WHEN THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, by K. Ibura, Scholastic Press, Feb. 1, 2022, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
K. Ibura’s When the World Turned Upside Down follows a group of friends as the COVID-19 pandemic changes everything.
Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too?
As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community ― and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press
I have a love-hate relationship with When the World Turned Upside Down. It was a hard book for me to read. It felt too fresh. This, in part, is because the pandemic isn’t over. But I’m an adult, and I’ve seen the pandemic through different eyes. And for the same reasons, the book might just be what younger readers need.
Beyond some readers seeing their own experiences mirrored on the pages of When the World Turned Upside Down, others will gain a new understanding of their own circumstances. For instance, I live in the suburbs. My daughter had a yard she could play in during the lockdown. But we live on a street with no other children, so she didn’t have anyone she could talk with unless it was via the computer. Kids who read this will appreciate the differences and the similarities.
For me, the highlight of When the World Turned Upside Down was the interactions/relationships between the kids. Shayla, Liam, Ali and Ben all get equal billing and equal character development. It’s lovely to watch them grow and embrace their roles within their community against the backdrop of race, social justice, mental and physical health.
When the World Turned Upside Down celebrates friendship and resiliency. As many of the topics covered in the novel are ongoing, I suggest reading prior to or in conjunction with your middle reader.
