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Clara Poole #2
Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up
Soaring to the top is one thing. Staying there is quite another. The warm and the winning second book in the engrossing middle grade adventure Clara Poole series.
Fresh off winning WOOBA’s One-Hundredth Air Race, Clara Poole should be flying high, but she’s feeling more uncertain than ever. After a summer of negative publicity, she arrives at Air Academy unsure if she even deserves to be there, to train as an aeronaut alongside her new friends . . . only to discover that there are several conditions to her acceptance.
But that becomes the least of her problems when a series of strange accidents throw her and her friends’ safety into question. Circumstances shift from bad to worse when the school’s headmaster goes missing, hurling the academy into disarray and under the iron-grip control of Assistant Head of School, Cyprian Hunt. Friends become enemies, and enemies friends as Clara tries to keep herself out of trouble. But trouble may the one thing she can’t avoid.
With humor, heart, and more death-defying feats that you can imagine, Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up is a stunning second novel that explores how the journey to get what you want is perhaps more important than the goal itself.
Fresh off winning WOOBA’s One-Hundredth Air Race, Clara Poole should be flying high, but she’s feeling more uncertain than ever. After a summer of negative publicity, she arrives at Air Academy unsure if she even deserves to be there, to train as an aeronaut alongside her new friends . . . only to discover that there are several conditions to her acceptance.
But that becomes the least of her problems when a series of strange accidents throw her and her friends’ safety into question. Circumstances shift from bad to worse when the school’s headmaster goes missing, hurling the academy into disarray and under the iron-grip control of Assistant Head of School, Cyprian Hunt. Friends become enemies, and enemies friends as Clara tries to keep herself out of trouble. But trouble may the one thing she can’t avoid.
With humor, heart, and more death-defying feats that you can imagine, Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up is a stunning second novel that explores how the journey to get what you want is perhaps more important than the goal itself.
- GenresMiddle Grade
368 pages, Hardcover
Published July 9, 2024
2072 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Tyng
5 books27 followersTaylor Tyng is an American author of fantastical fiction for young readers. His first novel, CLARA POOLE AND THE LONG WAY ROUND (Pixel+Ink), was called "an engrossing and inventive flight through the skies" by Kirkus Reviews and a "soaring debut with echoes of Jules Verne and Roald Dahl" by Booklist. Its follow-up, CLARA POOLE AND THE WRONG WAY UP was published in July 2024. Taylor is currently working on SPROUT (Random House Children's Books, 2026), a middle grade contemporary fantasy about a girl searching for the truth behind her strange abnormality.
Taylor Tyng got to writing late. After spending his early years performing in LA rock clubs, Taylor created a design agency and a software company for the advertising and entertainment industries, surrounding himself with the art of storytelling. He's created designs that have traveled to space, written songs for film, played bit roles in bad movies, and occasionally does dumb things like rocketing down bobsled tracks or snorkeling in Iceland during winter. As a lifelong dyslexic, Taylor never imagined becoming an author was on the list, which only proves how random and remarkable life's journey can be.
Taylor lives in a 1700s farmhouse outside Boston with his wife, two daughters, and a very busy miniature Australian Shepherd.
Visit Taylor at www.taylortyng.com or on Twitter and Instagram @taylortyng.
Taylor Tyng got to writing late. After spending his early years performing in LA rock clubs, Taylor created a design agency and a software company for the advertising and entertainment industries, surrounding himself with the art of storytelling. He's created designs that have traveled to space, written songs for film, played bit roles in bad movies, and occasionally does dumb things like rocketing down bobsled tracks or snorkeling in Iceland during winter. As a lifelong dyslexic, Taylor never imagined becoming an author was on the list, which only proves how random and remarkable life's journey can be.
Taylor lives in a 1700s farmhouse outside Boston with his wife, two daughters, and a very busy miniature Australian Shepherd.
Visit Taylor at www.taylortyng.com or on Twitter and Instagram @taylortyng.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 11, 2024
What worked:
There are immediate changes and strange occurrences to signal a mystery is brewing. The new students arriving at the Air Academy discover they haven’t been accepted yet and Clara is informed she’s only an alternate. She won’t be a student unless someone else drops out. Students and teachers have been seriously injured due to broken bridges and faulty equipment found in the airborne school. The headmaster’s opening address to students is confusing as he’s forgetful and loses his train of thought. He also suffers from sleep-flying and must be retrieved when he drifts off into the sky. Clara finds cryptic messages and clues so readers will try to figure out what’s happening behind the scenes. A surprising twist awaits when the plot reaches its climax.
