My librarian friend, Pam, likened The Curse of the Neverland to two Newbery winning debut novels.* Last week I talked about the first, The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron. Here’s another Newbery read-alike: Newbery Honor Winner Savvy by Ingrid Law. I just read Savvy, and it’s captivating, poignant, whimsical and engaging.
The Library of Congress’ blurb on Savvy:
“Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her “savvy”—a magical power unique to each member of her family—just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.”
I loved the central plot device of receiving your magical power when you turn 13. Just like Piper inherits her “Pan” connection from her mother, Mississippi (Mibs for short) Beaumont, gets this genetic gem, her savvy, from her mother’s side. Her brother, Fish, incites storms when he’s emotional—he started a hurricane on his 13th birthday. Her brother Rocket sparks—or blows out—electricity. Her grandfather manifests bodies of land. And Mibs’ mother’s savvy is being perfect. (Perfectly imperfect, actually!)
Having a savvy makes the family universally “weird.” Can any of you relate? :>)
While this affects how they are perceived by outsiders, the Beaumont family within is tight and loving. Mibs looks forward to being homeschooled with her older brothers after her 13th birthday, while they learn to “scumble” their savvys.
“Scumble” is an example of Law’s imaginative use of language. It means learning to integrate and control your savvy so you can be around regular people without going crazy or harming anyone.
In The Curse of the Neverland, Piper wants to reach the Neverland in order to save her parents. Mibs Beaumont is equally fervent in her devotion to her family. She hopes to use her savvy to wake her father from his coma. When her savvy emerges as the ability to hear others thoughts if they have a tattoo, it seems like a long shot. But the journey brings help—companions—a “Merry Band,” if you will, to help bring about the ultimate happy ending.
Put Savvy on your reading list if you haven’t yet read it!
Savvy is categorized with these search terms: Magic—ficton, Brothers and sisters—fiction, Voyages and travels—fiction. The Curse of the Neverland shares the 1st and 3rd. (This is simply interesting to me from “behind the scenes.”)
*I spelled Newbery wrong last week—my apologies!