I didn't realize this book was set in Toronto but on the first page there's a mention of Sorauren Park and I was jazzed - I love reading books set in my city!

I really liked the way Scrimger tackled the grief of Fred and his family. We see them in the background mostly, because Fred's grief is really self-centered, but it's clear to the reader that there's more to the situation than we're getting. I often wanted Fred to stop staring at his shoes and look at his mom and sister, because there's definitely something else important there. Fred was a really relatable character for me, not necessarily because I've had the same experiences as him or even because our reactions are the same, but because his reactions seemed real.
The upside down world was a really great way to explore grief. I love the magic realism take on it, though the dragon part felt like it got away from Scrimger a bit. The point was a bit spelled out at the end and I felt that dragons were a bit much. Other than that, I liked this book a lot.

I also really love the cover - Matt Forsythe does beautiful work. I'll have to see what other books he's illustrated for! ( )

Downside Up, in many ways, reminded me of Coraline (the film, I've never read the book *hides from Neil Gaiman fans* ) in which she travels to a version of her world where many of the faces are the same but the personalities are different. That being said, this book is still unique on its very own. Scrimger tastefully discusses a difficult subject with such respect for his readers, that alone deserves praise. While this book is written for middle grade audiences, its core message can resonate well with readers of all ages. Great book, would love to see this turned into an animated/stop-motion film! Many thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review! ( )

A clever book that successfully makes you believe that there is a parallel universe that can be found if you venture into Toronto’s sewer network. The main character is a boy who is unable to cope with the loss of his dog. As the story unfolds, the reader finds there is much more than the loss of a dog that this grade 6 student is contending with.
The story is part fantasy and adventure but the nature of mourning a loss of a loved one is all too realistic.
It is also great to read a good story set in a Canadian city! ( )

Interesting plot (parallel worlds) with a twist. ( )

Downside Up was a very enjoyable read! Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop.
The narrator of the story is Fred, a 12 year old boy who had recently lost his dog. He is very depressed and he is having a heard time dealing with his death (readers discover that there is much more to his depression as the story unfolds). He stumbles upon a parallel world...a world that is nearly exactly the same as his own but one in which his dog is still alive.
The author does a good job with a difficult subject. As the story progresses, Fred learns that no one is ever really gone as long as they are remembered.
I would recommend this book for (at least) twelve and up. It is a complicated story that younger readers may not be able to grasp. Also, there are a few instances of mild language (dammit). ( )