As with the previous book, the author includes many characters to either act as Clara’s friends or fill the role of antagonists. Short, little Hatsu has been looking forward to being Clara’s roommate since last year’s great balloon race which proves she’s Clara’s most enthusiastic supporter. Until she’s not. Ophelia still detests Clara although Clara begins to view the girl differently after overhearing a conversation. Their relationship changes. Clara and the academy’s biggest problem might be the assistant headmaster. He divides the new recruits into two groups and the Peregrines are clearly the favored team. He also treats Clara with disdain and puts her in unwinnable situations. A former enemy becomes an ally but Clara’s team is dysfunctional with constant internal drama.
A highlight of the book is how the cast of characters changes as the plot moves along. Students from the past have been injured or traumatized enough to leave the academy and that trend continues. Readers won’t always know if characters are gone for good or if they’ll eventually turn up again. A teacher, assumed to be dead, returns unexpectedly and becomes a mentor to Clara. She raises the concept of gender bias and readers are frequently made aware of her conflicted past with the acting headmaster. The actual headmaster finally disappears from the academy but Clara is almost certain it isn’t an accident. The popular safety director vanishes with him and readers will presume they may be gone forever. A fellow student named Binder loves to joke around and create havoc so he keeps everyone on their toes.
What didn’t work as well:
The main conflict is difficult to identify as the characters are worried about being accepted to the academy when they’re not clashing with each other. The bigger issue is what’s happening behind the scenes and the author provides red herrings, misdirection, and vague observations. The clues Clara finds are often found by accident and they’re then put on the back burner due to some other problem.
The final verdict:
This book is quite different from the previous one as it’s a new, exciting adventure in the skies. Clara encounters animosity, doubt, and jealousy from other characters but readers will admire her efforts to do the right thing. I highly recommend you give this book a shot and I look forward to its sequel.
There are immediate changes and strange occurrences to signal a mystery is brewing. The new students arriving at the Air Academy discover they haven’t been accepted yet and Clara is informed she’s only an alternate. She won’t be a student unless someone else drops out. Students and teachers have been seriously injured due to broken bridges and faulty equipment found in the airborne school. The headmaster’s opening address to students is confusing as he’s forgetful and loses his train of thought. He also suffers from sleep-flying and must be retrieved when he drifts off into the sky. Clara finds cryptic messages and clues so readers will try to figure out what’s happening behind the scenes. A surprising twist awaits when the plot reaches its climax.
As with the previous book, the author includes many characters to either act as Clara’s friends or fill the role of antagonists. Short, little Hatsu has been looking forward to being Clara’s roommate since last year’s great balloon race which proves she’s Clara’s most enthusiastic supporter. Until she’s not. Ophelia still detests Clara although Clara begins to view the girl differently after overhearing a conversation. Their relationship changes. Clara and the academy’s biggest problem might be the assistant headmaster. He divides the new recruits into two groups and the Peregrines are clearly the favored team. He also treats Clara with disdain and puts her in unwinnable situations. A former enemy becomes an ally but Clara’s team is dysfunctional with constant internal drama.
A highlight of the book is how the cast of characters changes as the plot moves along. Students from the past have been injured or traumatized enough to leave the academy and that trend continues. Readers won’t always know if characters are gone for good or if they’ll eventually turn up again. A teacher, assumed to be dead, returns unexpectedly and becomes a mentor to Clara. She raises the concept of gender bias and readers are frequently made aware of her conflicted past with the acting headmaster. The actual headmaster finally disappears from the academy but Clara is almost certain it isn’t an accident. The popular safety director vanishes with him and readers will presume they may be gone forever. A fellow student named Binder loves to joke around and create havoc so he keeps everyone on their toes.
What didn’t work as well:
The main conflict is difficult to identify as the characters are worried about being accepted to the academy when they’re not clashing with each other. The bigger issue is what’s happening behind the scenes and the author provides red herrings, misdirection, and vague observations. The clues Clara finds are often found by accident and they’re then put on the back burner due to some other problem.
