with Ingrid I began to think about savvies. I do believe that we all have savvies - though alas, they are not magical in nature. Still, they can be very powerful in their own way, and they can have a profound effect on our lives. I know, without a doubt, that my father's savvy was his ability to be curious about the world. Even when he was almost eighty my father never stopped wanting to learn. He never stopped asking questions. I can only hope that my curiosity about the world will last like his did.
I like to think that my strongest savvy is being able to feel compassion for others who are having a hard time. I myself have experienced some very difficult times in my life, and I think these experiences have made me more sensitive to the troubles of others. Of course this compassion does have a down side - I am so easily moved by the troubles of others that I spend a lot of time worrying about them. This takes a lot of energy and it can be exhausting. Nevertheless I would not want to lose my savvy.
My husband's savvy is that he is very rarely upset by what is going on around him. I often wish I had his cool head. By contrast, I am impatient and lose my temper quite easily. Annoyances that drive me crazy seem to have little to no impact on him.
Other savvies I have encountered in my friends are: the ability to make people laugh, the ability to solve problems with ease, the ability to make others feel that they are special, the ability to make even the shyest person feel comfortable, and the ability to eat as much as one wants without gaining a pound (sigh).
I'd love to hear what you think your savvies are, so please join me in this discussion.
Good morning. Today I will be 'talking' to Ingrid Law, the author of Savvy.
Marya: Where did the idea of someone having a savvy come from?
Ingrid: In some ways, a "savvy" is just a metaphor for some aspect of growing up. When we are kids--especially kids becoming teens--so many things can feel huge and out of control, just like a new savvy. But I also wanted to show in the book that everyone has a talent, whether or not they call it their "savvy" or not.
Marya: Why did you call it a savvy rather than a gift or a talent?
Ingrid: I knew I wanted to write a book about magical children without ever using the word "magic." Yet, I wanted to pick a word that anyone could relate to and "savvy" fit the bill nicely. Also, the word was originally a noun and was used as such for over one hundred years before ever being used as an adjective.
Marya: What do you think your savvies are?
Ingrid: I always answer this question three ways. My dream savvy would be to fly or breathe underwater. My silly savvy is that I am clumsy and spill things all the time. And my real savvy is that I smile a lot.
Marya: It seems to me that a lot of people don’t even try to discover what their true inner savvies are because they are so busy making a living and surviving? Would you agree?
Ingrid: Yet, even so, even while making a living or simply surviving, we have all have strengths. Sometimes it's just a matter of recognizing what those strengths are. A savvy doesn't have to be something grandiose. It can be as simple as being good at making pancakes into shapes, or always knowing when our child might need a hug. That may sound simple and sentimental, but having been a single mom for fourteen years, I know how important it is to recognize the importance little things that make a day more special. Often it is those things that end up being most important to someone else.
Marya: How did you come up with idea for Mibs’s savvy? It is certainly unusual.
Ingrid: Mibs is learning to trust her own voice and know when to block out the voices of other people. But I wanted to have a fun and visual way for her abilities to manifest to demonstrate this concept.
When Mibs’s savvy arrives it is not what she hoped for at all, and at first she cannot imagine how her savvy could ever be useful. She has to experience certain things before she is able to see how her savvy could be an asset.
Marya: Do you feel that a lot of people are like Mibs in that they don’t truly appreciate the gifts that they have?
Ingrid: Things don't always go the way we want them to or the way we hope. We have no control over how tall we are or what color eyes we have--or even some of the things that happen to us in our life. Some things are out of our control. Yet, other things can be attained through hard work and the belief that the skills and talents we each have hold merit. Mibs resists her new savvy because it's not something she believes will help her poppa, and that is what she wants more than anything. But her savvy is really there to teach her about herself and help her become the person she is going to be.
Marya: Your book is full of powerful imagery. Do you feel that you are particularly sensitive to seeing and capturing imagery as you go about your life?
Ingrid: Yes, I tend to respond to life through metaphor. I see pictures where there aren't meant to be pictures and think of stories when I listen to music. I've always made up stories in my head, long before I ever put them down on paper.
