Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen was one of my choices for the Young Adult Book Challenge. I kept seeing it in middle school libraries and it seemed popular with the students. Having now read it, I understand why!
Flipped is told from the perspective of two different characters alternating between chapters. As soon as you think you know what happened, everything is "flipped", and you see it from the other perspective. I enjoyed this technique because it kept the narration from becoming stale (not that that was a concern), but it also made me think about all those times I've had embarrassing run-ins, and wondering what the other perspective might have been.
The story is told by Juli Baker and Bryce Loski. Juli has a mega crush on Bryce, and has since the first moment she met him. Bryce did not feel the same. The book focuses on the romantic angles, but throws in other issues as well. As the events progress a nice compare and contrast between families appears. I have to say, one of my favorite elements is Juli's relationship with a tree. It's a special tree that makes her feel alive in a special way. Personally, I seem to have this connection with trees as well. I'll admit to crying when they cut down the trees at my elementary school... even the one we played Little House on the Prairie under. And I'll admit to having a slight panic attack when I couldn't remember if "Nathaniel's Tree" had been spared... it was! (In first grade our school planted a tree to remember a fourth grader, Nathaniel, who was hit by a car). So we can say I had a deep connection to Juli.
Talking about this book with a 4th or 5th grade student (multi-age class, you never really know!), I found it interesting that one of the aspects of the book that I liked so much (the changing perspective), was a point of confusion for her. "I could never figure out what was happening... I thought I'd know and then it would change." She solved the problem by rereading (nice strategy!) and in the end really enjoyed the book.
Recommendation: If you like the somewhat unique delivery and don't mind running through all of your own awkward adolescent encounters, Flipped is well worth a read.
2 comments:
It was fun learning of your affinity for trees. I hate to see a tree cut down myself. This book looks so good. I love the cover.
I love "unique deliveries", so this should be a good choice for me. Also, I'm ALWAYS saying that there's another side to the story or you don't know if that's really what they meant, etc. So getting another perspective in this book will be fun. I'm excited about this one now. I need to give YA's a *rest for a little bit, but I hope to get to it soon. Thanks for the encouragement! :)
*It might call me sooner, you can never tell with books. lol
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