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Upside-Down Magic #4

L' École Des Apprentis Magiciens: N°4 - Une Nuit Chez Les Dragons

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Nory Horace can turn herself into a kitten. But sometimes she adds in a bit of dragon and, well, accidentally turns into a dritten. Oops? Her friend Andres Padillo can fly high . . . but then he can’t fly back down again.

Nory and Andres are in an Upside-Down Magic class with other kids who have unusual magic. Now they’re off on their first-ever overnight field trip! At Dragon Haven, Nory, Andres, and their UDM classmates get to swim with dragons, fly with dragons, and feed dragons. There’s even a Hatchery, where they might get to see a newborn dragon.

There’s only one downer. The UDM kids aren’t the only ones visiting Dragon Haven. There are other students there, too. Students from another school. Students with “normal” magic. Dragon rescue, bonfires, and pajama breakfasts won’t be nearly as fun with a bunch of snooty strangers.

Unless . . . maybe everything isn’t as bad as it first seems. Thrown together with kids who are probably enemies, but might be friends, the UDM kids dive into their topsy-turviest adventure yet.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2018

294 people are currently reading
815 people want to read

About the author

Lauren Myracle

95 books2,025 followers
Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.

Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .

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5 stars
1,071 (52%)
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266 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
Profile Image for Schizanthus Nerd.
1,317 reviews304 followers
March 13, 2019
Dragons!!!

Nory and her Upside-Down Magic class are going on a three day class trip to Dragon Haven, where injured dragons are taken care of. Unfortunately Pepper can’t attend because her fiercing magic would scare all of the dragons but the rest of Nory’s class are ready for this adventure, including their teacher, Ms. Starr, and the school nurse, Nurse Riley (whose first name we find out in this book - ).

I enjoyed getting to know Andres better in this book. In the first three books of the series he’s primarily only been the boy on a leash who floats at the top of the UDM classroom because his upside down flying magic doesn’t allow him to do anything but stay airborne. It was lovely to see him interacting with other flyers and given the opportunity to let loose for a while and learn more about his ability.

Ms. Starr is still my favourite character. I wish I had been able to see her magic in action with the dragons. She’s such a sweetheart; so lovely and supportive and I want a teacher just like her.
“You’re letting yourself shine,” she told him, “and it makes me happy.”
Although she does make some mistakes in this book she quickly owns up to them and apologises.

I loved getting a glimpse of the different types of dragons being cared for at Dragon Haven and it was fun seeing Nory identify what type of dragon she becomes when she’s a dritten (part dragon, part kitten). I hope Nory returns to Dragon Haven in a future book to visit Roarie. I definitely didn’t like it when

Of all of the wonderful dragons described in this book my favourites were the luminous dragonettes. I need an entire rainbow of luminous dragonettes! They’re the smallest species of dragon and they light up like fireflies!

While there was bacon in this book the food I craved the most while reading was Nory’s waffle sandwich with hot fudge, whipped cream and hot caramel sauce. 🤤

I love that while each of the books in this series focuses on Nory as the main character there’s also a spotlight put on at least one of her UDM classmates. I’m really looking forward to learning more about Willa, who has the ability to make it rain indoors, in the next book.
4 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2019
I loved this book I can't wait to read the next one.
Profile Image for Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat).
859 reviews80 followers
August 15, 2020
This book might be my favorite in the series so far (I feel like I kinda say that with every book though but maybe they just keep getting better and better :) ). I loved Andres as a co-POV-character and I really hope we somehow get more from him. I really liked all the different dragons in this story and how they are kinda treated like any other rare species in the world, I do hope we get to come back to the sanctuary sometime or even just hear more about dragons (or some other magical creatures throughout the story) throughout the story since its such a fun little magical element.
I really liked how both Nory and Andres's stories went in this book, and how everyone from both schools sort of reacted to each other (and that for a change there was no bullying in this book). I'm so excited to get to the next books (although as always I'm generally just saving these audiobooks for rainy days because they are excellent pick me ups
Profile Image for Jude (NovelReader13).
431 reviews
August 16, 2020
4.5🌟
This series is just really, really wonderful! I felt that Dragon Overnight went a little bit deeper emotionally than the previous installments, and I particularly loved the expansion of the world as well as all of the different character dynamics.
Profile Image for Tegan.
1,150 reviews95 followers
November 4, 2018
Super cute! I loved seeing them outside of UDM & interacting with Sage.
Profile Image for Emily.
883 reviews33 followers
January 19, 2019
This might be the best book in the Upside Down Magic series, but they all blur together a bit so I can't say this definitively. I remember that Ms. Starr's upside down-ness was revealed a book or two back, but I can't, for the life of me, remember what it was. I can't remember what Marigold's upside down trait is, or what was the name of the girl who only shows up at the beginning of this book because she's a reverse Fuzzy is, but that's okay. These books are quite enjoyable, but if I met a group of real children once every six months, I'd be hard pressed to remember all their names and food allergies too. But Andres always sticks out. The other UDM kids have quirky fun magic, like ice powers and drittening, but Andres is always one leash fail away from a slow, terrible death. He's always left out, as well. The other kids all run around having fun together, and Andres is floating above everyone asking them to repeat what they just said. Dragon Overnight starts out that way. One of the kids is having a meltdown on the bus, Ms. Starr omits a headcount, and Andres is left floating outside for thankfully less than the whole trip to dragon camp, but long enough that his position in life is made clear to him. Meanwhile, Nory is Nory. She's excited about dragon camp, and she gets involved in a game of kittenball but uses her extra fluxing powers to tilt the game. How is that legal? She's playing with kids from the other school that's having an educational, elementary school camp experience that weekend, the kids from Sage Academy, the school where Nory's useless dad is headmaster. Meanwhile, Andres is forgotten on the ceiling of the Great Hall, which turns out to be worthwhile because he can have a well-deserved pity party, not hang out with his friends who ditched him, and take advantage of his floating powers all at the same time. Andres is swooshing and bouncing around the ceiling when a group of Sage Academy Flyers walk in and see Andres as a Flyer par excellence and not a wonky kid on a leash. These are Andres' new camp friends, and he deserves them. I mean this sincerely. Then everyone does various nature center/dragon camp activities and mingles and has a time that is fun, educational, and modestly cathartic. Basically like a real elementary school class trip, except when my fifth grade class went to the Courage Center, our time was too well managed to let us experience and overcome any personal crises, and that's a good thing. In the end, Nory has a good talk with her dad, who's still useless, and Andres learns to work his flying skills so that he's pretty much a superhero now.

