Wednesday, January 30, 2013

What Will Happen When the Situation Gets Flipped?


Juli Baker meets Bryce Loski as soon as he moves to her neighborhood in second grade. Once she looks into his beautiful blue eyes it is love at first sight. Bryce doesn’t have the same feelings, at all. For the rest of her time at elementary school, Juli follows Bryce around like a puppy. She asks him to play and watches him with great interest. She memorizes everything about him and gets lost in his gorgeous eyes time and time again. Bryce tries to get away from Juli’s excessive attention. Unfortunately, she misunderstands his signals. Bryce can’t stand when she climbs the sycamore tree that she is so attached to at the bus stop, because not only does Juli want him to climb it, but she shouts out how far the bus is from their stop. Later when the town is threatening to cut down her beloved tree she begs Bryce to help protest with her. He doesn’t want any part of it. In middle school, Bryce even tries dating Juli’s enemy, but that plan ends up backfiring. As they advance through middle school, Juli’s crush continues to grow, and she tries to figure out ways to get Bryce to like her back because she knows that he will be her first kiss. 

When Juli raises chickens for the science fair, they lay a lot of eggs. She sells the eggs to people in the neighborhood. But, because of her love for Bryce, she picks out the best ones for his family and gives them away to them, free of charge. What Juli doesn’t know is that Bryce’s mom thinks the eggs may not be clean enough, and he was supposed to tell Juli that his family didn’t want the eggs. But he didn’t, and for two years, Juli delivered eggs to his family until one day when she sees him throw them in the trash. Juli is hurt and now Bryce wants to make it up to her. Will she ever talk to him again? After loving someone for years, is it possible to stop? Have Juli’s blinders finally come off? Is there any way for Bryce to make up for treating Juli badly for many years? Is Juli right and Bryce will be her first kiss? Reading this book will make you see that there really are two sides to every story!    

I think anyone who has ever experienced their first crush will enjoy Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. You will really connect with the characters, especially if you have tried to capture the eyes of someone who didn’t seem all that interested. Each chapter is told from an alternating point of view and it was interesting to see two characters’ viewpoints of the same scenarios. I liked having the chance to see the truth in between the “he said, she said”. While I was reading the book I found that I could relate to Juli and Bryce. Both of them are funny, and the way they see things so oppositely makes you realize how often two people probably see the same situation differently. I kept thinking how important good communication is and that when we don’t let people know what we think, things can really fall apart. I like that the book made me think about how we act and how our actions can hurt others. This is a fantastic book for people in fifth grade and up. I have heard there is a movie, and I can’t wait to see it! Crack open the pages and see what happens when things get flipped.
Has anyone else read enjoy Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen?  Or have you read another book by this author?  What did you think?
Happy Reading! ~L

Thanks to the lovely Heidi over at Rainy Day Ramblings for hosting the Fire & Ice Tour! Stop by and check out some of the other hot spots along the tour.



39 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Kelly- It is a fun read. Glad you enjoyed it! ~L

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  2. This sounds like a book junior high girls would really like. Those first years of "puppy love" can be painful. Great review!

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    1. Anna- It is perfect for girls in junior high. Glad you enjoyed the review. :) ~L

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  3. I watched the film version and loved it. It was so sweet, and Julie is the kind of girl I wish I was. Illuminative. Would love to read the book soon! Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. Claudine- I am so happy to hear that you loved the movie. I can't wait to see it! Juli is such a fantastic character. I love her spirit! Enjoy the book. :) ~L

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  4. Great review, thanks. My daughter read this when she was about 12/13 and loved it, but of course she had a little unrequited love thing going on at the time.

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    1. Alex- I can see why your 12/13 year old daughter would have loved this one if she had her own unrequited love situation going on. It is a great read. :) ~L

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  5. This sounds interesting and the characters seemed to be well fleshed out.