The final verdict:
This book is quite different from the previous one as it’s a new, exciting adventure in the skies. Clara encounters animosity, doubt, and jealousy from other characters but readers will admire her efforts to do the right thing. I highly recommend you give this book a shot and I look forward to its sequel.
August 5, 2024
Clara is starting at the Air Academy, eager to officially begin a life as an aeronaut. Unfortunately, when she arrives, she finds out she hasn’t been accepted like she thought. She has to compete as an alternate to secure a spot in the school. Worse, her friendships become more difficult to manage as part of a competition. And perhaps worse of all, a series of mysterious accidents and events make her think that all isn’t what it seems at Air Academy.
One of my favorite aspects of the sequel is the evolving nature of friendships in the book. Clara continues to be surrounded by an interesting cast of characters, but as the characters get older and face new situations, their reactions to things change, too. Friends she thought would stand by her aren’t her friends anymore, and people she considered enemies might not be as much of enemies as she thought.
The characters react strongly to the circumstances around them. Trauma, rivalry, and grief are woven together with hijinks, loyalty and respect. Both the adults and children's characters are interesting and varied, and just like people, you never really know how a character is going to react to the situations in front of them.
The concept of gender bias comes up in interesting ways. At first, I was worried the book would be trying too hard to pander to that audience, but it took a surprising twist that kept Clara and me guessing about people’s motives and biases. It goes over teachers playing favorites or having their own motives that the students don’t always understand. The adults are often hiding the truth, and Clara has to figure out who to trust and what’s happening at Air Academy.
This sequel is different in many ways from the original. It’s still charming and entertaining, with wacky adventures and characters, and it still has unexpected depth in things like grief and trauma. The setting, character shifts, and new characters keep things interesting and feeling new.
My one complaint is that because of the wackiness of the story, sometimes the plot feels muddled. It’s hard to tell if Clara’s biggest concern is getting accepted to Air Academy, fixing her damaged friendships, or figuring out what’s happening behind the scenes that is putting people in danger. Because of this, the stakes sometimes don’t feel as important as they should. However, the hijinks keep things fun from beginning to end.
Fans of the first book will continue to enjoy this series, and newcomers can read this book without necessarily reading the first (although I recommend reading the first to help people understand the character relationships, the world of aeronauts, and some of the more emotional moments). For a fun adventure full of friendship and balloons, you can’t go wrong with Clara Poole.
One of my favorite aspects of the sequel is the evolving nature of friendships in the book. Clara continues to be surrounded by an interesting cast of characters, but as the characters get older and face new situations, their reactions to things change, too. Friends she thought would stand by her aren’t her friends anymore, and people she considered enemies might not be as much of enemies as she thought.
The characters react strongly to the circumstances around them. Trauma, rivalry, and grief are woven together with hijinks, loyalty and respect. Both the adults and children's characters are interesting and varied, and just like people, you never really know how a character is going to react to the situations in front of them.
The concept of gender bias comes up in interesting ways. At first, I was worried the book would be trying too hard to pander to that audience, but it took a surprising twist that kept Clara and me guessing about people’s motives and biases. It goes over teachers playing favorites or having their own motives that the students don’t always understand. The adults are often hiding the truth, and Clara has to figure out who to trust and what’s happening at Air Academy.
This sequel is different in many ways from the original. It’s still charming and entertaining, with wacky adventures and characters, and it still has unexpected depth in things like grief and trauma. The setting, character shifts, and new characters keep things interesting and feeling new.
My one complaint is that because of the wackiness of the story, sometimes the plot feels muddled. It’s hard to tell if Clara’s biggest concern is getting accepted to Air Academy, fixing her damaged friendships, or figuring out what’s happening behind the scenes that is putting people in danger. Because of this, the stakes sometimes don’t feel as important as they should. However, the hijinks keep things fun from beginning to end.
Fans of the first book will continue to enjoy this series, and newcomers can read this book without necessarily reading the first (although I recommend reading the first to help people understand the character relationships, the world of aeronauts, and some of the more emotional moments). For a fun adventure full of friendship and balloons, you can’t go wrong with Clara Poole.