Side note: I always enjoy how all the adults in this universe have a diversity of real jobs, instead of like in the Potter 'verse where everyone is either a wannabe tyrant or a civil servant.
Profile Image for Rasta Nasseri.
81 reviews18 followers
February 27, 2020
این کتاب تورا بالا و پاین می برد
زمانی که اتفاق خوش آیندی می افتاد آنقدر که جذاب بود می خواستم از خوشحالی فریاد بزنم
یا زمانی که اتفاق بدی می افتاد می خواستم این دفعه از ناراحتی فریاد بزنم
یک حقیقت جالب
توی هر یک از جلد ها یکی در میان در باره ی نری و یکی از دانش آموزان ج و صحبت می کند
برای مثال
توی قسمت اول نری و الیوت
دوم نری و بکس
سوم نری و پپر
چهارم نری و آندرس
کتاب سبکی است و اگر وقت بگذارید می توانید در یک تا دو ساعت بخوانید
حتما پیشنهاد می کنم ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍🏻
Profile Image for Cheriee Weichel.
2,520 reviews49 followers
August 20, 2018
I probably say this everytime I read a new book in the series, but this is the best one so far. The UDM (upside down magic) kids have magic that doesn't work the same way as other children's magic does. Nory's class ends up on an overnight field trip at Dragon Haven with the grade five students from Sage Academy. Nory's father is there also.
What I liked was how the students from this school appreciated the talents and skills of the UDM children. I also loved that Nory and her father seemed to come to a new kind of understanding.
Profile Image for James.
366 reviews16 followers
October 19, 2018
I'm constantly impressed by this series. It tackles difficult topics without being preachy, cheesy or condescending. This one addressed coming to the understanding that a child and parent may not every be able to fully understand each other but can love each other anyway. Plus the storytelling is always good, fun to read aloud, and the ending made my daughter cry. This is a great series for young readers of this generation!
Profile Image for Myrtle.
290 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2021
This one was not nearly as good as the last one. Nothing happened and it was sort of boring. Also, predictable
3,208 reviews
April 19, 2019
Andres, the boy whose Upside Down Magic of flying means he's always floating, makes some new friends when the magic academy students visit a dragon rescue.

This book is cute, just like the rest of the series. I'm way above the age range of the key audience (way, way above), but they're still enjoyable as an adult read. The kids react realistically and the magic is fun. And dragons! I listened to this as an audio book which I seldom do because I struggle with them. I think I've found the trick - listening to kids' books in this format might work for me. I'll definitely be reading (or listening to) the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Leah G.
10 reviews
January 22, 2023
This is a very good book. It has the characters from the previous books in the series and some new people. The UDM class from Dunwiddle goes on a field trip to Dragon Haven. A place where injured dragons go. The kids have a bunch of fun adventures and some issues along the way. Nori reunites with her father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Yapha.
3,293 reviews107 followers
April 25, 2020
Lots of good friend and family issues and lessons in here. And dragons!! Lots of dragons! Recommended for grades 2 & up. Best to read the series in order.
Profile Image for Marsena (Mars) Holsopple.
60 reviews
May 21, 2025
This series continues to charm! It’s impressive how many life lessons—about friendship and families struggling to accept children as they are—resonate with readers of all ages.
1,802 reviews
March 30, 2018
This is a fun read, and I think kids will enjoy it for the silliness and dragons. I appreciate that it showed that kids can be different and not torment each other over it. And that while you may be envious of one set of kids, they might be looking at you the same way. Like Nory's realization that the Sage students were embarrassed to be "boring" for not wearing pajamas to breakfast.

