Upside Down Magic is a book series written by authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins. The series follows the adventures of a group of magical misfits attending a special school called Dunwiddle Magic School. The main character, Nory, comes from a well-known magical family but struggles to control her magical abilities. She has the ability to transform into different animals, but her transformations often go wrong, causing her to become a "Upsixe Down", a term used to describe her unique form of magic. Nory's Upside Down magic causes her to turn into strange combinations of animals, resulting in her being labeled as a misfit at school. However, with the help of her friends, Nory learns to embrace her differences and find her own place in the magical world.
However, with the help of her friends, Nory learns to embrace her differences and find her own place in the magical world. Throughout the series, Nory and her friends navigate the ups and downs of being different and face challenges both at school and in their personal lives. They learn valuable lessons about friendship, acceptance, and self-acceptance.
Meet the co-authors of Upside-Down Magic!
Upside-Down Magic is the first book in a new and exciting middle grade series by bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins. Their story (optioned by Disney for development into a TV series!) weaves themes of friendship, family dynamics, and different styles of learning into a fun and fantastical tale. Upside-Down Magic is on sale today, and to celebrate, we asked all three co-authors to spill their secrets about writing their magical book.
Explain your co-authoring process—maybe each of you can explain one or two steps?
Lauren: We shoot a bunch of emails back and forth. Like, what is this book about? Can it have magic in it? Also we talk about food and family and cupcakes.
Sarah: Once we all agree on the idea, Emily and I go to a coffee shop and brainstorm the book’s structure. Then I write the outline.
Lauren: Because Sarah is AH-MAZING at plot. I am horrid at plot, but I’m good at the getting-it-down-on-paper part, so I write the first draft of the entire book. Also, I’m good at ridiculousness, so often Sarah will say, “Nory goes to the cafeteria and there are hijinks. Got it, Lauren?” And I write wild and crazy stuff. I send Sarah chapters as I go so she can revise the outline as the bigger picture starts to emerge. When I’m done, I send the whole book to Emily in one big caboodle.
Emily: I do a big revision. Really, it is a honking big revision.
Lauren: Because Emily ROCKS THE HECK OUT OF REVISIONS. Revision is hard work, baby. Emily has to fix plot problems (for Sarah!) and tone down craziness (for me!), and so basically she is the Big Cheese. Sarah and I send her chocolate a lot to keep her happy.
Emily: I have not gotten any chocolate. Lauren is fibbing about that part of it.
Sarah: No we’re not! I bought a brownie for you! I might have eaten it before giving it to you. Oops. Anyway. Then I revise Emily’s revision.
Lauren: Then they send it back to me.
Emily: Then to me again.
Sarah: It is an absurdly fun process, because we all write to make each other laugh.
What type of magic do you think each of your co-authors would be best at?
Sarah: It would not surprise me at all if I learned that Lauren was a fuzzy. I once watched her have an entire conversation with a poodle. Emily would be a flare. She is a great cook.
Lauren: Sarah is full of malarkey. I have never had an entire conversation with poodles, as poodles are snooty and they always insist on having the last word. Which means they trot away from me mid-convo.
Emily: Sarah is definitely a flyer. She is a big world-traveler and has no fear of being high in the air.
What character in the book is most like one of your co-authors?
Emily: I think I’m a bit like Nory’s Aunt Margo, who is very practical and independent. I think Lauren is rather like Nory’s teacher, Ms. Starr, who always finds the fun in things. Sarah is probably the most like Nory herself – in that Nory doesn’t let anything get in her way when pursuing her ambitions, and she even gets her friends to help her with her projects.
Did you have a teacher like Ms. Starr (or other adult who encouraged and inspired you) when you were in school?
Sarah: Yes! Her name is Peggy. And she basically taught me how to be a writer.
Emily: No! All my teachers found me annoying and made no secret of it.
Lauren: For me, Mr. Ham Kimzey. He taught me grammar. I loooooooove grammar. He also taught me about integrity and how to think critically and how to be kind. Dang. Mr. Kimzey was a rockstar.
What would you say to adults whose kids or students like Nory might be more “upside down” learners or who might attend “unusual” classes?
Lauren: We’d say, “Awesome! Love ’em up, because they’re awfully special, upside-down or not.” We’d also say, “Is anybody ‘right-side up,’ really?” Because we’re sure not.
Emily: Everyone can make the most of who they are. Everyone has strengths to nurture and be proud of.
Sarah: Yes and yes.
Do you have a favorite literary trio (besides yourselves)?
Sarah: Lauren and I wrote the YA book HOW TO BE BAD with an author named E. Lockhart. She’s pretty awesome. Not as awesome as Emily, but not bad.
Emily: (For those of you who don’t know, I write for young adults under the name E. Lockhart. Sarah is TEASING YOU.) This is a funny question, because how many literary trios are there? It’s not a common thing, really. But I just read Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Debora Biancotti. Really, really fun. Westerfeld and I have had some interesting conversations about his trio-writing process as compared to mine. I told him all the dirt on Sarah and Lauren.
Lauren: My favorite writing trio is Sarah, Emily, and Lauren. End of story.
From l-r: Lauren Myracle; Sarah Mlynowski; Emily Jenkins
Lauren: Because Sarah is AH-MAZING at plot. I am horrid at plot, but I’m good at the getting-it-down-on-paper part, so I write the first draft of the entire book. Also, I’m good at ridiculousness, so often Sarah will say, “Nory goes to the cafeteria and there are hijinks. Got it, Lauren?” And I write wild and crazy stuff. I send Sarah chapters as I go so she can revise the outline as the bigger picture starts to emerge. When I’m done, I send the whole book to Emily in one big caboodle.
The books are filled with humor, adventure, and relatable characters that readers of all ages can enjoy. The Upside Down Magic series highlights the importance of embracing individuality and celebrating our differences. In conclusion, Upside Down Magic is a captivating book series that explores the power of embracing our unique qualities and finding strength in our differences. It teaches important lessons about friendship, acceptance, and self-confidence. Whether you're a fan of fantasy or simply enjoy a good story, Upside Down Magic is worth reading..
Reviews for "The impact of Eloxkhrt's upside down magic on the world"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Upside Down Magic". I found the storyline to be quite dull and predictable. The characters were also not very engaging, and I struggled to connect with any of them. The magic aspect of the story felt forced and lacked substance. Overall, I didn't find much enjoyment in reading this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. David - 1 star - "Upside Down Magic" was a major letdown for me. The writing style felt juvenile, and the dialogue was often cringe-worthy. The plot lacked depth, and the conflicts felt contrived. Additionally, the book failed to deliver any meaningful message or moral lessons, which I believe is essential for a children's book. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I didn't enjoy "Upside Down Magic" at all. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development. The story felt rushed and disjointed, jumping from one event to another without much cohesion. I also found the ending to be lacking resolution and left me unsatisfied. Overall, I found the book to be unremarkable and forgettable. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read.
4. Jason - 2.5 stars - "Upside Down Magic" had potential, but it fell short for me. The world-building was weak, and I struggled to immerse myself in the magical setting. The main characters were bland, lacking any real depth or complexity. The writing style was also rather uninspiring and lacked descriptive imagery. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre and would not consider reading the sequel.