Weather or Not

Upside-Down Magic #5

by Sarah Mlynowski

When Willa's upside-down magic rains, it pours. Clouds form under ceilings. Classrooms get flooded. Nory and the kids in Ms. Starr's Upside-Down Magic class always have umbrellas nearby, just in case.Willa hates being the source of such sogginess. And yet the more she rains, the worse she feels . . . and the worse she feels, the more she rains.Nory, meanwhile, can't wait to celebrate her first Bing Day-her town's magical holiday. There's even a parade! Too bad she's stuck doing her Bing Day class project with drippy Willa. To make things worse, Elliott seems to be taking Willa's side on everything.All the storminess is threatening to flood the UDM friendships. Will they drown in misery? Or can they use their magic to make the storm clouds disappear?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Childrens, Fiction, Magic, School

Paperback

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.

Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).

Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.

Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The students at Dunwiddle Magic School are preparing for Bing Day, their town’s most important annual magical holiday. Nory and Willa have been partnered up by Ms. Starr to work on a Bing Day project but the girls can’t see eye to eye. Nory thinks Willa is a crybaby, Willa thinks Nory is bossy and Elliott, who’s friends with both girls, is stuck in the middle.

I loved that Willa’s anxiety is addressed in this book. We need more kid’s books that include mental health in the narrative and this book introduced what anxiety feels like in an age appropriate way.

I was absolutely delighted to learn about Bing Day, more so because the person whose birthday is celebrated each year was a woman and her life partner was also a woman! Between them they helped save so many lives with their magic.

Carrot, Ms. Starr’s rabbit, is back in this book and now she’s spending more time in the Upside-Down Magic classroom. I love her sweet nature and wisdom. She also showed her cheeky side in this book.

The food I most wanted to eat while reading were white chocolate polar bears with marshmallow filling.

I now have to wait until September to read the next book in the series! NOOOOOO!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one seemed to have a lesson within it that some may disagree with. I'm sad at how long it took me to realize it. Unless of course I just interpreted it that way.

Anybody who had read the series knows that there are 5 magical categories, Fluxers (shape-shifters), Flares (make fire), Flyers (can fly), Flickers (invisibility powers), and Fuzzies (communicate with animals). Nory and her friends however have upside down magic where their magic doesn't exactly work like everyone else's.
While this series is great about embracing what makes you different and acceptance, this book goes a bit further.

Willa has been told she is an upside Flare. She can't make fire but she can make it rain. In this book Marigold suggests that maybe some of their magic isn't upside down as it isn't an opposite of one of the five. That maybe there is more than 5. Willa feels this is correct and that she is actually a different kind of magic called Fluid.
I felt this story was paralleling gender identity. That people don't fit into the typically male or female/Five types of magic, or even transgender/upside down magic but that some people are actually gender fluid or as Willa goes by just FLUID.
Now maybe it's just me who feels this way but hey, I think it's interesting. I don't know if a child will get it, but I sure did.


P.S. It also mentions a same sex couple

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first one in this series that I wouldn’t listen to again. I like how it showed Willa dealing with her feelings, but I felt like even that and her anxiety or depression around and school really could have been explored better. And Nory was very, very annoying in this book. I couldn’t wait for it to finish.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a special series, and so fun to read out loud with my daughter. Book 5 continues the excellence, introducing some new potential twists to the magic system. But the focus is always on the characters, this time shining the spotlight on Willa and her weather powers. Through her arc, we get to learn about regulating emotions and tools for finding greater control in moments that are overwhelming. It's great teaching for kids but never feels preachy. And there is acknowledgment that sometimes even practiced emotional tools don't work.

Nory gets an arc here as well, and we get to see her through the eyes of someone who does not enjoy her company quite as much. But everything has a happy ending of course.

Anyhow, my previous reviews apply here as well. This is a diverse, inclusive and accepting series of books worth reading for any younger middle grade families.

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so fun to read. I think this book was the most relatable to me, I didn't think I'd relate so much to a character like Willa (based on her from the previous books) but wow this hit me like a truck!! such a great series please pick it up if you ever need something fun!

[Jude (NovelReader13) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Rebecca Soler does a fab job narrating, making for an engaging, quick read/listen.
Nori had a lot of growing to do and Willa felt more relatable than I expexted. Wholesome and enjoyable from start to finish.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow - I thought the last book (Dragon Overnight) was turning the main character, Nory, into a less desirable role mode - this book turned her into a mean girl in some spots. While I love the way the story is including all the different magics and different characters points of view, the main reason my daughter enjoys the story is this main character - who I have to keep interrupting our reading to make sure she agrees that the behaviours Nory displays are NOT acceptable. I get that, in real life, kids don't always act like perfect little angels, but usually in literature the main character is the better person. SO not the case this time.

As for the story, it was 'okay' - I wouldn't say it was anything great - this time we get to see Willa and how she starts to get her magic under wraps. Marigold helps Willa realize that maybe she's not wonky at all, maybe it's just another type of magic she has - which is a great observation for child, but as an adult I'm here thinking "what on earth is an entire (fictional, albeit) population doing classifying people into only 5 specific groups to begin with? The whole concept has irked me from the start because no matter how much these kids evolve and change, the story seems to remain contained to the immediate world of the main characters and not the entire world. Things need to change in this magical universe.

As my daughter still very much enjoys these stories, we will continue to read them, but I am becoming less and less of a fan as they continue. At this point, this is not a series I would recommend to others.

