Savvy by Ingrid Law has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine.
Savvy by Ingrid Law has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine.
Mississippi (Mibs) Beaumont nervously anticipates her 13th birthday. She knows that at 13, everyone in her family has discovered their savvy and can’t wait to find out hers. Savvy is a supernatural power that manifests itself differently in each Beaumont. It’s an inherited quality — a special kind of know-how that goes beyond an average person’s ability — that one must learn to control. Examples of savvy in the Beaumont family: One of Mibs’ brothers can control electricity with his mind; another can control water. Her grandfather’s moods can make the earth shift and quake.
A tragic car accident leaves Mibs’ dad (Poppa) unconscious in a hospital far away. Mibs is determined to get to him. At first, Mibs thinks her savvy is that she can wake things up, which is what she wants to do to her father. She, two of her brothers and the pastor’s kids stow away on the pink bus of a Bible salesman named Lester, hoping he will take them where they need to go. But when the bus heads in the opposite direction, the kids find themselves on an unforgettable road trip.
Over time, Mibs realizes her savvy is that she can actually hear people talking to her through ink on their bodies, whether it’s a tattoo or someone writing on his hand with a ballpoint pen. The stowaways finally reach Poppa, and Mibs urges him not to give up fighting for his life. Poppa survives, though not without the need for extensive rehabilitation, and Mibs learns that there is good to be found even in the midst of difficult experiences and pain.
Mibs isn’t always sure whether God hears or understands her. When Will Junior (the Pastor’s son) says he’s praying for her father, Mibs tells readers that she sometimes prays about her impending savvy and has occasionally prayed for sick relatives, but she hadn’t thought to pray for her Poppa. Later, she prays no one will attend her birthday party that Miss Rosemary (the pastor’s wife) is planning. Though Mibs feels Miss Rosemary believes God will help make the party a success, she (Mibs) hopes that God has better things to do and will stay out of it. Momma makes the whole family go to church every Sunday, which Mibs refers to as the Lord’s Day. Momma also notes that everyone should keep hoping and praying for Poppa, because those are the things they can all do. Mibs says Poppa’s recovery may be a miracle.
Mibs says at one point that Bobbi’s eyes look like they’re shooting out voodoo vibes. Mibs also suggests her younger brother has a type of “human magic” that manifests itself when a person demonstrates concern for his fellow man.
Poppa is a kind man, but he technically doesn’t have savvy because he’s married into the Beaumont clan — though Mibs later tells him his savvy is that he never gives up. Poppa’s perseverance gained him the wife of his dreams and may have also saved his life after the car accident. Momma’s savvy is perfection. She’s a compassionate, involved parent like Poppa.
Miss Rosemary, the pastor’s rule-driven wife, expects others to follow her beliefs. Out of Christian duty, she takes charge of the Beaumont kids when Mibs’ father has his accident and Momma leaves to be at his bedside. Pastor Meeks gives Lester a loud tongue-lashing in the church office for bringing him pink Bibles. In the final pages, he seems a little more humble as he appears to be thanking God for the safe return of his children. Lill, the waitress Lester picks up on their journey, is motherly and protective of the kids as they try to get to Poppa.
Some of Mibs’ classmates nickname her “Missy-P—y.” Bobbi curses a few times, as does a maintenance man in the hospital, but no actual profanity appears in the text.
Will kisses Mibs (once, quickly) in the hotel pool. She later tells him she really likes him, but she’s not ready to be kissing him yet. He tells her he can wait. While on the run, 13-year-old Mibs shares a motel bed with Lill. It’s completely innocent, but Mibs has just met Lill so it might not have been the wisest move.
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Tattoos: Poppa has a mermaid from his Navy days; the preacher’s daughter, Bobbi, wears a temporary tattoo of an angel with a devil’s tail; Lester, the Bible salesman, has several in honor of an old girlfriend and his mother; bikers and a homeless man have them as well. Since Mibs’ savvy involves hearing people’s thoughts through the ink on their skin, these tattoos are integral parts of the story. Tattooing is neither applauded nor condemned in the book.
Kids lying: The kids lie to Lill, telling her they have called their parents to let their parents know they’re safe. In fact, Bobbi has faked her mother’s voice on another phone line for Lill’s benefit (which she has also apparently done to get out of going to school at times). The kids also lie to Lill about why they’re on the road with Lester. Mibs later feels remorse for her lies and deception, fearing in part that they will get Lill and Lester in trouble with the law.
Parents lying: The main character figures out that Will Jr., the pastor’s youngest son, is really his grandson and their oldest son’s, Bill’s child.
Stealing: As the group escapes from the diner where Lill has just been fired, they steal a pie.
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