Rainer Maria Rilke

"Live a while in these books, learn from them what seems to you worth learning, but above all love them. This love will be repaid you a thousand and a thousand times, and however your life may turn,-it will, I am certain of it, run through the fabric of your growth as one of the most important threads among all the threads of your experiences, disappointments, and joys."--Rainer Maia Rilke


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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Well Deserving of the Newberry Honor

Savvy by Ingrid Law
(Young Adult)

I sometimes question when books have the Newberry Honor Award--many of those books are a bit boring or sappy.  Not this one.  Savvy fully deserves the award.

A sweet story of a young girl trying to find her way into adolescence.  When Mibs turns 13, she is anticipating getting her 'savvy', a magical power that is genetically passed down in her family.  Since her father is in a coma due to a tragic accident, Mibs is sure her savvy will be something to save her father.  Unfortunately, it isn't (which doesn't give away the ending--don't worry!)

What I really liked about this story was how very 'human' every one of the characters was, savvy or no savvy.  Surfing the dangerous waters of adolescence can be so very scary and this book showed all angles from friends to school to first love to family. 

What I especially loved was the ending--it was realistic.  I truly hate when a book wraps everything up in a neat little package.  This book didn't and it didn't detract from the strong and sweet message.  Rather, the realistic ending was bittersweet, which is all too much like my own life.  I shall definitely recommend this to friends and my students!

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