Marya: Savvy has been very well received. How does this make you feel?
Ingrid: It's been very exciting and, at times, more than a little overwhelming.
Marya: Some of the books I have reviewed have given me something that I believe I will always carry with me. Savvy is one of these books. What would you like your book to give your readers?
Ingrid: I hope that Savvy might encourage readers to appreciate themselves and others for who they are and to know that everyone has gifts, even if those gifts take work or don't come easily at first.
Marya: Are you planning on bringing back Mibs and her colorful family?
Ingrid: I love these characters and their crazy family tree. I am working on a follow up to Savvy, though the main character is someone knew. There will be a few familiar faces along the way, but I felt that Mibs's story has been thoroughly told and want to look at the idea of getting a savvy from an all new perspective.
You can find out more about Ingrid by looking at her
website and her
blog
Hi Ingrid, Thanks for
joining us 
today. Before we get started,
could you tell us a little bit
about yourself?
My first book, Savvy, was released in May, 2008, from Dial Books for Young Readers (a division of the Penguin Young Readers Group) in partnership with Walden Media. I am represented by Daniel Lazar at Writers House in New York. Savvy has earned both a Newberry Honor Award
and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor,
and has spent three weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers List. Savvy was voted one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of the Year (2008) and chosen by Booklist as one of the Top 10 First Novels for Youth (2008).
Do you have a website/blog ? When did you start it and who manages it?
I have a website and a blog. I use my blog more as a tool to share things with and by my readers, and less as a social networking tool, so I do not enable comments.
But one of the things I love to do most is to share drawings, videos, and stories created by young readers. I love it when kids answer the question: What’s your savvy? And do so in their own creative ways.
I started both my website and my blog several months before the book came out.Penguin Young Readers Groups has also created a terrific Savvy mini-site . This site contains a downloadable discussion guide, wallpapers, and an exclusive ‘origin story’ for the family in Savvy.
Walden Media also has a wonderful, playful site where readers can listen to the first chapter of the audio book, play games, send postcards, and find even more downloads.
In your opinion, how important is social networking ?
I think a lot might depend on one’s audience and one’s personality. For the adult and young adult markets, social networking sites may be more effective than for middle grade or picture book authors. While Savvy crosses into early YA, my main audience is 4th-6th graders.
As a parent, I did my best to keep my daughter off social networking sites when she was that age, so I didn’t really feel as though I wanted to place too much emphasis on these when it came to marketing Savvy. However, when marketing a book, even if a book is aimed at young readers, one wants to reach out to parents as well.
I'm sure that some people have made a different choice.The only social networking site that I am on is GoodReads, and I’ve been surprised at how many kids reach me through that site.
Logistically, I’ve found that managing social networking sites takes up a lot of time, and time is not something I have a lot of right now. Plus, I’ve always been a rather shy person, so social networking sites tend to push me out of my comfort zone.
How important is technology to an author’s marketing plan ?
Aside from the question of social networking sites, I think technology is becoming increasingly important in the marketing of books, especially in the face of our current economy. Author tours are expensive and many authors are turning to virtual visits as an alternative. Bloggers have turned marketing into a viral phenomenon.
And one of the biggest technological marketing successes for Savvy so far has been the week-long free e-book download offered last summer, which was a factor in propelling the book onto the New York Times Bestsellers list for the first time.
What other advice do you have for authors/writers regarding marketing?
Try from the very start to find a balance between your focus on marketing and your focus on continued writing. It is easy to get so tied up thinking about the marketing of your first book that your next book, or your writing in general, becomes neglected.
For me, writing and marketing use two very different parts of my brain. Trying to do both in the same day is difficult for me. I set aside days where I try to do nothing but write, saving other days—perhaps those already scheduled with additional distractions—to work on marketing, or any other business aspect of being an author.
What creative things have you done to promote a book?
I am very fortunate to have amazing promotional backing from both Penguin Young Readers Group and Walden Media.
