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.

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.

Adventurous and full of mystery and mishaps! While the magical wicker school that is floating in the air (while also falling apart) is harder to imagine at some points than others, Tyng does a great job of grounding the story in overcoming real friendship hurdles and ignite the imagination beyond what you thought was possible.

** “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.

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.

I was completely captivated by the first book, and this one has only deepened my love for the series. I adore middle-grade books, especially those that blend adventure with heartfelt moments. Just like the first book, this one introduces us to a world of fun and quirky characters, thrilling adventures, and a message of love, friendship, and the joy of the journey being more important than the destination. It’s a light-hearted yet impactful read for both children and adults. I can’t wait to share this series with my daughter when she’s older.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pixel+Ink for the arc of this book.

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!

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.

I devoured this so fast like I did with the first one. I love this story, the characters and just everything. I highly recommend and can’t wait to have both books on my shelf.
10/10