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    1. Kimba- The characters are well fleshed out and you really feel that you know them. :) ~L

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  7. Whoops clicked on the wrong key.

    As I was saying ..... As someone who remembers their first crush all too vividly I have to read this, thanks for the recommendation.

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    1. Petty- If you remember your first crush- you will enjoy this book for sure! Happy reading. :) ~Stephanie

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  8. Aww! This sounds like such a good book. I also love it when books show both POVs. :)

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    1. Cherie- It is a great book and the two POVs work so well together. The author does an excellent job! ~L

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  9. I haven't read flipped, but really enjoy the psychology behind love, dating, etc. So I'd probably enjoy it!

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    1. EJ- For anyone that enjoys the psychology behind love and dating this book would be a trip! If you get to read it- I would love to hear your thoughts. :) ~L

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  10. It sounds awesome. You know more middle grade books than anyone I know!

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    1. Patty- It is an awesome book! Thanks for the compliment. :) ~L

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  11. I've not read Flipped or anything else by Wendelin Van Draanen, but this sounds lovely. I remember my first crush and how I felt when my feelings weren’t reciprocated - I thought my heart would break.

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    1. Barbara- Wendelin Van Draanen has some great books. She writes some MG mysteries, too. Reading about Juli's first crush brings the reader right back. I remember feeling like my heart would break, too. ~Stephanie

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  12. Sounds like a sweet book to read. Who doesn't remember their first crush?

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    1. Donna- It is a sweet book! You are right- I think most people probably remember their first crush. :) ~L

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  13. I loved the movie for this one and I would love to read the book sometime. thanks so much for being a part of Fire and Ice!

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    1. Heidi- Thanks for having us as part of the Fire and Ice tour. How fun! I am glad to hear that you loved the movie. I have to watch it asap! ~L

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  14. *sigh* First crushes. That was a trillion years ago. (I feel so old, hah.)
    I love that the SAME things get told from two perspectives. I'm not normally a fan of alternating POVs, but this is a whole different thing. Hopefully I'll get to read this one some time soon.

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    1. Maja- I hope you get to read this one soon. It is very eye-opening to see the two POVs in this book. A first crush told from two different POVs was fascinating. Hope you get to read it soon! ~L

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  15. This sounds SOOOOO good, but oh my goodness - the part about the eggs almost made me cry! :'( Thanks so much for sharing - I'm off to buy this one for Katertot! Awesome review <3

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    1. Cheles Bells- That part about the eggs is tough to handle, but it is such a realistic book in that way. I think Katertot will eat it up! Glad you enjoyed the review. :) ~L

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  16. I love this book so much I even got the movie! It's such a sweet book/romance. It ends perfectly I think. There is this potential in them that I loved. I've read The Running Dream by this author. Cried my eyes out. It was a really great book.

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    1. Adriana- It is such a sweet romance and I liked the way it ended, too. I have never heard of The Running Dream, but I must read it now. Thanks for the recommendation. :) ~L

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  17. WOW! This book sounds awesome! I'm definitely going to read it.
    Lovely review <3

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    1. Ifrah- Yeah! So happy that you enjoyed the review. Happy reading! ~L

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  18. This is a new book for me and it sounds great. Nice review!

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    1. CM Brown- Glad to introduce you to a new book. :) ~L

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  19. Aw, this book does sound amazing :) Never read anything like it, so I might check it out ;p Glad you enjoyed it :D Great review. <3

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    1. Carina- It is a fun book and I think you would enjoy it. If you get to read it- enjoy. :) ~L

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  20. Super review!! I gotta get it. This is another book where I think to self,"Self, you wish you'd written that, don'tcha?" Thanks and it is sooo good to be back and cyber see pals like you. :-) *waving peace signs*

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    1. Robyn- Thanks! I am happy you enjoyed the review and it is a book you will read in no time at all! I love the concept. So nice to have you back in the cyber world. :) *waving back*. ~Stephanie

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