Because my book encourages readers to discover what is special about themselves, asking kids and adults alike the question "What’s your savvy?" has given me the opportunity to engage everyone in the creative process that I began.
I love sharing the ideas kids send to me about what their own talents might be. This has become one of the anchors on my blog. I think that any time you can engage other people in your process and invite them to be a part of it, they will respond.
Thank you for joining us today!
Thanks Shelli!
Good morning everyone. For the next three days we are going to be looking at the book Savvy. Written by Ingrid Law, this very unique and memorable story is one of the best books that I have reviewed this year. Here is my review.
Savvy
Ingrid Law
Fiction
Ages 9 to 12
Penguin, 2008, 978-0-8037-3306-0
Mibs is about to turn thirteen and in her family this particular birthday is very important. The reason for this is that this is the age when people in her family get their “savvy,” their special gift or talent. When Mibs' brother Fish turned thirteen he caused a hurricane, and he has struggled with his storm creating tendencies every since. Her other big brother Rocket attracts electricity, and his gift not only breaks appliances but it also runs the family car.
Mibs is eager to find out what her savvy will be, and then all her hopes for a special birthday celebration are dashed. Her father is involved in a terrible multi-car pileup on the highway, and soon Mibs’ mother heads for Salina to be with her injured husband. Mibs stays at home with her bothers and her grandfather in the care of the preacher’s wife. Which is why Mibs finds herself in the church on her birthday attending a party that she does not want, and surrounded by people she does not really like. All Mibs wants to do is to go to Salina to be with her mother. She is convinced that she will be able to use her savvy will help her father.
And this is when Mibs gets the brilliant idea. While the party is going on, she sneaks onto the pink bus that a bible salesman drives, thinking that he must be going back to the city. Her brothers Fish and Sampson, and the preacher’s children also get on the bus. Unfortunately the driver goes north instead of south, in the wrong direction, and Mibs begins to wonder when she will be able to be with her father. She is also very worried about her savvy, which has arrived on time. It is not at all what Mibs expected, and she cannot help wondering what use it will be to her.
In this powerful book, Ingrid Law explores friendships, she looks at an important rite of passage, and she shows her readers how well meant plans can go hopelessly awry – in both sad and funny ways. This is a memorable book filled with beautiful language, splendid imagery, and colorful characters.
Please come back tomorrow for my interview with Ingrid, and do visit the other bloggers who are participating in this tour.
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
Savvy
by Ingrid Law
When I saw Eva's review of this book at Eva's Book Addiction, I was intrigued by the story and immediately visited my library's website to see if it was available. I was thrilled to see an audio book version available and listened to it during my commute to and from work last week.
Missippi (Mibs) Beaumont is getting ready to turn 13. In her family, it is a very special birthday, the birthday where family members get their "savvy," a very special and secret magical know-how. For example, Mibs' brother Fish can create storms, powerful hurricanes even; her oldest brother Rocket can create electricity; and her deceased grandmother could catch radio waves out of the air and put songs and news stories in jars to be heard over and over again (unless you took the lid completely off.)
Right before her birthday, Mibs' Poppa gets into a horrible car accident, leaving the family separated. On her birthday, Mibs is convinced that her savvy is the ability to wake people up, so she's determined to get to the hospital in Salina to wake up Poppa. She hides on a bible salesman's pink bus and is joined by two of her brothers and Bobby and Will Jr., the preacher's kids. When the bus heads away from Salina instead of towards it, they go on quite an adventure where Mibs not only discovers her true savvy but also discovers that people are not quite how they often appear to be on the outside.
This is a fantastic book about friendship, family, and growing up mixed in with a little magic and adventure. I liked Mibs from the very beginning and think that young tween girls will definitely identify with her. Even though she has a special magical power, she is down to earth and real. The fresh concept, fast pace, and plot twists will keep readers engaged throughout the book, and it makes a perfect read aloud. This was just the type of "feel-good book" I was looking for after a rather stressful month and after reading some more intense, dark novels.
Highly recommended.
What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Eva's Book Addiction: "This is an all-around satisfying book that kept me intrigued all the way to the end. " (read more...)
