The Recommended Reading Order
For the best experience, the Upside-Down Magic series should be read in its original publication order. The series follows a sequential story arc with character development, changing school dynamics, and advancing plots. Reading the books out of order will result in spoilers, particularly regarding characters' mastery of their magic and changes to the Dunwiddle Middle School campus.
- Upside-Down Magic (September 2015)
- Sticks & Stones (May 2016)
- Showing Off (December 2016 / January 2017)
- Dragon Overnight (February 2018)
- Weather or Not (September 2018)
- The Big Shrink (September 2019)
- Hide and Seek (July 2020)
- Night Owl (June 2021)
Understanding the Dunwiddle Magic System
In the world created by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins, magical children are sorted into one of five standard categories (the 'five Fs') based on how their power manifests:
- Flares: Magic users who can conjure fire, heat things up, and manipulate thermal energy.
- Flyers: Magicians who can fly and float through the air with controlled precision.
- Fuzzies: Animal whisperers who have an innate ability to communicate with and command beasts.
- Flickers: Telekinetics who can move, pull, or push physical objects using only their minds.
- Fluxers: Shape-shifters who can transform their physical bodies into standard animals.
However, the main characters of this series are sorted into the Upside-Down Magic (UDM) class. Their powers do not conform to these strict boundaries. Instead, their magic is 'wonky' or unconventional, often acting as a metaphor for neurodivergence, learning differences, and the beauty of individuality.
Book-by-Book Guide to the Series
1. Upside-Down Magic (2015)
We are introduced to nine-year-old Elinor 'Nory' Horace. Nory is a Fluxer, but instead of shifting into a normal animal, she turns into hybrid combinations like a 'dritten' (half-dragon, half-kitten) or a 'squippy' (half-squid, half-puppy). After failing her entrance exam for the elite Sage Academy run by her strict father, Nory enrolls in Dunwiddle Middle School's UDM class. Here she meets other students with unique, unpredictable magic, including Elliott, a Flare who accidentally freezes objects instead of heating them, and Andres, a Flyer who cannot stay on the ground and must wear weighted boots.
2. Sticks & Stones (2016)
This second installment focuses on Bax Kapoor, a Fluxer who cannot shape-shift into animals but instead turns into a solid, unmoving stone when he gets nervous. When strange magical mishaps start happening around Dunwiddle and the UDM class is blamed, Nory, Bax, and their friends must work together to clear their names and prove their teamwork is stronger than standard magic.
3. Showing Off (2017)
Dunwiddle Middle School holds its annual talent showcase, which puts immense social pressure on the UDM class. Elliott Cohen is determined to show the school that his freezing Flare abilities are not a mistake, while Nory struggles with the anxiety of being judged by standard magic students. This book highlights the theme of self-acceptance and the challenges of performing under scrutiny.
4. Dragon Overnight (2018)
The UDM class heads to sleepaway camp at Camp Out-of-Bounds. Free from the usual classroom structure, the students face new outdoor challenges and magical mishaps. They are forced to rely on their quirky combinations of powers to navigate the wilderness and handle camp rivalries, learning that their differences are an asset when they stick together.
5. Weather or Not (2018)
This book shifts the spotlight to Willa Ingeborg. Willa is a Flicker, but instead of moving objects, her magic manifests as weather control. Unfortunately, she cannot contain it, causing rain clouds to form under the school ceilings and flooding classrooms. When Willa's erratic weather patterns threaten to disrupt a school event, the UDM class rallies to help her find balance.
6. The Big Shrink (2019)
Marigold Ramos is the focus of the sixth book. Marigold is a Shrinker (or 'Fitter'), meaning she can shrink objects. However, she has immense trouble embiggening them back to their original size. When she accidentally shrinks a classmate to the size of a gerbil, the UDM class goes on a high-stakes search to retrieve their friend and find a way to reverse the spell before teachers find out.
7. Hide and Seek (2020)
After a major flood ruins the Dunwiddle Middle School building, the UDM students are temporarily relocated to the elite Sage Academy. Nory is forced to face her father and the strict environment she was once rejected from. The UDM kids must adapt to strict rules, take part in a high-pressure Hide and Seek night, and Nory is faced with a major decision: should she stay at Sage Academy or return to the place that accepted her for who she is?
8. Night Owl (2021)
The final book in the series takes place during 'Big Night,' a school-wide sleepover and scavenger hunt through the halls of Dunwiddle. The UDM class, including Sebastian Boondoggle (a Flyer who flies backward), must navigate the nighttime challenge. As secrets are uncovered, the friends celebrate how far they have come since their first wonky spells in the UDM classroom.
The Authors Behind the Magic
The Upside-Down Magic series is a unique co-authoring project between three prominent children's authors: Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins. The trio conceived the series together to write a story about children who feel different or do not fit standard educational molds. Rather than writing separate books, the authors collaborated closely on the outline and alternated writing chapters, blending their voices to create a seamless, funny, and warm reading experience.
Book vs. Disney Channel Movie Adaptation
In 2020, the Disney Channel released a live-action television film adaptation of Upside-Down Magic. While the movie shares the core premise of kids with wonky magic, it differs significantly from the books:
- Cast Simplification: The book series features eight main students in the UDM class. The movie condenses this cast, focusing heavily on Nory and a new character version of Reina, who is Nory's best friend at Sage Academy.
- Tone and Setting: In the books, Dunwiddle is a supportive environment where the UDM class is guided kindly by Ms. Starr. The film sets the action primarily at Sage Academy, depicting a much more hostile environment where the administration views UDM powers as dangerous or inferior.
- Villain Plot: The film introduces a 'Shadow Magic' threat as a central conflict, creating a traditional good-versus-evil climax that is absent from the character-driven books.
For readers who have only watched the movie, starting the books from the beginning is highly recommended, as the written series offers a much gentler, character-focused story that celebrates neurodiversity without the heavy-handed villain plots of the movie.