Sometimes It's Up

by Ruth Christoffer Carlsen

When things start changing-look out! Especially since they are bound to end up on someone's shoulders, like your own. At least that’s what Jake was starting to think. considering that things were going wrong awfully fast. He got the blame for his kid brother Gus's fights. He was the one who was never consulted when the family decided to move to Colorado. It was his fault for ruining their mother's birthday cake when Gus kicked him in the shins and the cake went flying.
Of course, sometimes things were pretty good, like when he discovered the principle of water pressure in Boulder and they had a regular fountain in the toilet. Water everywhere and everyone wet and laughing. Flush went the bowl. Roar went the box. It was lovely. And sometimes when things went bad, he and Gus didn't seem so far apart, because after all, they only had each other.
Figuring life out was a real puzzle for Jake and knowing that things never stay the same didn't always help. But his Gramps' words, "Sometimes it's up, sometimes it's down" were certainly something to think about. And thinking about it did tell Jake a lot of things about himself.
Readers of all ages will ind pleasure in the unpredictable humor and pure joy of his human and familiar story.

164 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

She was born in Milwaukee, WI, on February 21, 1918 to Carl Severin and Lydia Diefenthaler Christoffer. Ruth grew up in Chicago, Mason City, and Minneapolis. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in journalism with honors and after graduation was appointed assistance to the Dean of Women and a year of post-graduate studies. She married G. Robert Carlsen on April 5, 1941 in Minneapolis, MN. They moved with their growing family to Boulder, CO, Austin, TX and Iowa City. She and her husband, Bob, were residents of Iowa City since 1958. Bob was a professor of English and Education at the University of Iowa. He died on December 13, 2003.

A noted author of eight children’s books, Ruth was included in the Iowa Writers Walk. She also assisted her husband and was an editor for one of his 8 volume highschool literature anthologies published by McGraw Hill. She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority, P.E.O. Chapter E, Athens Book Club, National PEN WOMEN, and the Unitarian Universalist Society.

Survivors include her two sons, Christopher Carlsen and his wife Ioanna of Santa Fe, NM , and Peter Carlsen and his wife Sylvia Frank of St. Paul, MN; two daughters, Kristin Rowley of Santa Fe, and Jane Meidlinger and her husband Dr. John Meidlinger of Grand Island, NE; eight grandchildren: Clea, Tasio, Wim, Kristoffer, Robin, Michaela, Peter and Talia; and 4 great grandchildren: Michael, Finn, Kate and Atticus. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, her brother Forton, and her sister Mildred Vogel. She is survived by her sister Alpha Mae Day.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny book! Jake is the oldest child, with a younger brother Gus. They come up with all these great ideas…well, they seem great at the time! Also, it's sweet that Jake adores their baby sister Krissy, who also keeps everyone entertained. This is a feel-good family drama all-around because sometimes it's up and sometimes it's down, but it's always okay in the end.