August 12, 2024
I so enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to read the next to see what would happen next as they entered Air Academy. The second book has a different vibe or tone but was just as much fun and filled with lots of action and adventure. I would say it isn't totally necessary to have read the first to enjoy the second but it will definitely help since there isn't a lot in the way of information about the characters from the first in the second book. I found myself struggling here and there with some of the backstory I should have remembered and wished there was more to help the reader since it's usually a bit of time in between books in a series.
There is tons of action and mystery in the story that kept me intrigued. The mysterious "accidents" around the school had the classic whodunnit vibe complete with clues and red herrings. I love a good mystery and felt the twist at the end was well done. I also enjoyed the different challenges created for the competition and found them really imaginative and different than I have seen in other books.
The one part I didn't enjoy was the conflict that happens between Clara and Hatsu. It felt off and forced. There were so many times where Clara was going to go and talk things out with her and then something else would distract and it wouldn't happen. It felt like it was being drawn out unnecessarily for drama's sake but there were lots of other things happening with the mystery of the accidents occurring around Air Academy and the tension of will they or won't they earn their way into the school after all. I did like that OCR and Clara bonded and found a friendship but felt like this could have happened without the other conflict between Clara and Hatsu. The other issue I had was with Clara and her dad and how the whole scene went with his news being revealed but never really going back to have a conversation about it with her after. I found this really hard to believe that any parent would handle that so poorly and it just sort of got dropped and not picked back up again in this book. I'm guessing it may come back in the next book in the series and I hope that it is handled better and with more care.
Overall, a really fun and adventurous sequel that leaves you wanting more and wondering what's next as it ends with a cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see how Clara saves Air Academy in the next book!
I received a digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
There is tons of action and mystery in the story that kept me intrigued. The mysterious "accidents" around the school had the classic whodunnit vibe complete with clues and red herrings. I love a good mystery and felt the twist at the end was well done. I also enjoyed the different challenges created for the competition and found them really imaginative and different than I have seen in other books.
The one part I didn't enjoy was the conflict that happens between Clara and Hatsu. It felt off and forced. There were so many times where Clara was going to go and talk things out with her and then something else would distract and it wouldn't happen. It felt like it was being drawn out unnecessarily for drama's sake but there were lots of other things happening with the mystery of the accidents occurring around Air Academy and the tension of will they or won't they earn their way into the school after all. I did like that OCR and Clara bonded and found a friendship but felt like this could have happened without the other conflict between Clara and Hatsu. The other issue I had was with Clara and her dad and how the whole scene went with his news being revealed but never really going back to have a conversation about it with her after. I found this really hard to believe that any parent would handle that so poorly and it just sort of got dropped and not picked back up again in this book. I'm guessing it may come back in the next book in the series and I hope that it is handled better and with more care.
Overall, a really fun and adventurous sequel that leaves you wanting more and wondering what's next as it ends with a cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see how Clara saves Air Academy in the next book!
I received a digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
July 20, 2024
After winning the Air Race, Clara Poole received a summer of negative publicity. She isn't sure she belongs at Air Academy, and there are several conditions to her acceptance. Accidents occur on campus that put her and her friends in danger, and then the headmaster goes missing. The Academy is now under the strict control of the Assistant Head of School, Cyprian Hunt. Trouble might be impossible to avoid now.
It's not necessary to have read the first book, but it helps to understand what happened in it. That's where you meet Clara's friends from the race, and understand why people online would make underhanded comments about Clara's flight abilities. From the start, the Air Academy isn't what you would expect, and the difficulty finding the proper location and wandering around the train station in chapter one reminded me of Platform 9 3/4. Once in the air, Clara finds out she's actually an alternate student, only allowed to participate if another drops out or gets injured. There's actually a very high injury rate to start with, and now there are challenges to determine who is actually accepted into the school on a permanent basis, even as they start learning. Accidents, jealousy, rivalries, and new friendships develop.
Kids will understand the pain of bullying, losing close friends, and teachers playing favorites. Clara goes through all this with her remaining friends, and she has another elder who serves as a role model for her. Just as in the first book, one of the adults involved is a dour stickler for old-fashioned rules. She goes through loss outside of the struggles within the school and tries her best to stick up for what she thinks is right. Even when adults all around her try to mask the truth for their own ends, Clara insists on what is real and fair at all times. It's a good message and will show kids that persevering will eventually bring rewards.
