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When the World Turned Upside Down
What do you do when the world shuts down? A heartwarming story of friendship and overcoming adversity in a time of COVID, When the World Turns Upside Down is about community, giving back, and understanding the world around us through the power of generosity from debut middle grade author K. Ibura.
Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too?
As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community—and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone.
Set against the onset of COVID, When the World Turned Upside Down navigates issues of race and social justice in a heartwarming story of generosity, friendship, and the power of youth.
Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too?
As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community—and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone.
Set against the onset of COVID, When the World Turned Upside Down navigates issues of race and social justice in a heartwarming story of generosity, friendship, and the power of youth.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2021
22 people are currently reading
2076 people want to read
About the author
K. Ibura
6 books71 followersK. Ibura is a writer and visual artist from New Orleans, Louisiana—which is the original home of the Chitimacha Tribe. The middle child of five, she grew up in a city full of music and culture, a neighborhood full of oak trees and mosquitos, and a home full of arts and activism. She wrote her first story in college to cope with a racist incident that happened to a classmate. Since then, she has published essays about identity, race, and gender and fantastical short stories about mystical happenings in magazines and anthologies. She has written two short story collections for adults: Ancient, Ancient—Winner of the James Tiptree Award—and When the World Wounds. Her debut novel and first book for young people, When the World Turned Upside Down, is forthcoming in November 2021. Her debut young adult series is forthcoming in Fall 2022. She is passionate about sharing strategies for writing and personal freedom through her workshops, her Patreon posts, and her Notes From the Trenches ebook series. A member of the first generation of African Americans to grow up without segregation, she lives in Brooklyn, NY—which is the original home of the Lenape Tribe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
January 29, 2022
This book gave young readers a glimpse into how other kids deal with pandemic. I enjoyed the friendship story and how they took care of each other. Reading Ben’s views reminded me to be a calm person. His parents rather locked themselves in their room arguing than to make dinner for him. Definitely sad. Liam’s handling of his twin sisters Cara and Cayla were funny, especially about having their hands in his pockets to stop them from touching germ-filled places. Ai was forced to prepare dinner for the whole family without training how to handle the kitchen was a bit irresponsible of her dad. Shayla’s family situation seemed to be the best out of the four friends. At least Shayla got to be a kid instead of being responsible for adult problems. I don’t agree with how the dog’s owner handled her situation. Intentionally letting her dog go hungry like that instead of seeking immediate help for herself and her dog. Relying on a kid just didn’t cut it.
This book followed Shayla as she sat in class but daydreamed about being outside by the tree. Her teacher was calling for her but she didn’t respond. Her friend Megan smacked her arm to wake her up. Her teacher was waiting for an answer and her other friend Gemma was laughing at her. She was saved by the principal’s sudden entrance. Ai, who sat behind Shayla filled her in on what the teacher was asking and questioned Shayla about her choices in friendship with Megan and Gemma because they shouldn’t be laughing at her for not paying attention in class. Shayla has been friends with Ai, Ben, and Liam since they were kids. She wanted independence from them so she distanced herself by making new friends. The teacher then told students that their school will be closed and that they will be doing their school work from home. With this announcement, Ai and Ben asked Shayla to check on Liam with them because he didn’t take well to substitute teacher in the past, how will he react to this change this time. There were POVs for Shayla, Ai, Ben, and Liam told in the third person. They all lived in the same apartment on different floors. Pandemic kept them home, but their friendship were rocky and they will have to figure out how to be friends again.
When the World Turned Upside Down was a fast paced read. The author did a good job making these characters sounded their age, young and immature. Though the characters’ age or grade wasn’t mentioned in the story, I’m assuming they were probably 8 to 10 years old. Ai was truly a kid when she thought of her mom. She thought fondly of how her parents told her stories but she wouldn’t visit her mom’s room when her mom’s sick non-covid symptoms. Sadly this book only focused on how African Americans were victimized but not any other race. I know during pandemic, many Asians were randomly beaten in NY and CA because people thought that they should be punished for the Covid outbreak. There were also other major events like public monuments vandalism and retail store robberies that saddened me too. It’s one thing for the kids to come up with ideas to be helpful to their neighbors, it’s more like child labor requesting help by an adult for no pay. I liked when the four friends work together. They have some fun imagination!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.com for more details
Many thanks to Scholastic for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
This book followed Shayla as she sat in class but daydreamed about being outside by the tree. Her teacher was calling for her but she didn’t respond. Her friend Megan smacked her arm to wake her up. Her teacher was waiting for an answer and her other friend Gemma was laughing at her. She was saved by the principal’s sudden entrance. Ai, who sat behind Shayla filled her in on what the teacher was asking and questioned Shayla about her choices in friendship with Megan and Gemma because they shouldn’t be laughing at her for not paying attention in class. Shayla has been friends with Ai, Ben, and Liam since they were kids. She wanted independence from them so she distanced herself by making new friends. The teacher then told students that their school will be closed and that they will be doing their school work from home. With this announcement, Ai and Ben asked Shayla to check on Liam with them because he didn’t take well to substitute teacher in the past, how will he react to this change this time. There were POVs for Shayla, Ai, Ben, and Liam told in the third person. They all lived in the same apartment on different floors. Pandemic kept them home, but their friendship were rocky and they will have to figure out how to be friends again.
When the World Turned Upside Down was a fast paced read. The author did a good job making these characters sounded their age, young and immature. Though the characters’ age or grade wasn’t mentioned in the story, I’m assuming they were probably 8 to 10 years old. Ai was truly a kid when she thought of her mom. She thought fondly of how her parents told her stories but she wouldn’t visit her mom’s room when her mom’s sick non-covid symptoms. Sadly this book only focused on how African Americans were victimized but not any other race. I know during pandemic, many Asians were randomly beaten in NY and CA because people thought that they should be punished for the Covid outbreak. There were also other major events like public monuments vandalism and retail store robberies that saddened me too. It’s one thing for the kids to come up with ideas to be helpful to their neighbors, it’s more like child labor requesting help by an adult for no pay. I liked when the four friends work together. They have some fun imagination!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.com for more details
Many thanks to Scholastic for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
December 15, 2021
Great book to help kids realize how much of a difference they can make even if they feel small! Good topics for discussion as well.
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August 6, 2023This book studies this recent, most extraordinary era of our time-- the pandemic-- through the lens of four children. I was absorbed into their shared apartment building setting and the going-ons of the Quartet, captivated by their unique friendship and family dynamics. The author manages to cover a wide range of family dynamics and individual personalities, weaving them into a universe I would love to visit again. Although the book is written for a younger audience, as an adult I enjoyed revisiting the step-by-step awkardness of adjusting to life with the virus and the larger exploration of how crisis triggers or inspires different behaviors. The writing was engaging, powerful and, for me, transcended age group to become a book children should read, and which their loving adults will certainly enjoy alongside them.
March 20, 2023
Strange to think that in a few years, a book like this about the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered historical fiction.
A good middle-grade read, whose messages will resonate for years to come. 4 children of different nationalities, who have grown up together in the same apartment building, have begun to drift apart upon entering middle-school. When the COVID crisis erupts, along with other problems taking place in the U.S.A, they bond together to try and make a difference in any way they can, instead of hiding in fear.
George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter movement is mentioned, and one of the kid’s fathers gives them a lesson in American History about long oppression has been an issue, and how dangerous racism still is.
The four children are all affected in different ways by the pandemic, and the problems with racism that are present in their very neighborhood. The way they pull together and come up with ideas to help are inspiring. I kept thinking of the sign I had in my classroom long ago: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
A good middle-grade read, whose messages will resonate for years to come. 4 children of different nationalities, who have grown up together in the same apartment building, have begun to drift apart upon entering middle-school. When the COVID crisis erupts, along with other problems taking place in the U.S.A, they bond together to try and make a difference in any way they can, instead of hiding in fear.
George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter movement is mentioned, and one of the kid’s fathers gives them a lesson in American History about long oppression has been an issue, and how dangerous racism still is.
The four children are all affected in different ways by the pandemic, and the problems with racism that are present in their very neighborhood. The way they pull together and come up with ideas to help are inspiring. I kept thinking of the sign I had in my classroom long ago: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
January 23, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours, Scholastic & the author for this free copy.
Content warnings: depression, panic attacks, police brutality, racism
Full review on my blog.
When the World Turned Upside Down by K. Ibura is a beautiful venture into some difficult events that have transpired in the last few years, like COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. Told through the insightful perspectives of four friends stuck in their apartments during a lockdown, this book explored recent events as well as everyday issues that kids would have no problem relating to. Told in engaging and wholesome writing, this book is a must-read for anyone who has felt alone during COVID-19 lockdowns!
Content warnings: depression, panic attacks, police brutality, racism
Full review on my blog.
When the World Turned Upside Down by K. Ibura is a beautiful venture into some difficult events that have transpired in the last few years, like COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. Told through the insightful perspectives of four friends stuck in their apartments during a lockdown, this book explored recent events as well as everyday issues that kids would have no problem relating to. Told in engaging and wholesome writing, this book is a must-read for anyone who has felt alone during COVID-19 lockdowns!
August 24, 2023
Although I give credit to the author for accurately portraying the emotions we all experienced during the covid lockdowns, in my opinion, a children's book is no place to promote propaganda style thoughts on political issues. In just one example, the police are portrayed as murderers of "innocent" people, when in fact some of the now historical personas portrayed in this book are indeed criminals. The bias toward CRT style thinking is strong, and again, I do not believe that this political rhetoric belongs in children's literature. The author can be honest about events without presenting propagandistic information to young readers.
January 26, 2022
This story is history in progress and for four children in a city apartment building, they are experiencing it firsthand. The four kids Shayla, Ai, Ben, and Liam all are fast friends but the pandemic and dividing elements in society come crashing home for them. Shayla has moved on from the tight-knit group and tries to widen her friend circle while Ai is not quite certain what she did to break up the friendship between the two girls but since they live in the same space, they can't avoid one another. Liam is now having panic attacks which interfere with his ability to live life normally while his friend Ben, is dealing with parents that argue constantly since everyone is stuck with each other and there is little escape.
The story puts the reader right in the room with them and their difficulties with parents being home, working, and homeschooling. This story captures little moments that make up the whole pandemic in which neighbors die, the air of uncertainty that surrounds each day, and basic survival. Shayla even has difficult discussions with her father about police brutality. When Ai decides to create a "helpers" group for the residents, the four find their way back into friendship. It really is a wonderful story and very heartwarming.
The story puts the reader right in the room with them and their difficulties with parents being home, working, and homeschooling. This story captures little moments that make up the whole pandemic in which neighbors die, the air of uncertainty that surrounds each day, and basic survival. Shayla even has difficult discussions with her father about police brutality. When Ai decides to create a "helpers" group for the residents, the four find their way back into friendship. It really is a wonderful story and very heartwarming.
September 10, 2021
We’ll worth reading and keeping a copy on personal library shelves as a chronicle of the beginning of covid and the Black Lives Matter summer of 2020. Tells the story of 4 young friends struggling with family issues, friendships and what it means to live and help in a community.
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February 10, 2022Quarantine, lockdown, and COVID have hit everyone, and coping hasn't always been easy. Whether you were in a big city, small town, or some more rural area, life definitely felt upside down.
For a group of four big city kids, dealing with the isolation and restrictions of being in quarantine threatened to completely derail their lives, but they were creative in ways that kept their friendships alive and their feelings of frustration under control.
Ai is living with 3 family members, but she feels alone. Her father is busy at work, her sister is busy studying, and her mother is shut away in her bedroom. Ai's mom promised if her depression got out of control, she would go see her doctor and take her medicine, but she seems to have forgotten that promise. Now Ai is pretty much fending for herself.
Liam worries about everything. He tries to help his busy mother with his younger twin sisters, but his fears of the pandemic and what is happening in the outside world threaten to overwhelm him.
When the schools close down, Ben is left with no way to escape his parents who fight constantly. He tries to avoid them but being stuck in the apartment with them doesn't give him the separation he craves.
Before COVID Shayla was having friend issues with Ai. She is hoping being stuck in the same building might result in some sort of reconciliation. When Shayla's fashion designer father decides to start making masks to supplement his lost dressmaking jobs, Shayla hopes delivering masks to her friends might help them reconnect.
The four create the Quartet. They approach the lone apartment custodian and ask if they can help out. Soon they are disinfecting elevator doors and buttons, helping collect recycling, and eventually offering all sorts of help to residents of their building. Their eyes are opened to how much work it takes to care for people. They are made even more aware of people's action when protests about the death of George Floyd erupt on the nearby streets.
Author K. Ibura takes readers into life with a worldwide pandemic. Readers are sure to find common ground with the characters in WHEN THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
For a group of four big city kids, dealing with the isolation and restrictions of being in quarantine threatened to completely derail their lives, but they were creative in ways that kept their friendships alive and their feelings of frustration under control.
Ai is living with 3 family members, but she feels alone. Her father is busy at work, her sister is busy studying, and her mother is shut away in her bedroom. Ai's mom promised if her depression got out of control, she would go see her doctor and take her medicine, but she seems to have forgotten that promise. Now Ai is pretty much fending for herself.
Liam worries about everything. He tries to help his busy mother with his younger twin sisters, but his fears of the pandemic and what is happening in the outside world threaten to overwhelm him.
When the schools close down, Ben is left with no way to escape his parents who fight constantly. He tries to avoid them but being stuck in the apartment with them doesn't give him the separation he craves.
Before COVID Shayla was having friend issues with Ai. She is hoping being stuck in the same building might result in some sort of reconciliation. When Shayla's fashion designer father decides to start making masks to supplement his lost dressmaking jobs, Shayla hopes delivering masks to her friends might help them reconnect.
The four create the Quartet. They approach the lone apartment custodian and ask if they can help out. Soon they are disinfecting elevator doors and buttons, helping collect recycling, and eventually offering all sorts of help to residents of their building. Their eyes are opened to how much work it takes to care for people. They are made even more aware of people's action when protests about the death of George Floyd erupt on the nearby streets.
Author K. Ibura takes readers into life with a worldwide pandemic. Readers are sure to find common ground with the characters in WHEN THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
February 26, 2022
I was fascinated by this book due to its historical relevance. As a middle grade teacher, I thought this could be a moving book about the experience of a child in the pandemic. However, I was not very moved. The characters seemed flat and that was the biggest let down for me. I wanted to expand on the issues with their parents. What I did really love about this book is how complex issues such as protesting and looting are explained in a child friendly way. It is worth the read for sure, but definitely not my favorite.
July 4, 2022
Nice to see things from a children's perspective during COVID lockdown.
January 2, 2024
Tested out for a classroom read aloud, I’ll pass. It was very slow, limited details, and the ending was poorly written with lots of holes left unanswered.
February 25, 2024
This was a good, quick read that touched on a lot of topics and inspires young readers to work for positive change. What a great message!
July 22, 2022
Excellent school-age perspectives on recent and on-going world events/experiences that affect us all. Coronavirus, service, racism, kindness, friendship, family, speaking our truth, patience, respect and so many more. I really enjoyed this up-lifting junior novel.
Update(July 22, 2022): I am currently reading another book about kids and their families going through various Covid 19 Pandemic experiences. I feel it is a more authentic and relatable than this similar junior novel, dropping my rating of this cute book to ⭐⭐⭐.
Update(July 22, 2022): I am currently reading another book about kids and their families going through various Covid 19 Pandemic experiences. I feel it is a more authentic and relatable than this similar junior novel, dropping my rating of this cute book to ⭐⭐⭐.
November 4, 2022
Gently yet realistically delves into the events of 2020--the Covid-19 quarantine and social justice rallies after the death of George Floyd, in particular--nicely balancing a sense of trauma and heavy issues with acts of community and kindness. It focuses on a group of four middle grade kids, childhood friends from the same apartment building who have started growing apart with age, with chapters alternating their perspectives in turn. It tangibly and personally demonstrates hope amidst darkness. A bit gut-twisting and definitely satisfying.
October 26, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
It's March 2020, and Shayla, who is Black, is conflicted about her school being shut down. It means that she doesn't have to deal with Ai, her sort of best friend, but it means that she has to be at home with her father, who is struggling since his job as a fashion designer slows down considerably. Ai lives in her apartment building, and has struggles of her own. Her mother has taken to her bed, and Ai is left to cook for her family, since her older sister Kartika is trying to study for senior year exams. Ben and Liam also live in the building, and the four have been friends ever since Liam's mother used to babysit them all. Liam suffers frequent panic attacks, so the virus has him very distracted, but he tries to cope so that he can deal with his young sisters. The Quartet realize that they have to stick together, since they don't see anyone else from school. They do online lessons, but are soon trying to find ways to occupy their time. When a neighbor gets sick, they bring food for her dog, and let parents know so that the woman can get help. She has COVID, and the parents are angry at the children for exposing themselves to the virus, but no one gets sick. They do take care of the woman's dog. They also help the building superintendent wipe down surfaces, and run errands for elderly neighbors who might not be able to get out as easily. Shayla's father provides them with masks, and they try to maintain social distance and practice good hygiene; the only other person to get COVID is Ai's sister, who is okay. As 2020 progresses, they also have to process their feelings about the George Floyd murder and the Black Lives Matters Protests, which occur close to home. The children have to decide how involved they can be while still remaining safe, and how they should continue to try to make the world a better place.
Strengths: I liked the inclusion of Shayla and Ai's friendship problems, which were treated in a very realistic way. If you have other options for friends, you can let some go, but when you're locked down, even friends you're a little tired of can look good. There are a variety of experiences, and parents with different situations. There was even a pandemic puppy, which was good to see! There were some good details about masking, social distancing, and other things that SOMEDAY will need to be explained to readers who have no memory of them. This is a good purchase for elementary libraries so that students who will be in, say, fourth grade, will be able to see what the world was like when they were just starting school.
Weaknesses: This comes to a somewhat abrupt end. It might have been interesting to take this a bit further, with the children going back to in person learning, but the author's time line of how the book was written shows that this wasn't really possible, given the way publishing works. Like Walter's Don't Stand So Close To Me, it had to end when it had to end!
What I really think: This certainly showed a different experience of the pandemic than I had-- the children didn't seem to do much with school, and I was so nervous about not being in person that I was hyper aware of constantly checking in and being available. They also saw a LOT of people. It's good to see different experiences, but I had trouble getting my mind around it. The children all seemed a bit young. I'm debating. On the one hand, it's a great historical novel, but on the other hand, the last thing my students want to read about right now is lockdown!
It's March 2020, and Shayla, who is Black, is conflicted about her school being shut down. It means that she doesn't have to deal with Ai, her sort of best friend, but it means that she has to be at home with her father, who is struggling since his job as a fashion designer slows down considerably. Ai lives in her apartment building, and has struggles of her own. Her mother has taken to her bed, and Ai is left to cook for her family, since her older sister Kartika is trying to study for senior year exams. Ben and Liam also live in the building, and the four have been friends ever since Liam's mother used to babysit them all. Liam suffers frequent panic attacks, so the virus has him very distracted, but he tries to cope so that he can deal with his young sisters. The Quartet realize that they have to stick together, since they don't see anyone else from school. They do online lessons, but are soon trying to find ways to occupy their time. When a neighbor gets sick, they bring food for her dog, and let parents know so that the woman can get help. She has COVID, and the parents are angry at the children for exposing themselves to the virus, but no one gets sick. They do take care of the woman's dog. They also help the building superintendent wipe down surfaces, and run errands for elderly neighbors who might not be able to get out as easily. Shayla's father provides them with masks, and they try to maintain social distance and practice good hygiene; the only other person to get COVID is Ai's sister, who is okay. As 2020 progresses, they also have to process their feelings about the George Floyd murder and the Black Lives Matters Protests, which occur close to home. The children have to decide how involved they can be while still remaining safe, and how they should continue to try to make the world a better place.
Strengths: I liked the inclusion of Shayla and Ai's friendship problems, which were treated in a very realistic way. If you have other options for friends, you can let some go, but when you're locked down, even friends you're a little tired of can look good. There are a variety of experiences, and parents with different situations. There was even a pandemic puppy, which was good to see! There were some good details about masking, social distancing, and other things that SOMEDAY will need to be explained to readers who have no memory of them. This is a good purchase for elementary libraries so that students who will be in, say, fourth grade, will be able to see what the world was like when they were just starting school.
Weaknesses: This comes to a somewhat abrupt end. It might have been interesting to take this a bit further, with the children going back to in person learning, but the author's time line of how the book was written shows that this wasn't really possible, given the way publishing works. Like Walter's Don't Stand So Close To Me, it had to end when it had to end!
What I really think: This certainly showed a different experience of the pandemic than I had-- the children didn't seem to do much with school, and I was so nervous about not being in person that I was hyper aware of constantly checking in and being available. They also saw a LOT of people. It's good to see different experiences, but I had trouble getting my mind around it. The children all seemed a bit young. I'm debating. On the one hand, it's a great historical novel, but on the other hand, the last thing my students want to read about right now is lockdown!
January 30, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: When The World Turned Upside Down
Author: K. Ibura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Various races are mentioned, but nothing exact is specifically mentioned. There is one disabled character, a character with depression, and a non-binary character in the book as well.
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, children’s readers, contemporary, realistic fiction
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (COVID, panic attack, parents fighting, depression, animal starving, police brutality, systematic racism, gore)
Explanation of CWs: COVID, police brutality, and systematic racism are discussed and/or shown in the book as they’re the background of the book. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is depression shown in the book. There are a couple of scenes where some parents are shown fighting. There is one scene where an animal is shown starving (but it is alright and saved). There is also one scene with some slight gore.
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 275
Synopsis: Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too? As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community—and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone.
Review: I really loved this book! The book did so well to show the scariness of the beginning of the pandemic but in a kid friendly manner. The book did well to discuss accurate COVID information (a valuable asset in today’s society) and how scary the sickness can look like. The book also went into detail about the BLM protests and what happened with not only George Floyd but numerous other people who lost their lives due to police brutality. The book showed rioting, but informed it in a manner that it is “…the language of the unheard” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and showed police brutality in the midst of even peaceful protests as well. I absolutely adore this book and its brutal honesty because children are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for and they can understand these bigger topics if you just explain it to them in terms they can understand, such as this excellent book does. I thought the book was extremely well written and the characters sounded their age and were developed well. The world building was great as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that the pacing was a bit too fast for me (but it would be perfect for a child I think!) and the book does randomly change POVs throughout the chapters, so it sometimes gets a little confusing to follow who we’re following at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
Book: When The World Turned Upside Down
Author: K. Ibura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Various races are mentioned, but nothing exact is specifically mentioned. There is one disabled character, a character with depression, and a non-binary character in the book as well.
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, children’s readers, contemporary, realistic fiction
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (COVID, panic attack, parents fighting, depression, animal starving, police brutality, systematic racism, gore)
Explanation of CWs: COVID, police brutality, and systematic racism are discussed and/or shown in the book as they’re the background of the book. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is depression shown in the book. There are a couple of scenes where some parents are shown fighting. There is one scene where an animal is shown starving (but it is alright and saved). There is also one scene with some slight gore.
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 275
Synopsis: Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too? As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community—and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone.
Review: I really loved this book! The book did so well to show the scariness of the beginning of the pandemic but in a kid friendly manner. The book did well to discuss accurate COVID information (a valuable asset in today’s society) and how scary the sickness can look like. The book also went into detail about the BLM protests and what happened with not only George Floyd but numerous other people who lost their lives due to police brutality. The book showed rioting, but informed it in a manner that it is “…the language of the unheard” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and showed police brutality in the midst of even peaceful protests as well. I absolutely adore this book and its brutal honesty because children are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for and they can understand these bigger topics if you just explain it to them in terms they can understand, such as this excellent book does. I thought the book was extremely well written and the characters sounded their age and were developed well. The world building was great as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that the pacing was a bit too fast for me (but it would be perfect for a child I think!) and the book does randomly change POVs throughout the chapters, so it sometimes gets a little confusing to follow who we’re following at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
October 7, 2022
Everyone experienced the recent pandemic in different ways, dealing with different challenges, fears, frustrations, anxieties, etc. WHEN THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN seeks to capture what we all endured by highlighting four kids living in a variety of situations. Their stories touch on things like job loss, parental depression, the exhaustion of medical professionals, tension caused by families being stuck at home together, kids having to take on more adult roles, friends and family members becoming ill, etc. While these all help to illustrate what living through the pandemic was like, I feel like the story as a whole is missing that special something that would have really brought it all to life for the reader. The four kids at the center of the book are all sympathetic and likable (although it's more because of their desire to do good than because of their personalitites), although none of them really stand out. I didn't feel particularly connected to any of them. Since none of them really has a story goal, the novel feels episodic and unfocused. The whole police brutality theme feels added on, even heavy-handed. In a lot of places, it feels like Ibura is juggling too many themes. Other portions of the story just confused me. Although the ages of the characters are never given, the members of the Quartet act young, way too young to be allowed to go to the grocery store by themselves or canvass the halls of their apartment building unsupervised—especially in the middle of a pandemic and with George Floyd riots going on to boot. It doesn't make any sense to me that they were allowed to roam freely, but then got in trouble for being places they shouldn't have been. There are also some plot strings that are left dangling (What happened to Mrs. Connor? Was she ever reunited with Daisy? Did Ai ever forgive Shayla?). While I do think WHEN THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN teaches some great lessons about helping people, using your voice to enact change, working together, and easing your own anxieties by getting outside of yourself, there are a number of things about the book that bugged. It also just kind of bored me, to be honest. In the end, then, this was only an average read for me.
July 26, 2021
Scholastic provided a ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Friends Shayla and Ai are at a crossroads in their friendship. Things have gotten tense between the two with Shayla longing to be apart of another clique and Ai not sure of what she did to end up in an argument with Shayla. And what’s worse is the two can’t exactly avoid each other, they live in the same building. Also in the building are their friends Ben and Liam. Ben’s parents fight incessantly and Liam suffers from panic attacks. The the four friends are sent home from school die to COVID everything is up in the air.
Naturally the kids feel helpless when they see what’s happening in the building and neighborhood. Despite the strife in their friendships, the four kids decide to make a difference by helping their neighbors. It’s starts with an older neighbor who gets sick with Covid. After heading to the hospital, Ai drops off the neighbor’s dog Daisy to be taken care of by Shayla. The friends make flyers to distribute to their building for anyone needing help with groceries, errands or cleaning. When George Floyd is murdered the friends also turn to Shayla’s father Mr. Kwame for guidance on how to work through their feelings around police violence.
Author K. Iburra doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects in this charming fiction book. She masterfully weaves in how the COVID pandemic makes hard situations even tougher with mentions of Mrs. Utari’s debilitating depression, Ben’s parents dealing with the extra stress by fighting with each other, and Liam’s panic attacks that get worse when the quarantine begins. Even though it was just a fictional slice of life in an urban apartment building, and I found myself wincing when Liam’s mom describes Mr. Floyd being murdered because I remember the first time I saw it on television and how disgusted and angry it made me feel.
Despite still being in a pandemic and now COVID variants wrecking havoc, When the World Turned Upside Down is pertinent reading for any young person who wants some inspiration on how they can turn stressful situations into helpful ones.
Friends Shayla and Ai are at a crossroads in their friendship. Things have gotten tense between the two with Shayla longing to be apart of another clique and Ai not sure of what she did to end up in an argument with Shayla. And what’s worse is the two can’t exactly avoid each other, they live in the same building. Also in the building are their friends Ben and Liam. Ben’s parents fight incessantly and Liam suffers from panic attacks. The the four friends are sent home from school die to COVID everything is up in the air.
Naturally the kids feel helpless when they see what’s happening in the building and neighborhood. Despite the strife in their friendships, the four kids decide to make a difference by helping their neighbors. It’s starts with an older neighbor who gets sick with Covid. After heading to the hospital, Ai drops off the neighbor’s dog Daisy to be taken care of by Shayla. The friends make flyers to distribute to their building for anyone needing help with groceries, errands or cleaning. When George Floyd is murdered the friends also turn to Shayla’s father Mr. Kwame for guidance on how to work through their feelings around police violence.
Author K. Iburra doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects in this charming fiction book. She masterfully weaves in how the COVID pandemic makes hard situations even tougher with mentions of Mrs. Utari’s debilitating depression, Ben’s parents dealing with the extra stress by fighting with each other, and Liam’s panic attacks that get worse when the quarantine begins. Even though it was just a fictional slice of life in an urban apartment building, and I found myself wincing when Liam’s mom describes Mr. Floyd being murdered because I remember the first time I saw it on television and how disgusted and angry it made me feel.
Despite still being in a pandemic and now COVID variants wrecking havoc, When the World Turned Upside Down is pertinent reading for any young person who wants some inspiration on how they can turn stressful situations into helpful ones.
April 16, 2022
Ibura begins her story in March 2020 when the world, indeed, shifted dramatically. Readers meet four young people who live in the same apartment building and have been friends since they were toddlers. One of them, Shayla, has pulled away from the group as she figures out who she wants to be. One subplot is her self-realization that she has sacrificed friendships and now wants to make amends. This wraps around the lockdown as they attempt to help neighbors who are struggling too. The twists and turns for each of these four play against the unknowns of Covid. The author does not shy away from what was happening in that timeframe and several characters are exposed to and get Covid.
Just as they are finding ways to cope, the protests after George Floyd's death erupt on the streets near them. The other characters and readers learn to see what it is like for Shayla as a Black girl.
Each of the characters face challenges and learn to share with each other to ease their own stresses. They discover how much they have in common and what makes them unique too.
Some of the transitions were a bit abrupt but the overall story gives readers a chance to experience this part of their history.
Do read the author's timeline included at the end of the book. It's a terrific teaching tool for the writing process.
Just as they are finding ways to cope, the protests after George Floyd's death erupt on the streets near them. The other characters and readers learn to see what it is like for Shayla as a Black girl.
Each of the characters face challenges and learn to share with each other to ease their own stresses. They discover how much they have in common and what makes them unique too.
Some of the transitions were a bit abrupt but the overall story gives readers a chance to experience this part of their history.
Do read the author's timeline included at the end of the book. It's a terrific teaching tool for the writing process.
September 13, 2021
Four kids living in the same apartment building try to adjust to the COVID-19 lockdown and the death of George Floyd. Shayla is African American, Ai is South Asian, and Ben and Liam present as White. They know each other from school, but there is tension as middle school has brought some changes in their relationships. Each is struggling with issues at home, but they all find meaning and solace as they work together as the Quartet, dedicated to helping people in their apartment building with groceries, dog walking, recycling and starting a caring network.
This was a great read. It feels very wise and relatable. Each kid has a different voice, which feels authentic, and each is struggling with big issues – the pandemic, racism – and personal ones, such as loneliness, depression (theirs and family members’), creativity and fear. I love how the author incorporates their small victories into the mix. When Liam helps a neighbor, he realizes “he had more power than he thought.” I especially appreciated how activism around the murder of George Floyd was part of the plot. There is so much to relate to in each kid’s struggle, and these issues will resonate long after the pandemic is over. Even the author’s notes about how she worked on the book throughout the pandemic are interesting.
This was a great read. It feels very wise and relatable. Each kid has a different voice, which feels authentic, and each is struggling with big issues – the pandemic, racism – and personal ones, such as loneliness, depression (theirs and family members’), creativity and fear. I love how the author incorporates their small victories into the mix. When Liam helps a neighbor, he realizes “he had more power than he thought.” I especially appreciated how activism around the murder of George Floyd was part of the plot. There is so much to relate to in each kid’s struggle, and these issues will resonate long after the pandemic is over. Even the author’s notes about how she worked on the book throughout the pandemic are interesting.
June 30, 2022
This book is probably better than 2 stars, but I have one big issue with it that I cannot get past.
No one was prepared to go into quarantine and even less prepared to stay there as long as we did (are?). This book was also not prepared for quarantine. It starts in the first chapter with very little explanation as to why. Kids who pick up this book now, this year, will know what’s going on. But wait just two more years and those fourth graders (which is the age group I would say this is written for) who pick up this book will have barely been in school during March of 2020. There’s a virus. We stay home. School is now online. This book won’t age well because it assumes background knowledge that it’s audience won’t have.
Beyond THAT - I did appreciate the way the characters were all dealing with their own different issues as well as the shut down. Families are messy in all sorts of ways and I think kids will relate. I also appreciated the way the social justice issues became a major part of this book, and how dealing with that, plus the virus… man, did we really live through that?!
Having actually lived through that, I can appreciate the book. But a few years from now, this books is going to be really confusing.
No one was prepared to go into quarantine and even less prepared to stay there as long as we did (are?). This book was also not prepared for quarantine. It starts in the first chapter with very little explanation as to why. Kids who pick up this book now, this year, will know what’s going on. But wait just two more years and those fourth graders (which is the age group I would say this is written for) who pick up this book will have barely been in school during March of 2020. There’s a virus. We stay home. School is now online. This book won’t age well because it assumes background knowledge that it’s audience won’t have.
Beyond THAT - I did appreciate the way the characters were all dealing with their own different issues as well as the shut down. Families are messy in all sorts of ways and I think kids will relate. I also appreciated the way the social justice issues became a major part of this book, and how dealing with that, plus the virus… man, did we really live through that?!
Having actually lived through that, I can appreciate the book. But a few years from now, this books is going to be really confusing.
January 23, 2022
If you are ready to read a book about COVID-19 with your middle schooler, When the World Turned Upside Down is a good one.
This book follows four kids (I think they are about fifth graders) who have their own set of issues but are thrown into a world of masks, Zoom school, wiping down groceries, and staying six feet apart. They all live in an apartment building and they all are just trying to get through.
One of the kids lives with her dad, who has to shift his business to start making masks. Another has crippling anxiety and a pandemic doesn't help. Another keeps a chart of how often his parents argue (it's a lot). And the fourth is trying to take care of her family while her mom won't leave bed because of depression. Oh and there's a pandemic.
This book talks about not just COVID, but race. George Floyd is mentioned and discussed at length, but at a level that is appropriate for a middle school student.
My only issue with this book is that it tried to tackle too much. So many issues are brought up and I think the overall message that kids can change the world just by helping and standing up for what's right gets lost. I also think it's too much for the elementary level.
This book follows four kids (I think they are about fifth graders) who have their own set of issues but are thrown into a world of masks, Zoom school, wiping down groceries, and staying six feet apart. They all live in an apartment building and they all are just trying to get through.
