The Big House by Carolyn Coman

Coman, Carolyn. The Big House. Honesdale, PA : Front Street, 2004. ISBN 1-932425-09-8.

Ray and Ivy's parents have just been sent to prison for 25 years for embezzlement. If that isn't bad enough, their accusers, Marietta and Lionel, have offered to let Ray and Ivy live with them! The big house they live in holds lots of secrets. Ivy knows that Marietta and Lionel are guilty of something, she just doesn't know what. Her mission- find evidence against Marietta and Lionel and take them to court. As Ivy and Ray begin their investigation they find lots of different pieces of evidence but are not sure how this evidence adds up. Luckily, they make some friends along the way who help them figure out the evidence they have collected.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Law, Ingrid. Savvy. New York, NY : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8037-3306-0

The Beaumont Family is special. The people in their town can't quite put their finger on what it is that makes the Beaumont's special. On their 13th birthday each Beaumont gets a special gift- a Savvy. Nobody can predict what their savvy will be, or how powerful it will be. Rocket creates electricity and Fish creates storms and now it is Mibs' turn to get a special savvy. A few days before Mibs' birthday, her father is in a terrible accident and now lies unconscious in the hospital. Mibs knows deep in her heart that her new savvy will help her father wake up from his coma- if she can just get to the hospital. When Mibs sees an opportunity for a ride by sneaking onto a salesman's truck, she takes it. But when other children follow her and they all get stuck on the truck going the wrong way they are in for quite the adventure.

Official Savvy Website

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