It's not necessary to have read the first book, but it helps to understand what happened in it. That's where you meet Clara's friends from the race, and understand why people online would make underhanded comments about Clara's flight abilities. From the start, the Air Academy isn't what you would expect, and the difficulty finding the proper location and wandering around the train station in chapter one reminded me of Platform 9 3/4. Once in the air, Clara finds out she's actually an alternate student, only allowed to participate if another drops out or gets injured. There's actually a very high injury rate to start with, and now there are challenges to determine who is actually accepted into the school on a permanent basis, even as they start learning. Accidents, jealousy, rivalries, and new friendships develop.
Kids will understand the pain of bullying, losing close friends, and teachers playing favorites. Clara goes through all this with her remaining friends, and she has another elder who serves as a role model for her. Just as in the first book, one of the adults involved is a dour stickler for old-fashioned rules. She goes through loss outside of the struggles within the school and tries her best to stick up for what she thinks is right. Even when adults all around her try to mask the truth for their own ends, Clara insists on what is real and fair at all times. It's a good message and will show kids that persevering will eventually bring rewards.
May 11, 2024
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
The second book in the Clara Poole series is just as good as the first. It allows for some character development to the characters we met in book 1 while introducing some new people into this world. Having Clara as somewhat of an outsider helps us as readers learn about world right along with her. I felt so bad for Clara when Hatsu kind of turned on her - she was already feeling like she didn't belong and had to work harder than everyone else to prove herself and then her best friend turns her back on her. It was nice that they had their moment during the final race to get back on track, but it turned out to be short-lived as the next crisis immediately followed. Just as with the first book, I loved the parts with all the kids working/plotting together. There are some really great characters there and they each bring something to the story - and sometimes their comic relief is greatly needed. This book has a really great twist towards the end involving the villains of the piece - I kind of felt bad for one of them and then remembered how awful they had been to Clara and her friends throughout the story. I thought the parts involving Greta's death and Clara's father's new romance were brushed over a little too quickly (am I alone in hoping that Greta isn't really dead and this was all part of a bigger plot?). The ending of this book makes me so so so excited for the next book! I can't wait to find out how this new adventure goes (and how Clara and Ophelia do as allies). This series is a definite must-have for classroom and school libraries!
The second book in the Clara Poole series is just as good as the first. It allows for some character development to the characters we met in book 1 while introducing some new people into this world. Having Clara as somewhat of an outsider helps us as readers learn about world right along with her. I felt so bad for Clara when Hatsu kind of turned on her - she was already feeling like she didn't belong and had to work harder than everyone else to prove herself and then her best friend turns her back on her. It was nice that they had their moment during the final race to get back on track, but it turned out to be short-lived as the next crisis immediately followed. Just as with the first book, I loved the parts with all the kids working/plotting together. There are some really great characters there and they each bring something to the story - and sometimes their comic relief is greatly needed. This book has a really great twist towards the end involving the villains of the piece - I kind of felt bad for one of them and then remembered how awful they had been to Clara and her friends throughout the story. I thought the parts involving Greta's death and Clara's father's new romance were brushed over a little too quickly (am I alone in hoping that Greta isn't really dead and this was all part of a bigger plot?). The ending of this book makes me so so so excited for the next book! I can't wait to find out how this new adventure goes (and how Clara and Ophelia do as allies). This series is a definite must-have for classroom and school libraries!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2024
** “Remember, there are countless ways to find your destination. Sometimes it’s our deep instinct that guides us best.” **
Taylor Tyng’s “Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up” continues immediately after the first story, with Clara and some of the friends she made during the WOOBA Air Race being invited to the Air Academy.
But things aren’t as they seem. As the new candidates learn, they have only been invited to compete for positions at the school. There are no guarantees of acceptance. As more and more animosity builds between students, more and more strange occurrences and accidents happen. Can Clara figure out what’s going on at the Air Academy, fix broken relationships, and determine whom she can truly trust?
Once again Tyng delivers an incredibly fun yet suspenseful story with “Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up.” He creates a fast-paced, intense yet at times funny plot, including a stunning ending.
With a story that reveals the importance of perseverance, he also includes some great themes, like the importance of teamwork (“When people work in harmony, they create something much greater than themselves”); follow your instincts; keep moving forward; finish what you started; and you never know until you try.
Fans of adventure stories and books like Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days,” “The Jules Verne Prophecy” by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer, and The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves series by Tom Phillips will love this story, which is due out July 9.
Five stars out of five.
Pixel+Ink provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Taylor Tyng’s “Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up” continues immediately after the first story, with Clara and some of the friends she made during the WOOBA Air Race being invited to the Air Academy.
But things aren’t as they seem. As the new candidates learn, they have only been invited to compete for positions at the school. There are no guarantees of acceptance. As more and more animosity builds between students, more and more strange occurrences and accidents happen. Can Clara figure out what’s going on at the Air Academy, fix broken relationships, and determine whom she can truly trust?
Once again Tyng delivers an incredibly fun yet suspenseful story with “Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up.” He creates a fast-paced, intense yet at times funny plot, including a stunning ending.
With a story that reveals the importance of perseverance, he also includes some great themes, like the importance of teamwork (“When people work in harmony, they create something much greater than themselves”); follow your instincts; keep moving forward; finish what you started; and you never know until you try.
Fans of adventure stories and books like Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days,” “The Jules Verne Prophecy” by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer, and The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves series by Tom Phillips will love this story, which is due out July 9.
Five stars out of five.
Pixel+Ink provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
August 12, 2024
A wonderful continuation of Clara Poole's fantastic adventures! Tyng excels at world building, and he continues to show us exceptional new places in this second book—the school in the clouds is one I would have loved to have attended when I was a kid. It is delightful to see old friends from the previous book, meet new "friends" (some who are decidedly NOT), and it is especially heartening to see characters from the previous book return, but with new growth and intriguing dilemmas added to the mix. There is a lovely balance between humor, intrigue, and quite a few predicaments for Clara & Co. to navigate. The moments of angst feel genuine, without being harrowing—although the climactic, and literal, explosion was vividly written, with lives in peril. I was a little taken aback by the abrupt ending, but I am hopeful there will be a third book to resolve all the dangling ropes—and not just those on Clara's soaring balloon! I plan to read everything this author publishes, but I genuinely want more Clara Poole!
September 5, 2024
I loved reading more of Clara’s adventures. There's fun stuff (a cloaking device) and thrilling stuff (playing capture the flag in the sky), and Clara also faces important issues such as gender bias in a male-dominated field. Her dilemma of being on the “wrong” team is an interesting one for middle-grade readers, and the central message—to support your friends even when they’re driving you crazy—is important for anyone of any age. The dialogue is funny and natural, and the characters feel like real people, capable of change. Clara is humorous and admirable, rolling with the punches and responding well when people call her “aero-NOT” (lol). Except for Clara, I think Raylee is my favorite character.
I look forward to reading more about Clara’s journeys in Amelia. I guess you could call Amelia the Millennium Falcon of balloons (she may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts!).
I look forward to reading more about Clara’s journeys in Amelia. I guess you could call Amelia the Millennium Falcon of balloons (she may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts!).
May 25, 2024
Clara Poole return for a second aeronaut adventure for middle grade graders. Clara, Hardy, and many others receive letters inviting them to Air Academy but not as full-fledged students. They must compete for positions. Teams are sorted while Clara remains an alternate despite her status as the reigning WOOBA champion.
It’s not only a challenge to gain acceptance into the Air Academy, infighting begins in the midst of strife among the faculty and staff. Clara and other competitors must decide who to trust: each other, staff, or themselves. “Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up” contains just enough suspense for the intended audience without ever pandering. Interactions among students and with staff are realistic and relatable. The resolution of this saga is a perfect set-up for the Clara Poole series to become a trilogy with a surprisingly new sidekick.
It’s not only a challenge to gain acceptance into the Air Academy, infighting begins in the midst of strife among the faculty and staff. Clara and other competitors must decide who to trust: each other, staff, or themselves. “Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up” contains just enough suspense for the intended audience without ever pandering. Interactions among students and with staff are realistic and relatable. The resolution of this saga is a perfect set-up for the Clara Poole series to become a trilogy with a surprisingly new sidekick.
