Night Owl

Upside-Down Magic #8

by Sarah Mlynowski, Emily Jenkins, Lauren Myracle

The Upside-Down Magic kids are back in another topsy-turvy adventure in the next installment of this New York Times bestselling series!

It's Big Night in Dunwiddle . . . and that means the whole school has a sleepover like no other. For one night every year, magic students run through the halls, hunting for the objects that will win them a super special prize.

Nory is super excited for the scavenger hunt. Not only because she likes winning, but also because if her team wins, she thinks there's a chance her best friend Elliott won't move away to attend super snobby Sage Academy.

Sebastian is a little less excited once the hunt is on. Yes, he has magical powers that help his team -- like being able to see invisible things or anything that makes a sound. The problem is that the really loud sounds are hurting him . . . and nobody seems to care.

The kids in Upside-Down Magic know their five F's (Flares, Flyers, Fuzzies, Flickers, and Fluxers) -- but to win this night, a sixth F is the most important . . . Friendship.

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

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2021

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

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book!!! And I didn't expect this to happen!! I got this at the exact same day as it came! I really hope there is a 9th book! I also love the whatever after books and I am waiting for the new whatever after book!!!

[chev ۫ ꣑ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am probably overage to read this series, but this series never fails to bring out this strong message- never be afraid to be extra-ordinary :)
5/5 Chev's picks
Recommended for: middle schoolers!
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[Simon Vozick-Levinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed reading this series with my now seven-year-old son. The kid characters are well-drawn, the storytelling is fun, and the lessons about inclusion and kindness are effective without being heavy-handed. This one was one of our favorites so far. We hope there’s another book coming soon!

[Myrtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book but nothing really happened, there was no excitement, all Sebastian did was complain, Willa was annoying, it was predictable, and the ending felt sloppy and hasty

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another great entry in the series. I really liked (finally) seeing from Sebastian's POV since he's always been a bit more in the background and I was always curious about what his magic actually looked like (since I think the other kids' magic is a more physical) and as always Nori is just a delightful character.
The story itself was also quite interesting and it was a really nice ending to the series while simultaneously leaving it open enough so there could be more sequels or even a spin off series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids liked this one. It’s mostly focused around a huge scavenger hunt, but also includes some themes like Nori wishing her best friend wasn’t leaving the school and Sebastian dealing with the intensity of the noises and the pain they cause him as his powers get stronger (very reminiscent of how some folks deal with sensory difficulties; at one point after someone asks him to be more flexible and adapt, he talks about how he’s *always* adapting to others, which is something many neurodiverse people experience).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please write more

[Penguin · Rating 5 out of 5]

:)

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. On one hand, I thought Sebastian had a point. People should be aware of how other people feel. On the other hand, if you are pretty good at covering up what bothers you or playing it down and never say that it bothers you then how are people supposed to know? Now if Sebastian had told them multiple times his feelings then his blowup would be more warranted, but it sounded like the only people who may know are his parents. It seems like he did not tell Ms. Starr either. Also we have to realize that these are 5th graders! How many 5th graders are aware enough to pick up someone's else feelings and then be brave enough to bring it up? Even adults mess up on that point.

Where do they go from here?
We see our characters get more powerful and more control. My question is how will this affect Sebastian? His power could have mental component to turn it "off" sort of speak, like how a telepathic might damper their powers. I am confuse about Elliott and his state in the series.

Verdict: The end feels like we are turning toward a new chapter.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiddo and I really enjoyed this. We hope it's not truly the last book, although it does leave off on an interesting note. It feels sort of final, like it really could be the end, since it occurs at the beginning of winter break in Nory and friends' fifth grade year. But it also feels like it could begin again in the second half of the school year. There is a lot of promise of new and exciting things to come in the future. So I don't know. The authors could leave it here or write more and it would fit either way. If there are future books, we'll be reading them for sure.

This book feels quite different than the previous books. It feels like an ending, yes, but the entire book also takes place during a single night, unlike the multiple days covered in previous books. It's the fifth grade sleepover and scavenger hunt. It adds tension by splitting the UDM kids into two competing teams, each with their own reasons to really want to win.

The challenges were clever and fun as the kids raced around the school coming up with creative solutions for the clues.

