Van Draanen, W. (2003). Flipped. Knopf.
5 out of 5 stars
Age range 14-18
Told from two perspectives, Flipped, is the story of the potential romance between Bryce and Julianna. Bryce moves in across the street from Julianna in second grade and she falls head over heels in love with him. Meanwhile Bryce is terrified of Julianna and goes to great extremes to avoid her. This story isn’t just told from two perspectives it is about perspectives. As they grow up Julianna follows Bryce around and tries her best to befriend him. He never sees her as anything but annoying and potentially embarrasing.
It all starts to change because of a Sycamore tree. I love this part of the story. I am definitely one to appreciate the magic of trees so this might have been my favourite thing about the whole book. Julianna discovers, when she climbs to the top of the tree, that she can see everthing. She finds that everthing smells better and looks brighter and that her whole outlook changes because of this tree. She loves the tree and spends a great deal of time up there but feels lonely as well. One day workmen come to cut the tree down and she begs the other kids standing at the bus stop to climb the tree as well so that it won’t be cut down but they won’t. The important thing is that Bryce won’t. After many more events when Bryce fails Julianna she decides she is through with him. It is at this point that Bryce finally comes to appreciate how wonderful Julianna is and that he has feelings for her. By the end of the story it looks like they may have a chance, that Julianna sees there may be more to Bryce.
The characters in this story are wonderfully endearing, especially Julianna, her father and Bryce’s grandfather. They were all very unique. It was the perspectives of these people that ended up changing Bryce and his way of seeing things. The plot was also filled with strange little details that I loved like the chickens that Julianna keeps. Overall this was a great story.
Kate