I haven't read the other books in the series, so take what I say with a grain of salt...But I don't quite understand why there are 5 traditional paths of magic, and your magic is "upside down" if it doesn't conform exactly to one of those. Like...someone who can ice things shouldn't be an "upside down" Flare, he should be an Icer or something. Or there should be a different name for the entire category of being able to affect the elements. Anyone who can change shape should be a Flux, if you can fly, you're a Flyer. Normally you have broad categories, then a narrower sub-sect, but this is the opposite.

I find it weird that Nory fluxes into animals she's never seen (like the Blurper). If Andres can fly, why on earth can he only fly UP? That's more like floating.

The adults in the book are amazingly irresponsible. There's Nory's dad, who sucks (I don't find it believable that he was fine when her mom was alive, then turned into this cold fish). But Nory's teachers...! They leave the floating kid outside the bus (Ms. Starr didn't notice that she couldn't move anywhere with the leash out the door?), they leave the backpack of bricks, the nurse ties Andres to a chair so he can check out an exhibit, then FORGETS about him...really, Andres gets the worst of everything. But also no one can hear anyone else if they are distracted or moving, since not only did no one respond to his shouts, but Nory couldn't get anyone's attention when the Blurper was hatching. Which..why did it matter if a Blurper imprinted on a human? It was apparently able to transfer it's attachment to another dragon immediately. It was pretty annoying that Nory even swiped the baby to begin with, knowing she could be damaging it irreparably just because she thought it was cute.
Profile Image for Brittany.
725 reviews26 followers
April 10, 2018
I loved Dragon Haven, and I am SO not a dragon book person, but this installment of the Upside-Down Magic series was my favorite in awhile!

And the whole element of Nory trying to impress her father for the first time, so darn sweet. This one was for the heart-strings for sure.
Profile Image for Lisa McKenzie.
392 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2021
This series continues to be so fun to read aloud! All three of my kids (9, 8, and 6...and sometimes even the 4 year old) ask for another chapter every night!

I love the character development of Nory and how each book has been focus on a specific student in the UDM class as well: book 1: Elliott , book 2: Bax, book 3: Pepper and this book 4: Andres!

I once again got a lump in my throat near the end when it was all coming together. I really like seeing the relationship between Nory and her father grow in this one.

Plus DRAGONS! I think we all would love a branch off series that is JUST about Dragon Haven 🐉💜
Profile Image for Neha Thakkar .
463 reviews13 followers
April 3, 2018
Adorable. I want to go to this school and then 🐉 camp. I love how welcoming it is and seriously, baby dragons? 😍
629 reviews
March 19, 2018
We love listening to this series as a family. We have kids ranging in age from almost 13 all the way down to 5 and they all like these books. They were all so excited that there was a new Upside down magic book out. My husband and I also enjoy listening to these books. As a parent with a child with special needs, I love that the books are about embracing your differences and learning to love and accept who you are and that everyone has value even when you are different from other people. The books are fun, the characters are engaging, it is well written, and in this case the audio books are well read.
Profile Image for Clio.
25 reviews
January 15, 2020
This review is written by Clio (age 6) and may contain spoilers. (Audiobook)

This is about Nory and Andres They go on this field trip with their school to a wild dragon center. They observe dragons there. These are dragons that were orphaned or found hurt. Then Nori discovers that her father and her school that she was previously at were there. They didn't want to see each other, but they did, when he came into the room she had a great idea. She said, everybody is bummed about not seeing the dragon, but you can still make them see it, you can make the walls invisible so you can see them.
643 reviews6 followers
March 28, 2018
A fun-filled series that resounds with everyone who approaches life from a different perspective.
I aspire to be a senior-citizen dritten. Eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Profile Image for Shilo Quetchenbach.
1,782 reviews65 followers
February 8, 2024
Kiddo and I loved this one as well. This series is just perfection overall. We loved the school camping trip setting for the story. The dragons were super cool as well. Nory and her dad get to clear the air between them a bit, which was nice. They still have their differences, but they seem to understand and accept one another more now. Roarie was super cute. It was nice hearing from Andres' perspective too, and really nice how the kids all made friends with Sage Academy students and they admired their upside-down magic and found it cool rather than looking down on them for it.
Profile Image for Jasper.
55 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2025
(Jasper rated this one himself !)

