Sticks & stones

A political dilemma writ small, this sequel to Upside-Down Magic (2015), by a trio of well-known names, is especially timely in its sentiment. When everyday objects turn to stone at the Dunwiddle Magic School, who better to blame than Bax, whose magic often turns the boy himself into a rock? When another member of Ms. Starr's special class (for kids who demonstrate odd magic) manages to accidentally shrink the group's nemesis, Lacey, a showdown is inevitable as Lacey starts a petition to dissolve Ms. Starr's program. Meanwhile Nory, the principal heroine, is making inroads under her tutor-coach with a regular magic group of Kittenball players. Will they turn on her, though, because of her unique abilities? With whimsical details like Kittenball, readers will be enchanted while absorbing lessons in fair play, and both Nory and Bax, it's worth noting, are characters of color. The final takeaway is that students can make their school better on the playing field and in the classroom. Lacey's divisiveness doesn't stand a chance!--Cruze, Karen Copyright 2016 Booklist

At Dunwiddle Magic School, Nory, Bax, and the other kids with "wonky" powers face new challenges and triumphs in this sequel to Upside-Down Magic. First everyone's stuff is turned to stone, then Marigold accidentally shrinks mean-girl Lacey (she recovers), leading to a student-body backlash against the Upside-Down Magic Class kids. The coauthors have created another entertaining, light, yet thought-provoking fantastical school story. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Nory and her friends are misfits in an alternate universe (Upside-Down Magic, 2015) where everyone has a magical talent. There are Fluxers, Flares, Fuzzies, Flickers, and Flyers whose talents develop in a fairly predictable, established pattern. But brown-skinned Nory and the children in the Upside-Down Magic class, or the UDMs as they are called, are different. Their magic is wonky and totally out of control, causing mayhem wherever they go. The kids with normal magic torment and ostracize them, especially their nemesis, a mean white girl who, with her group of followers, bullies them without mercy. When a series of bizarre and inappropriate magical events disrupt school activities and seem to implicate Nory's classmate Bax, the UDMs are threatened with the elimination of their program. The children draw closer together with the aid of caring teachers and coaches who encourage and believe in their capability to take control of their unusual talents and use them wisely. Nory leads the way as they solve the mystery and earn the respect of at least some of the other students. The inventive tale is filled with a deftly balanced mixture of otherworldly effects, humor, action, and the confusing and recognizable emotions of middle school dynamics. Nory is brave, determined, quick to take offense, kind, empathetic, and eminently likable. Appealing, warmhearted, and magical. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A political dilemma writ small, this sequel to Upside-Down Magic (2015), by a trio of well-known names, is especially timely in its sentiment. When everyday objects turn to stone at the Dunwiddle Magic School, who better to blame than Bax, whose magic often turns the boy himself into a rock? When another member of Ms. Starr's special class (for kids who demonstrate odd magic) manages to accidentally shrink the group's nemesis, Lacey, a showdown is inevitable as Lacey starts a petition to dissolve Ms. Starr's program. Meanwhile Nory, the principal heroine, is making inroads under her tutor-coach with a regular magic group of Kittenball players. Will they turn on her, though, because of her unique abilities? With whimsical details like Kittenball, readers will be enchanted while absorbing lessons in fair play, and both Nory and Bax, it's worth noting, are characters of color. The final takeaway is that students can make their school better—on the playing field and in the classroom. Lacey's divisiveness doesn't stand a chance! Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 3–6—The "magical misfits" of the Upside-Down Magic class are back for another adventure that is sure to delight readers. There are strange happenings at Dunwiddle Middle School, and Marigold, Nory, and Bax are being unfairly blamed for the shenanigans. The members of the class all have different power that define them. They are either Flyers, Flares, Fluxers, Fuzzies, or Flickers. Fans of light fantasy such as Jen Calonita's "Charmed" series and Mlynowski's own "Whatever After" series will devour this new addition. Mlynowski, Myracle, and Jenkins provide backstory from the previous installment, ensuring that new readers will not be lost along the way. This is the kind of whimsical story that fans will appreciate.