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I am enjoying the development of the secondary characters in the Upside Down Magic class and the evolution of the magical world in each book. Nory was a little hard to take in this one - really abrasive and pushy and self-centered. But I enjoyed Willa's story in this - trying to learn to work with her emotions and thinking differently about her magic. That part of the story was enjoyable.

[Charlotte Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! There are many things I liked about this book, but one of my favorite things was that it talked about how hard it is to have a friendship with more then one person. Especially if you like someone better then someone else. Anyway, I loved this book. Not to mention I've read it three times. ;)

[Kate Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this one. Felt very whiny, and felt much more childish than the rest of the series. Also, Nory felt like a completely different character, and one I did not like at all. It was strange to read about such a poor relationship between Nory and Willa when I don't feel it had even been hinted at in any of the other books.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far my least favorite in the series. Still like some of the lessons, but students also seem too immature for 6th graders. The characters seem more like 3rd graders.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

DnF. Tired of finding things in books for little kids that are best introduced by parents.

[Myrtle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It got sort of boring and predictable. I wish the whole book wasn't just about Willa. Also, Nory is the main character, so she is supposed to be nice but she was so mean

[Sita MPieters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters become unpleasant and agendas become apparent

[Carmella S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was sad, but well written. Nori was mean and Willa was quiet.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most adorable series of books for kids ever!! Each kid in this series deals with magic that is different then normal making them stand out. The author does a really great job at introducing a problem in a way that the young reader could relate to only to solve the issue in the best manner ever as the story progresses. These lessons highlight the difference in us all showing how important it is for us to be open minded. Perfect for readers needing smaller chapters with a captivating story line. I so love these books so I give it 5/5 stars.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upside Down Magic has been a fun series to read aloud with my boys!

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legitimately taught me excellent coping strategies that I, a 42-year-old adult, had not encountered before

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book dealt with tougher topics than what I had imagined it would present. I really enjoy how each book focuses on a different character and discussing the struggles that they are facing. Nory is dealing with the jealousy that she has to share her best friend with someone else and that leads her to trouble. She is facing group work where her teammate is not pulling her weight in the project. And is forced to see things through a different perspective in order to control her emotions and empathize with those around her. I really enjoyed this book, as a parent, i would definitely read this before my child so that we can further discuss controlling your emotions and allowing you to feel anger, sadness, etc.

[Lisa McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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) have really enjoyed this series

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, 4: Andres and this book 5: Willa

This one was my least favorite so far, but it was still good! I like the conflict/resolution and seeing some common friendship jealous issues represented between Nory, Elliott, and Willa.

I felt sorry for Willa, she seems sad most of the book and I felt like there could have been more shown about her working on some ways to better her focus and class work and how she could work toward being happier. It kind of felt like they just made her out to be bad a everything, sad, or emotional and then never showed her growth in those areas or even her understanding herself in those areas more.

I think overall I was just a little bored with this one.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son gives it a 5 because he loves all the books but I had gave it a 2. So I guess between both of us it’s a 3.5. I rounded it down because, honestly, this book lets Nory off too easy and I had to constantly point out how bad of a classmate and friend she is being…. And everyone lets her off lightly for it. I wish Willa’s anxiety, depression and ADD was focused on more. She’s a character a lot of kids probably can relate to. 🙋‍♀️ Also, what on Earth happened to Nory? She was like reading an entirely different character.

[Viviana Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the story quite a bit but I wont spoil it. I think that Nory was strange in this book, yes she is talkative and a bit showy but even with jealousy or anger I think it was very much over done. I liked exploring Willa's side of things, because she was kind of a disregarded character in my head until I realized just how strong and yet disruptive her magic was.
Overall I liked it but Nory just bothered me a bit too much in this one. The 4th book remains my favorite but this might be 3rd.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

The moral in this one was a little too blunt. My kids love Nory and they were so mad at her they're not sure they want to continue with the series. I like that other characters are getting their spotlights, but the change in Nory's character was too abrupt and the ending to make it all work out a little too pat for my kids to feel like they can trust the next book in this series.

[Britt, Book Habitue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is probably my least favorite of the series thus far. The conflict is largely based on behavior that feels pretty out of character and the resolution is far too quick and easy and....I don't know, kinda ignores anything deeper that was actually going on. Which makes it feel a lot weaker than the first four, which all seemed to have more depth and lesson to the resolution.

[Arthur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nory is more of a brat in this book. Last time she stole an egg; now she's even cruel. However, this book seems to deal with more realistic relationships--friendship issues, jealousy, and every group project ever assigned. Finally, someone said out loud that their magic isn't wonky. There magic is different talents altogether. Hopefully the society will begin to change...

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nory was... A bully

It was a good book, but the basin character was acting funny. She had been the kindest sweetest kid for four books and then... Well she wasn't the same in this one. I just hope the next book is better.

[Kris Sellgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series. Nory is mean to Willa a lot, so Willa rains uncontrollably inside a lot. I like Nory better when she is nice. The story has a happy ending but Willa spends much of the book depressed.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! I was excited for this one because we get to see Nori from a completely different perspective, and Willa is right, Nori can be very bossy.

[Kayla Berejkoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some brief lgbtq references

[E. Adrian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nory is insufferable in this one. Yes, normal "kid" feelings but she's our protagonist so her behavior feels icky. Plot was a snooze, a literal book report.