Nory and Sebastian get POVs here, and they're used really cleverly to teach different lessons. Nory has to learn to let go, and Sebastian has to learn to take others' feelings into account, and has to teach his classmates to take his own feelings into account. There's a lot of learning about empathy here and I think it's great.

Highly, highly recommend this series. Kiddo (8) and I both absolutely loved every minute of it, and my husband really enjoyed it too, so it appeals to kids AND adults, which makes it a great read-aloud option.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy of this book is 166 pages long. So I'm not sure if it the ebook or not. But I love this book series alot.

[Jasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

(THIS ONE was Jasper's favorite. He and Sebastian kin so hard)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final UDM book, and honestly, it's strange to read since this feels like it was a series I appreciated as a child and thought of like it didn't end, but now I know the full story.

Overall, I think this is a phenomenal series for little kids. It goes over so many useful themes and messages, all while having things kids love, like magic, friendship, schools, kid humor, etc. However, it also covers a lot of mature themes and has flawed characters that can make kids reflect on their actions. I would really recommend it for a school library, a classroom, or a kid who you're looking to gift a present. As an adult, I still enjoyed reading this. Objectively, I think this series is amazing. I'm not just hyping these up for nostalgia's sake.

Also, I would absolutely kill for a high school au of this series. Or college. Or any more content.

[Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scavenger hunt sleepover at school sounds like pure fun—and for the most part, it is. The team spirit shines, and the challenges keep the energy moving, but the story leans on predictable turns. I wished more of the problems had been solved through magic in clever, abstract ways rather than simple steps forward.

Some of the usual character dynamics are here—Nory and Bax included—but they don’t grow much beyond what we’ve already seen. The tone stays light and silly, which works in the moment, though it leaves little room to explore the struggles and hidden pain that make these characters interesting.

There’s fun in the chaos of the scavenger hunt, but not much character development to carry it forward. A lively entry in the series, but one that could have reached further.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night Owl was ever so great! I loved this one!

Sebastian and Andres are the two UDM kids whose wonky magic is the farthest worst on the spectrum between whimsical hijinks and crippling disability. Sebastian had his star turn in the last book when he won the Sage Academy scavenger hunt in five minutes and everyone was mad at him, but his magic got to shine or be useful, which, when every noise blasts you in the eyes like a flash-bang grenade, is special. In this book, Sebastian's magic is back to being a torture, not an asset, and it's getting worse. All the fifth graders are having a sleepover in the gym! Good gravy, that sounds like an undertaking. There was an implausible lack of parent volunteers at the sleepover, or maybe they were there but they weren't the UDM kids parents' so nobody noticed them. And there's another scavenger hunt! Coach gets everyone's attention with an airhorn and Sebastian, after recovering, goes to put on his dog collar to make the pain dull, but Lacey starts making fun of him so the UDM kids get him to leave it off because they don't like Lacey making fun of their crew. And Coach bloody loves his airhorn. Sebastian is in a bad place by the time the scavenger hunt starts, but once all the groups split off, things are quieter. Sebastian and his friends read the instructions and start out lawfully. Nory's group pooh-pooh the instructions, ravish a few board games, and split up. Nory is also convinced that if her team wins, Elliot will stay, even though that's stupid and he won't. The scavenger hunt is a rollicking good time, although one wonders what the teachers are thinking letting kids run around the school ransacking the food supplies and teacher cupboards, but that's their choice. It's a blast! The last challenge is to find Something No One Has Ever Seen Before. What has no one ever seen before? Well, if you're Miss Starr, you imagine that everyone is going to create a a beautiful piece of art work that is unique as themselves. Hoo boy. I went to school in the '80s. Ideas like these hurt me deeply. This is why Elliot is transferring. Of course, the obvious thing that is also a spoiler happens at the end of the scavenger hunt and Sebastian's friends learn that he is in a profound amount of pain pretty often and they should try to accommodate him when it's possible. This book is great. This series keeps being great. The next book is the last book, but we're also getting a new student! What will happen? Will they get their own book? Who knows! Let's wait ten months or so to find out.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the kids of the Upside Down Magic class celebrate Big Night, the longest day of the year, with a scavenger hunt and a sleepover at their school, Nory convinces herself that if her team wins, she'll be able to convince her best friend Elliott not to transfer schools. At the same time, Sebastian, another UDM kid, finds his gift--he can see invisible things, including sounds--is becoming more of a burden as his gift grows stronger, causing him headaches and sore eyes as people shout around him. Nory eventually realizes that Elliott must live his own life, and all the classmates finally understand that Sebastian needs a little extra understanding and care.

