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blogginboutbooks's review
3.0
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.
sbojo32's review
3.0
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.
notinjersey's review
4.0
I went into this book expected a story about Covid for middle graders, and while the story is set amid the beginning of the world shutting down because of Covid, I thought the story took a turn and was more of a book about antiracism. Although the young students in the story had to log on for school, little focus was spent on that change and how difficult it was in the beginning. Instead, the book finds its relevancy by showing how the group worked together to help the others that lived in their building. While the children each have their own family struggles, from a mom with depression to parents that won’t stop fighting, they see that they can help others by walking dogs, taking out recycling, cleaning door knobs, etc., and this provides the children with a sense of purpose.
So, when George Floyd is killed and Shayla’s father talks to the kids about standing against racism, it makes sense that they continue to want to help. I felt that this book was more about antiracism than about living during the Covid lockdown, and the points that it makes are important for young readers to learn from. It is always important to stand up for what’s right, whether it’s helping others when times are difficult or by standing against racism.
So, when George Floyd is killed and Shayla’s father talks to the kids about standing against racism, it makes sense that they continue to want to help. I felt that this book was more about antiracism than about living during the Covid lockdown, and the points that it makes are important for young readers to learn from. It is always important to stand up for what’s right, whether it’s helping others when times are difficult or by standing against racism.
wintermote's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The book started abruptly and felt like it wasn’t quite finished, like the beginning was a draft…. But it was well-worth finishing. The book dealt with some very tough aspects of the early days of the pandemic in an age-appropriate way. And you really cared about the characters.
alinaborger's review
A heart-warming ensemble cast of kids who live in the same neighborhood and navigate the pandemic by helping their neighbors.
bookinitwithahtiya's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mdpbernal's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
aprilbooksandwine's review
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
yapha's review
4.0
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