Dieringer Heights Elementary students received a special treat March 9 and 10 when award-winning children’s author Ingrid Law brought along the world of fantasy and adventure found inside her first book, “Savvy.”
The story, which won the Horn Book Award in October and the Newberry Honor Award in January, weaves the adventures of Mibs Beaumont and the excitement she faces as her 13th birthday approaches – the day when children receive their savvy, or talent.
Terry Steiner’s fifth-grade students, including a few former students now at North Tapps Middle School, participated in a group discussion with the Colorado author.
They began with the book’s first sentence that points blame on Mibs’ brother, Fish, for causing a hurricane.
“I had no idea what I was going to write or where it would go,” Law said. “I had a 13-year-old brother who had to move to the island. He caused the hurricane. At some point, you have to know what direction to take. You have to figure out where you’re headed.”
One direction she was sure of taking was the world of magic, she said.
“I’m a big fan of Harry Potter,” she said. “It uses a lot of magic that has roots in European magic. I wanted to see if I could create an American magic.”
She researched the topic.
“I was trying to find the perfect word,” she said. “The original was an American slang word that started out as a noun – not an adjective. If it started as a noun 230 years ago, I knew I could make it a noun.”
Like many writers, Law faced areas of self-doubt during the process.
“Every time I had a doubt about something I had to ask if it was because someone might like it,” she said.
She eventually realized she needed to write her best and not worry what others might think. “I had to fight that,” she said.
It worked. Soon, Walden Media purchased the movie rights.
And while she awaits word on the movie’s production, Law said she’s been working on the sequel for a year.
“Having Ingrid Law at our school is a real special event for us,” Steiner said.
As if Law’s visit wasn’t exciting enough, Steiner discovered the book’s illustrator, 28-year-old Brandon Dorman, lives close by and arranged for the two to meet.
“He met Ingrid and shared with us his marvelous illustrations – he’s already done over 120 book covers, including the new RL Stine ‘Goosebumps’ and ‘The Polar Express,’” Steiner said.
Law said she was “very excited” after finishing her book and encouraged the students to use their own savvy in the world of writing.
“There are so many different ways to write,” she said. “Someone else might have the same idea, but no one can write it like you.”
Reach Judy Halone at jhalone@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8210.