Library Queen's Weblog: "Mibs and her family and friends are believable, full of life, and interesting. I thought I would do a quick read to see who might like the book and found that I can excitedly recommend it to." (read more...)
Little Willow: "It's almost as if the kids from the Maggie Valley books by Kerry Madden (Gentle's Holler, etc) were given the powers of the X-Men." (read more...)
Everead: "The pacing in the book was great -- by 3/4 of the way through you're just dying to know how it all works out. Recommended wholeheartedly." (read more...)
Kinnelon Library Teen Blog: "Following Mibs and her gang on this journey is one of the better reading experiences I've had in a long time. I can't imagine that there's a middle school girl around who wouldn't get a kick out of this story on so many levels." (read more...)
Abby (the) Librarian: "Savvy is poetic. It's full of fun words, real words, that are used in unique ways. It also feels like a tall tale, which I love. Rich descriptions and multi-dimensional characters make this a novel not soon forgotten." (read more...)
Yat-Yee Chong: "If this way of writing is Ingrid Law’s savvy, then I hope she stays with it. Because with it, she conveys warmth and generosity, and creates a story that is grounded in the things that matter: love, faith, and hope." (read more...)
Cool Kids Read: "I liked the originality of this book. It was an enjoyable read and the story pulled me in and carried me right along." (read more...)
Studentofsagas Weblog: "I think any teen can identify with the idea of being a bit different and standing out, and the process of coming to terms with it. " (read more...)
Random Wonder: "Savvy is an excellent tale with special recommendations for girls in the 10 - 13 age bracket, readers who enjoy magical tales, or those interested in coming-of-age tales." (read more...)
Goddess of YA Literature: "This was a sheer joy to read, a perfect book for someone feeling a tad sick and needing, like Poppa, some healing." (read more...)
Sarah Miller: "As for the plot, in retrospect it should feel far-fetched; instead it comes off as charming and fanciful. Nevertheless, the story itself didn't leave me smitten the way so many other readers are." (read more...)
Literate Lives: "Ingrid Law allows the reader to see the world of growing up through both sides' eyes, and develops the characters so well that the reader forgets that we are dealing with the fantasy world." (read more...)
Becky's Book Reviews: "Savvy is another book that had me at hello." (read more...)
More info:
- Reading level: Ages 9-12
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Dial
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0803733062
- ISBN-13: 978-0803733060
- Source: Audio book from library
Author's blog: Straight from the JarAlso visit the Official Savvy Website.
Penguin is offering their hit book Savvy, by Ingrid Law, which I've reviewed here, as a free eBook from today until July 20th. How cool is that?! Just go to www.penguin.com/savvy to access your FREE copy. Wahoo for free books!!!
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What an interesting review to read for the book Scumble. Thanks for sharing about it. What a fun book this will be to read. I like the title. Awesome cover!
I've not read Savvy, but I think I'll have to check that one out too!
As both a fan of fantasy sci fi books and great characters in mid-grade novels, I loved Saavy and can hardly wait to read Scumble. I am an author, a teacher, and a parent and Ingrid Law has the talent of writing that makes her books difficult to put down - until finished. Congratulations on the new book!
Can't wait to read this book!
I have 5 nephews and a little boy, and I love giving books for gifts, so I'm always on the lookout for good books that I could give them. I've actually had my eye on this one, and it sounds great!! I didn't realize it was book 2, though, so I'll have to check them both out!! :)
I'm a new follower.
bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com
I can't wait to read Scrumble. I loved Savvy. I just couldn't put it down.
bridgetwilson4765(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like a wonderful book. My kids will love reading this one I am sure.
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow you publicly via GFC-DanelleJohnson
danellejohns at gmail dot com
Loved the review,will have to get this one!!
I think my fourth graders would love reading this book.
sonflower277(at)gmail(dot)com
My oldest son is 8 and loves reading! He homeschools and we read for hours everyday, he would love this!
I loved Savvy and can't wait to read Scumble!
sounds like a great story - love the bright colors!
june_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com