RL: 6.0 CSM: 9+ Rating: PG-13 Content: Puppy love, chaste kiss, drunk adult
Savvy, by Ingrid Law, is a charming tale chock-full of down-home-isms that give a feel for the Nebranska-Arkansas setting of this coming-of-age story. Mibs, a twelve year old girl about to turn thirteen and get her very own savvy, tells the story of the misadventures of her and her friends on their way to help her father, who has been in a horrible car accident and awaits her in the hospital. Mibs’ awakening awareness of a certain young Will Junior is a strong theme in the book, but their puppy love is restricted to a chaste kiss (although a more passionate kiss occurs between adults). The PG-13 rating is earned by a scene where Mibs encounters a drunk homeless man passed out on the street (see my ratings guidelines about adult alcohol/drug use). Despite that scene, Savvy’s story of children struggling to conquer their awesome savvy powers will appeal to children 8+, although some younger children may be less interested by the love-interest plotline. Savvy is a challenging read for younger children, due to the reading level and the rich phrases Law uses to paint her home-spun tall tale.
A little birdie (otherwise known as an editor at Penguin Young Readers) says that Savvy 2, or Scumble, is in the works. With Savvy on the New York Times Bestseller list, there will be many young readers eagerly awaiting the next installment – and dreaming of their own savvies.