April 26, 2024
My 12yo and I read an eARC of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. We recently finished Clara Poole and the Long Way Round, so it was especially lovely to be able to linger in Clara's world a bit longer. In this 2nd installment of Taylor Tyng's series, Clara thinks it'll be smooth sailing as she heads to Air Academy, a boarding school in the sky. But trouble seems to find her wherever she goes, and she soon learns that all is not as it should be at Air Academy. A lot of the same cast of characters from the first book appears in Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up, along with some quirky (and downright evil) newcomers. If you're a fan of middle-grade adventure stories with strong female leads, you will definitely want to read this one!
July 6, 2024
I really enjoyed Clara Poole’s first adventure in The Long Way Round so I was excited for this sequel. This is certainly a different kind of adventure, though similar in that it of course has Clara balloon riding and her trying to prove herself. It is a joy to return to so many of our favorite characters with them now at Air Academy and meeting many new ones. There is the familiar aspect of competition, friendship, investigation, self-discovery and trust with a new aspect of betrayal. Many facets of this story only begin to be developed so I look forward to discovering more about these tidbits of side story as we continue Clara’s adventure in the next installment.
May 22, 2025
The second book was definitely better than the first. Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up has more risk taking and danger.
Clara Poole starts her first day at Air Academy. She is assigned the opposing team to her best friend and makes friends of her enemies and enemies of her friends. A long lasting war is fought between the Peregrines and the Mallards (The two teams). When new rules are placed under the scrutinizing surveillance of the new Headmaster, teams are thrown aside and it's everyone for themselves. Struggling to survive with the strict new rules, the students find themselves overloaded with responsibilities, including maintenance to the crumbling ship.
Clara Poole starts her first day at Air Academy. She is assigned the opposing team to her best friend and makes friends of her enemies and enemies of her friends. A long lasting war is fought between the Peregrines and the Mallards (The two teams). When new rules are placed under the scrutinizing surveillance of the new Headmaster, teams are thrown aside and it's everyone for themselves. Struggling to survive with the strict new rules, the students find themselves overloaded with responsibilities, including maintenance to the crumbling ship.
July 2, 2024
A good second book in this MG series. More of a traditional school story as Clara and several familiar characters from Book 1 begin their studies at the Air Academy, which they soon find out is plagued by unexplained accidents. Many new characters along with twists and surprising turns. I loved the values around friendship. I can't wait to read Book 3 to see if Clara and friends can save Air Academy.
Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.
Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.
July 27, 2024
Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up is a flawless sequel to Clara Poole and the Long Way Round. I received an ARC of this from Pixel+ Ink and am so happy I did! Thank you so much Pixel+Ink!
I love how Clara Poole feels like fantasy even though it's all perfectly plausible. The Air Academy has twisting, floating pathways, it flies through sky, yet it's the opposite of otherworldly. It feels almost like Hogwarts but it is as realistic as the reader's own school. It makes it so you can see a little bit of magic in your own regular world environment.
Not only, is the school like Harry Potter, but so is the tone. It's cozy like Harry Potter, adventurous like Keeper of the Lost Cities, and humorous like The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves and The Swifts.
Another thing, Taylor Tyng does an amazing job with is the dialogue of the kids, it's so natural! For example the dialogue of Raylee on page 274, "'Welp," and Clara on page 282," You think?" These are phrases that sound exactly like kids!
Overall, I highly, highly, highly recommend this book!
I love how Clara Poole feels like fantasy even though it's all perfectly plausible. The Air Academy has twisting, floating pathways, it flies through sky, yet it's the opposite of otherworldly. It feels almost like Hogwarts but it is as realistic as the reader's own school. It makes it so you can see a little bit of magic in your own regular world environment.
Not only, is the school like Harry Potter, but so is the tone. It's cozy like Harry Potter, adventurous like Keeper of the Lost Cities, and humorous like The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves and The Swifts.
Another thing, Taylor Tyng does an amazing job with is the dialogue of the kids, it's so natural! For example the dialogue of Raylee on page 274, "'Welp," and Clara on page 282," You think?" These are phrases that sound exactly like kids!
Overall, I highly, highly, highly recommend this book!
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