J. Scott Savage
Author of Water Keep
About the Author
Disambiguation Notice:
As Jeffrey S. Savage, he writes LDS adult novels; as J. Scott Savage he writes middle-grade fantasy.
Series
Works by J. Scott Savage
Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard (Graysen Foxx, School Treasure Hunter) (Graysen Foxx, School… (2023) 5 copies, 1 review
Farworld, Vol. 2: Land Keep 2 copies
Graysen Foxx and the Curse of the Illuminerdy: Volume 2 (Graysen Foxx, School Treasure Hunter) (Graysen Foxx, School… (2024) 2 copies, 1 review
Farworld, Vol. 4: Fire Keep 1 copy
Associated Works
True Heroes: A Treasury of Modern-day Fairy Tales Written by Best-selling Authors (2015) — Contributor — 28 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Savage, Jeffrey Scott
- Other names
- Savage, Jeffrey S.
Savage, J. Scott - Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Oakland, California, USA
- Places of residence
- Roseville, California, USA
Utah, USA
New Providence, New Jersey, USA - Education
- writer
- Organizations
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Short biography
- J. Scott Savage has been creating stories for as long as he can remember. He lives at the mouth of a canyon where morning and evening winds keep the air clear and blue—along with blowing over patio tables, trees, basketball stands, and the occasional small child. He has a wonderful wife who has stuck with him for more than twenty years, four great children, a spastic border collie, and possibly three or four fish. (The pond is still frozen, so he isn’t quite sure.) Scott has held too many jobs to count, including: a mall Santa, French chef, CEO of a dot com, plumber, radio station talk show host, and the guy who sits in the little photo developing booth. He has completed one marathon and hopes to complete another when the memories finally fade away. He loves reading, writing, camping, playing games with his family, and especially hearing from and meeting his readers. To e-mail him or schedule a visit, come to his website www.jscottsavage.com
- Disambiguation notice
- As Jeffrey S. Savage, he writes LDS adult novels; as J. Scott Savage he writes middle-grade fantasy.
Members
Reviews
Water Keep (Far World) by J. Scott Savage
Better than I hoped! I adore the main characters. The puzzle-solving & mystery are engaging and the reader has enough clues to follow along (but probably not predict too early; I was surprised with every development). The world-building (at the library, and in Wonderland) was fine. Even the original nonsense verses were worthy tributes.
A couple of characters seemed a little off to me... esp. the Cheshire Cat, who was more helpful than I remember from the books, but this seems to me a minor quibble.
The themes were made clear. Imo, not didactically so, but Savage wants to help kids learn to navigate our increasingly stressed and complex world, and to have the self-confidence to do so. Young me would have absolutely adored this book, *especially* the earnest parts.
Additional details make it even more appealing. Some concrete poetry, and words shown as illustrations. Some lovely real illustrations. Author's note. Discussion questions. An 'easter egg' if the reader keeps turning pages until the very end. Chapter titles, including a table of contents.
And epigraphs to open each chapter, for example:
"She generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it)."
Other bits that I bookdarted:
"I told you books saved my life. But for what? If all I do is spend my life hiding in them, what's the point?"
(Hint: the challenges of just living aren't likely to permit that, but I definitely empathize anyway!)
"'I said the two of you couldn't save the world. I didn't say you couldn't change it.'"
"'Whatever happens in the future, how about we both try to see it from the other person's side.'" (Emphasis mine.)
There's even an exercise left to the student (like the original comparison of a raven to a writing desk; look online for lots of possible answers). Here we have an ode to 'courage, friendship, lessons learned, and cheese," from Dormouse:
"Hey diddle doodle
There once was a poodle
Who furnished his house
With cheese."
(How do you think it might continue?)… (more)
A couple of characters seemed a little off to me... esp. the Cheshire Cat, who was more helpful than I remember from the books, but this seems to me a minor quibble.
The themes were made clear. Imo, not didactically so, but Savage wants to help kids learn to navigate our increasingly stressed and complex world, and to have the self-confidence to do so. Young me would have absolutely adored this book, *especially* the earnest parts.
Additional details make it even more appealing. Some concrete poetry, and words shown as illustrations. Some lovely real illustrations. Author's note. Discussion questions. An 'easter egg' if the reader keeps turning pages until the very end. Chapter titles, including a table of contents.
And epigraphs to open each chapter, for example:
"She generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it)."
Other bits that I bookdarted:
"I told you books saved my life. But for what? If all I do is spend my life hiding in them, what's the point?"
(Hint: the challenges of just living aren't likely to permit that, but I definitely empathize anyway!)
"'I said the two of you couldn't save the world. I didn't say you couldn't change it.'"
"'Whatever happens in the future, how about we both try to see it from the other person's side.'" (Emphasis mine.)
There's even an exercise left to the student (like the original comparison of a raven to a writing desk; look online for lots of possible answers). Here we have an ode to 'courage, friendship, lessons learned, and cheese," from Dormouse:
"Hey diddle doodle
There once was a poodle
Who furnished his house
With cheese."