[Eremite · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book had been combined with the previous in the series it would have made them both much better. With it separate like this the stakes weren't high enough to be interesting and there wasn't any cool magic or progression in the series plot.

But if you're looking for kids learning how to be friends or hints of what might be sensory processing disorder or things like offhand references to two dads and all gender restrooms, this book does have that. Oh, and I did think the made-up holiday and traditions around the winter solstice was kinda cool.

[Vivaan Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little unhappy because it is the last book in the series. But It was awesome and great. The new event of Big Night was cool. Elliott leaving was sad. The competition is unpredictable and fun to read about. The pain of Sebastian's magic was told about. The generosity in the end is awesome. The twist Ms Starr tells was unexpected and I am longing for the next book to be written and published. All the books in this series have been great, interesting, cool and awesome! I loved this series a lot and will miss it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the series as a whole, not the individual book. Or any individual book, really! Somehow, this is a four star series comprised of three star books.

The characters in these books make ridiculous choices that can only end badly, and it stresses me out every single time. But the writing is charming, the magical world is charming, and the audiobook reader is fantastic. I love how much Oliver loves these books, and I loved experiencing them with him. I'm sad we're at the end.

[Caerigna Lunalti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if this is meant to be the last in the series, or just the last so far. Either way it's a good ending by way of subject matter and arcs. The character's futures are also left open, and available for later. It may be a story for younger people, but it's "lessons" are good to remember for all ages. This series as a whole would be an excellent co-read for anyone involved with youth. Not to mention a fun lighter read for us ancients.

[Curtis Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

ahhh great book, but too much suspense!

I want to know how Elliot’s life is when he attends sage academy! And what the new kid’s name is, what his power is, others. I want to see how he fits into Dunwiddle, and how do Nory and Elliott and the other UDM kids keep in contact with each other? I’m in suspense rn but other wise good book!🔜 if you like magic, read! The books are sooooo good!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this storyline the best out of all the books. I like how every character has flaws and no one is perfect.

There were some exceptions the author tried to come across as normal, which wasn't my favorite. Another check box to be "inclusive" that has nothing to do with the plot. But other than that I really liked this conclusive story of the series.

My 8 year old loved this series. Now to finish the movie on Disney plus!

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice way to end the books, but I wish we found out how Sebastian can use his powers more. Not just have them be a problem. I feel like every other student got to figure out how to deal with their magic and make it better, or useful. But Sebastian gets left behind and never finds out how to use his power, or make it better. Overall a good story, and left with a ending that could continue the books.

[AdelineG218 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was a pretty good book to continue the series. Although Sebastian is my least favorite character, I still saw a small character arc for him in this book. It could have been better if Sebastian stopped feeling so victimized, sure his magic is awful for him, but the world doesn’t revolve around Sebastian. I overall really liked the book and the other main characters in it.

[Emilio-Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Def picked back up from the shortcoming of book 5 and 6. Sebastian's perspective is very tasteful and fantastic. I really enjoyed the real world connections to autism and neurodivergency as well as accomodations and support systems. Really good final book, also working through the maturity of friends growing up and traveling differing paths.

[nooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read these books, the less I want to see the movie. The previews really show that they really have no idea what the books are about. This one nicely shows how hard it can be to adjust to change.

[Elisa Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment

Each book is a fun adventure as a student learns about their gifts. Many of us are told that we are odd or don’t fit in. These kids get to see how their talents can bless themselves and those around them. Can’t wait for the next book.

[skcocnaH · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are great for what they are. If you’re expecting super mature language or intensively complicated plot lines, this series isn’t for you. However, this is the only series that my 8 year old has asked me to read to him twice, so that alone makes them worth 5 stars!

[Jameyanne Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very cute, and also gave me all sorts of feelings. Yes I cried. Twice.
I'm not positive, but this feels like the end of the series. If so, it's a very good ending for a fun series. If not, I look forward to new adventures to come.

[Toni Girgenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good it shows how you need think about how other people are feeling and what it like in their shoes. But the ending made it feel little there might be another book but I don’t know who hopes for one more book I want to know about the udm kid