Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere

by Julie Lamana

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Synopsis:  Armani Curtis can think about only one thing: her tenth birthday.  All her friends are coming to her party, her mama is making a big cake, and she has a good feeling about a certain wrapped box.  Turning ten is a big deal to Armani.  It means she's older, wiser, more responsible.  But when Hurricane Katrina hits the Lower Nines of New Orleans, Armani realizes that being ten means being brave, watching loved ones die, and mustering all her strength to help her family weather the storm.  A powerful story of courage and survival, Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere celebrates the miraculous power of hope and love in the face of the unthinkable.

From the ebook summary

Review:  This was a new subject matter for me.  I haven't read any books about Hurricane Katrina before.  My heart broke several times while reading this book.  This book was emotional and well written.  At first it was a little slow as the book started before the storm arrived and we learned about the family dynamics.  But once the storm hit, the drama started and I couldn't put this book down.  Decisions that were made by family members in this book really tore at my heart and occasionally made me upset-especially decisions that the mother made.  It was hard for me to understand her choices but I have never been in such a tragic situation.  I don't know exactly what age I would recommend this book.for.  There were heavy topics beyond the hurricane-child abuse, alcoholism, and more so before allowing your child to read the book or doing it as a read aloud, read it yourself first.

Rating: 4 stars