(How do you think it might continue?)… (more)
"'Authors make up their own rules. They change things and switch them up. They invent words that never existed, make up names no one can pronounce, and create crazy lands that no one can understand. It's all nonsense.'
'Sometimes I need nonsense.'"
One word for this book and that would be 'clever'. This story was so imaginative and unique. I was absolutely gleeful when reading.
I will be the first to admit that I don't know a ton about Alice and Wonderland save for the few thinks I remember from reading it a few years ago. However, I came to love the world and felt like I was there with Celia. And once I got invested into the story, I could not put it down. I may *shh* have even read it during school.
This was a clean read and perfect for family read-aloud.
Rating: 5/5
Language: n/a
Romance: n/a
Spiritual: n/a
Violence: very mild
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.… (more)
'Sometimes I need nonsense.'"
One word for this book and that would be 'clever'. This story was so imaginative and unique. I was absolutely gleeful when reading.
I will be the first to admit that I don't know a ton about Alice and Wonderland save for the few thinks I remember from reading it a few years ago. However, I came to love the world and felt like I was there with Celia. And once I got invested into the story, I could not put it down. I may *shh* have even read it during school.
This was a clean read and perfect for family read-aloud.
Rating: 5/5
Language: n/a
Romance: n/a
Spiritual: n/a
Violence: very mild
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.… (more)
Another fun adventure from J. Scott Savage! I have thoroughly enjoyed this elementary school/middle grade series. It’s a book that parents would definitely approve of and enjoy reading along with their children. I loved the funny puns and humor, the creative puzzles and mysteries they have to solve, and the life lessons shared subtly throughout.
Graysen Foxx is on another quest, this time to find a creepy painting that will help his treasure hunting sidekicks Maya and Jack win their classroom Halloween decorating contest. But, Ordinary Elementary is anything but ordinary as the kids have previously discovered. On their mission to find the painting, they uncover another mystery, an old spelling bee medal with a strange inscription on the back.
Before they can figure out what the medal means, a ninja like 2nd grader steals the medal right out of their hands. This starts them on an investigation that will test all of their skills and friendship leading to an encounter with a super smart group called the illuminerdy. They guard a particularly amazing secret which the friends are determined to uncover. From alligators to abacuses, they face it all on their action-packed, fun filled adventure.
This book was so much fun and I loved the narration of Graysen Foxx. He’s such a fun kid with a wicked smart sense of humor and a gift for leadership. There were so many great messages in this story that were delivered in an entertaining way. I loved the teamwork, friendships, and lesson that just because you fail at something doesn’t mean you’re doomed to failure. I loved the way the kids each used their specific talents to solve the puzzles and riddles. Music, chemistry, engineering, math, computer programming, and science problems were all featured in this amazing adventure.
I loved the setting where there are secret passageways, hidden secrets, and all kinds of imaginative scenarios that took me back to my own childhood. Who hasn’t wished to find a secret passage in the school basement? Where there are so many books nowadays that rely on crude humor and silly jokes, this book excels in intelligent humor, witty observations, and fun.
Highly recommend this book and the entire series to elementary school aged kids and up. While it’s the second book in the series, it could be read as a standalone, but is more enjoyable if you’ve read the first book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.… (more)
Graysen Foxx is on another quest, this time to find a creepy painting that will help his treasure hunting sidekicks Maya and Jack win their classroom Halloween decorating contest. But, Ordinary Elementary is anything but ordinary as the kids have previously discovered. On their mission to find the painting, they uncover another mystery, an old spelling bee medal with a strange inscription on the back.
Before they can figure out what the medal means, a ninja like 2nd grader steals the medal right out of their hands. This starts them on an investigation that will test all of their skills and friendship leading to an encounter with a super smart group called the illuminerdy. They guard a particularly amazing secret which the friends are determined to uncover. From alligators to abacuses, they face it all on their action-packed, fun filled adventure.
This book was so much fun and I loved the narration of Graysen Foxx. He’s such a fun kid with a wicked smart sense of humor and a gift for leadership. There were so many great messages in this story that were delivered in an entertaining way. I loved the teamwork, friendships, and lesson that just because you fail at something doesn’t mean you’re doomed to failure. I loved the way the kids each used their specific talents to solve the puzzles and riddles. Music, chemistry, engineering, math, computer programming, and science problems were all featured in this amazing adventure.
I loved the setting where there are secret passageways, hidden secrets, and all kinds of imaginative scenarios that took me back to my own childhood. Who hasn’t wished to find a secret passage in the school basement? Where there are so many books nowadays that rely on crude humor and silly jokes, this book excels in intelligent humor, witty observations, and fun.
Highly recommend this book and the entire series to elementary school aged kids and up. While it’s the second book in the series, it could be read as a standalone, but is more enjoyable if you’ve read the first book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.… (more)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 26
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 1,065
- Popularity
- #24,176
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 44
- ISBNs
- 119
- Languages
- 1
- Favorited
- 1
