"A story that will grab avid and reluctant readers alike." —School Library Journal
"An honest, bleak account of a national tragedy sure to inspire discussion and research." —Kirkus
"Accomplished debut. full of touching, distressing detail." —Booklist
Upside Down in the Middle
Julie Lamana
Chronicle Books / 2014
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.