Wendelin Van Draanen

I liked the book Flipped for three reasons. First, I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. It was written in a “he-said, she-said” manner with each chapter alternating between the voices of the main characters, Bryce and Julianna. For example, one chapter would be written in Julianna’s voice such as, “What did a kiss feel like anyways? Somehow I knew it wouldn’t be like the one I got from Mom or Dad at bedtime.” While the next chapter would be written in Bryce’s voice show more such as, “My mom didn’t understand why it was awful that “that little girl” had held my hand.” I really enjoyed this writing style as it gave a perspective of both characters and how each felt about what was happening in the book. Both characters were completely opposite so the alternating voices gave a unique twist to the overall story. Second, I liked the characters of the story. The main characters, Bryce and Julianna, were well developed and relatable. For example, Julianna talks about her crush on Bryce saying, “The first day I met Bryce Loski, I flipped. Honestly, one look at him and I became a lunatic. It’s his eyes. Something in his eyes. They’re blue, and framed in the blackness of his lashes, they’re dazzling. Absolutely breathtaking.” The author portrayed Julianna’s character as a love struck thirteen year old, which is extremely relatable to young readers. Julianna’s unique personality and demeanor was also extremely well developed as each chapter brought you closer and closer to her character. Lastly, I liked the plot of the story. The plot focused on two very different teens and their feelings for each other. For example, in the beginning of the story Bryce says, “All I’ve ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone. For her to back off- you know just give me some space.” