Upside Down Magic #6: The Big Shrink

by Lauren Myracle Emily Jenkins Sarah Mlynowski

Paperback

Published June 30, 2020

Reviews

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiddo and I loved this one as well. It took on the topic of kids' favorite cool toy being banned at schoool (anyone remember fidget spinners? Although, to be fair, Dreggs are way cooler) even though it was bringing the UDM kids together with the typical kids. It also did an excellent job of covering protesting. How to protest effectively, peacefully, and responsibly. As in, you can't get so wrapped up in the idea of protesting that you unintentionally harm the protesters and/or your cause. And it covered what to do when an adult who is supposed to be guiding and teaching you is actually... pretty irresponsible.

I love how these books teach real, important lessons while still being fun, incredibly funny, and perfectly aimed at the 8-11-year-old audience.

Also, I find it fascinating that this entire series (8 books thus far - I hope there will be more) takes place when the kids are in 5th grade. I'm so used to magic school books devoting one book to each year of school that to be on book 6 and it only be Thanksgiving break was really startling. It works really well for my 3rd grader though because he can relate to the kids in book after book. Also it allows the kids plenty of time to grow and change in a realistic time frame. And it makes them feel more real.

I also really love how each book after the first is devoted basically half to Nory and half to another of the UDM kids. That way we still get plenty of Nory (her good sides and her not-so-good sides) but we also get an appreciation and understanding of all the other kids in the class so there aren't any one-dimensional placeholder characters in the class.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even the teacher of Upside-Down Magic, the sympathetic Ms. Starr, feels that Dreggs, the new dragon toys the kids have taken up are disruptive. When the principal bans the little hatchlings, who learn new tricks when they have plenty of play-time with their owners, Nory and Marigold get the idea from Marigold's new tutor to hold a protest. And now that the new tutor has shown Marigold how to control her magic enough to "biggify" as well as shrink objects, she decides to shrink the students to show how unhappy they are. But when Marigold shrinks, so does her magic--so she can't make anybody big anymore!

[Paisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how Marigold never gives up.And how she does not want to hurt people with her magic.And how she was the only one who had to take ten shots and 18 glasses of coconut water for her friends won’t have to well accept Zinnia she had too.And how she is brave.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing this series as a read-aloud with Molly.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun story with the UDMs. I love how we learn more about Merrigolds magic. She seems to have a cool one, I can't wait to see what else happens with this group of people.

[Dr. Flippin's · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's really funny. Also, the plot is really good, and I really like the characters.I would recommend this book to people who like magic." - Alejandro Alfaro-Venegas

[Lola]

This was my second time listening, first with my 11 year old son. He said he really liked it.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

my mom is so happy that i finally read a chapter book! (i like comix)

[E. Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the last for sure!

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Jasper liked this one ok! Nory is starting to irk him a bit I think thoguh lol)