ROUND 2:
He had a lesson where we got to name a fictional character and he picked Nori! So we went ahead and listened to this a second time, he was all grins the whole time. Still a favorite series for him.

Dad said that at first Jasper was rolling his eyes and NOT into it (it's more elementary) but then got really into it!


Profile Image for Charlotte Fairbanks.
Author 1 book12 followers
December 7, 2019
This book is/was awesome! (Not to mention this is my third time reading it. 😊) I loved this book and I hope you will to. ;)
Profile Image for Todd.
129 reviews
May 12, 2025
okay but a bit too predictable

This was only an okay addition to the series. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as exciting or as well thought out or as well written as the previous books. It did tell a decent story but the fact that the other kids at the camp were from Sage Academy was too predictable. I think it would have been better for Nory and her father to know this beforehand. Being a headmaster, he would know what other schools would be around his students, he would insist. Would have been better had he known but was still was the disappointment of a father that Nory has accepted.

I also didn’t care for the dragon whelp, Roarie, imprinting on Nory. An animal imprinting would not have been able to be switched as easily as it was done. Nor would a zoologist tolerate and be that understanding with what she did. At least, not until they were sure the whelp had bonded with one of the parental dragons, as hoped. Nory’s actions could have very likely caused the whelp to not form a bond with another dragon and might have led to its death. I know these are stories for younger kids, but I think shielding them from a truth about nature isn’t wise. It would be better for them to understand that if you did something like this in our world, the repercussions might have ended direly.

I did like that Nory and her father finally spoke and that they each were able to express things about themselves and understand where the other is at emotionally. It’s very feasible that a 10 year old might be more accepting and understanding of a parent who isn’t a great parent. Such things happen, in real life. In my own I realized, at 6 years old, it was better my parents were better off divorced, then staying together. Children can deal with deep issues, if you let them. They don’t have to know all the specifics, but if you give them a chance to be heard, they can surprise you with their wisdom and advice. Such as Nory telling her father to call every Saturday and setting it as a schedule, as she understood, that’s something he needs to function.

I wish they would have done more with Andres and his UDM. It was as if they just slighted him and then short changed his story. As he was saying he felt he was being treated as such from his friends, school and situation, then the writers did the same to his character. He didn’t have a great big story growth and understanding to help him with his magic, it just suddenly was there for him. I think it would have been better to get him there gradually, instead of he could die, and poof now he suddenly figured out how to fly better and didn’t need saving.

It wasn’t a bad story and it had potential. It came across a formulaic and predictable though. Hopefully the future books won’t have this issue.
1 review1 follower
August 24, 2020
I absolutely loved everything about this book! I love how the Author describes everything the characters do, think, and say. I also love how the Author describes how they all feel. This is a very good book series for all of those who have not read it yet! One of my favorite parts of this book in particular, was how Andres feels being above everyone else, and how he felt when he met the Sage Academy Flyers. Another thing I enjoyed reading, was how Nory’s emotion was described on the bus to Dragon Heaven, which escalated when she stole Roarie. This is a great book series for those who love magic, fantasy, etc, etc.
In this book Nory, Elliott, Sebastian, Willa, Marigold, Bax, Mrs. Starr, Nurse Riley (name revealed in book- Felix), and Andres all take a field-trip to Dragon Haven. Andres, who has only ever had a perspective from above since he turned 10, meets the Sage Academy Flyers, who admire his ability to fly so high up. The day Andres met them, he had felt more important and wanted, which was enjoyable to experience from him.

I really enjoyed his perspective on everything, and getting to know him better.
Nory also had a similar experience, except for the fact that she had enjoyed going from the start, other than being upset that Pepper, her Feircing friend couldn’t attend the trip because of her ability to terrify animals into hiding.

The experience Nory has with Roarie was one of my favorite things about the book. As Nory, Elliott, and the rest of their friends (except Andres, who was going out flying with his new flying friends), to see an egg incubator. Even though the person leading them through told them to get away from any hatching eggs, Nory stays as one slowly pops open. According to Nory: She had never been filled with so much love. She kept the small dragonet (whelp) inside of her hoodie, in which she stuffed hotdogs and other foods.

While all of the campers were surrounding the campfire, (or, as they were puting it out) Elliott uses his freezing magic to extinguish the flames.

This is where my favorite quote of the book takes place: “You’re letting yourself shine,” she said to him. “And it makes me happy.”

I won’t spoil anything else from here! If you haven’t read it yet, go ahead! Again, I love this series, and I can only hope that you do too! The only recommendations I have for other future books are that Nory meets Roarie again, Andres has another book to share his life story, and that Elliott and Nory can break through to the Sparkies at some point. (If any of these things do happen in other books I haven’t read yet, please make sure not to spoil too much!)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews

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