One of the kids lives with her dad, who has to shift his business to start making masks. Another has crippling anxiety and a pandemic doesn't help. Another keeps a chart of how often his parents argue (it's a lot). And the fourth is trying to take care of her family while her mom won't leave bed because of depression. Oh and there's a pandemic.
This book talks about not just COVID, but race. George Floyd is mentioned and discussed at length, but at a level that is appropriate for a middle school student.
My only issue with this book is that it tried to tackle too much. So many issues are brought up and I think the overall message that kids can change the world just by helping and standing up for what's right gets lost. I also think it's too much for the elementary level.
October 14, 2022
This was such a great middle grade book. I absolutely loved it. I was hesitant going into it because I knew it is set during distance learning (which feels to present and near), but felt like it was such a wonderful story that it was at points very timely and also timeless (which coincidentally Jaqueline Woodson made a similar noting in her blurb of the book). I loved many things about this book including: the four very different family structures each kid had, the depictions of both panic attacks and depression in kid friendly ways, the discussion around racial justice and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, and many other wonderful small details. I also love that there was no point at which the ages of the kids or their grade level were stated, which made this book so much more transferable to kids of different ages. I could see having my middle schoolers read this or have elementary students read it. I also just loved the friend dynamics and the ways they had to support each other and apologize when they hurt each other. All in all, a wonderful middle grade that I hope a lot of people read.
March 16, 2022
I do think my eleven year old is really going to enjoy reading this book. It examines the difficult pandemic period through the eyes of a child, and I think he’s really going to feel a kindred feeling with the kids in this book. But as an adult reading this book, it’s pretty simplistic. It oversimplifies so many difficult problems into easily solvable ones. It also shows these four kids trying to navigate a difficult time by taking the weight of the world on their shoulders. There are no responsible adults in the story. They are all consumed by domestic problems, mental health struggles, and economic concerns, which, while a valid viewpoint, means that the kids are all trying to run their households while, at the same time, solving systemic racism and dealing with their own mental health by starting large service projects. While I want my kids to feel like they can do something to help better the world, I don’t want them to think that they have to do everything. I think this book might have struck a stronger chord to me if it took on a smaller scope.
September 16, 2022
3.5 stars. This book is a powerful exploration of the events young people (and the rest of us) have lived through over the past few years. This explores the experiences of four young friends (the Quartet) as they deal with the impact of the developing Covid pandemic, lockdowns and racism, while also dealing with personal hardships to do with family, anxiety and friendship.
Some of the experiences will seem familiar to us here in Australia, while some will seem quite removed and different from our own experience of the past few years.
However, it is both a challenging and encouraging read. I love the way the Quartet wanted to make a difference. The way they challenged themselves to help others and to speak up when it counted. I felt like the big issues of dealing with Covid and facing the issue of racism in the light of George Floyd and other Black deaths were well handled. The handling of the personal, individual crises were more mixed. Maybe the author was trying to include too much into a short book?
Recommended for Years 5-6 & up.
Some of the experiences will seem familiar to us here in Australia, while some will seem quite removed and different from our own experience of the past few years.
However, it is both a challenging and encouraging read. I love the way the Quartet wanted to make a difference. The way they challenged themselves to help others and to speak up when it counted. I felt like the big issues of dealing with Covid and facing the issue of racism in the light of George Floyd and other Black deaths were well handled. The handling of the personal, individual crises were more mixed. Maybe the author was trying to include too much into a short book?
Recommended for Years 5-6 & up.
January 3, 2022
Yes, for those who are concerned the world will forget about Covid this new title includes Covid as well as the death of George Floyd as devices to portray how four friends who all live in the same apartment building and attend the same school are able to come together after a rocky start. Though they used to be good friends it seems there has been drifting away from each other for various reasons. Being isolated in their apartment building they gradually find new direction and purposes in life, first by deciding they can assist other neighbors in their building, especially the elderly. They realize they are enjoying working together. Then, after the death of George Floyd, and the ensuing protests, they try to find a way to make a difference regarding the unnecessary deaths of others involved with law enforcement. Each time they are working together for a greater good. Children in upper elementary and middle school will find this a motivating read.
March 2, 2024
Kids these days will read this and be reminded of some of their own experiences with the pandemic. As time goes on, this will become historical fiction, because it is so specific to this global historical event. Four kids in an apartment building have alternating chapters talking about their experiences not only with the lockdown and the BLM protests, but also family difficulties (eg, parents on the point of divorce), personal difficulties (eg, panic attacks), and normal friendship difficulties. But in addition to the difficulties, they also take power by helping neighbors, talking with people about racism, and by forgiving each other. Yes, it ends on a hopeful note because even kids can make a difference!
January 14, 2022
Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben have grown up in the same apartment building and used to be great friends. Things have changed this school year. When the pandemic starts in March of 2020, they are sent home from school along with the rest of the city. Each has their own issues at home and with each other. They grapple with the stress of the disease coupled with racist murders and the protests surrounding those, and look for a way to make things better for their families and their neighbors. A realistic and heart-wrenching look at the beginning months of the pandemic and the different ways it affected us all. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
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