Letters from the upside by Katya Balen

Con, a middle schooler, is confused and consumed with inner rage, perceiving the world is against him.  He narrates so we will have some inkling of his evocative inner turmoil and self-loathing, fearing that his dad left them because he was bad. When he lashes out at his regular tormentor at school, even his best friend Kyron becomes afraid of him. Suspended from school, his mother can’t risk taking any more time off work and Con’s mindset spirals during the lonely days alone in the apartment.  It doesn’t help that his violent assault on Mickey has provoked Mickey's brother’s gang to get square. Afraid to leave the building, he is boosted when Mr Williams invites him to visit the rooftop garden, built by Gloria and himself.

I spread my arms out wide and I whoop. What is this? I say to Mr Williams. He’s opening the sea-green shed. What is this place?
Peace, he says and he laughs…this young Con, is the Upside.

Con truly is uplifted by the vast clean sky above and Gloria’s rows of overflowing garden planters. But his salve comes from helping Mr Wilson care for the homeing pigeons. Con is awestruck by the birds' beauty, sensitivity and intelligence. He loves to handle them, admire their differently toned grey and irridescent feathers. He listens to the stories of their navigational abilities as couriers to distant towns, and feels proud they trust and accept him. Watching the impact of the old man’s kindness and later the community’s support makes this a truly heartwarming read.  

Con knows he’s earned Mr Williams trust when the old man takes a trip for a few days, leaving the pigeons in his care. Before his return Con has an idea to use the birds to send his own messages far and wide in order to track down his father.  But before the birds return, vandals learn about the “Upside” from Kyron, and nothing will ever be as good again – or so Con believes - Mr Wilson is not the only good guy in the neighbourhood.

Jessica Cruikshank ‘s painted cover,  unlike her sketched chapter motif, is a portrait of Con surrounded by the wonders of The Upside. The publisher includes a teaser for Balen’s new novel October, October, an About the Author section and Teaching notes.

All ages will learn about a boy finding peace and beauty from being present with family, friends and nature. Katya Balen’s books convey hope and possibility through very different characters - figuring it out with a little help from humans (and animals) who keep showing up for them.

Themes: Family, Acceptance, Self-belief, Bullying schools, City, Pigeons.

Deborah Robins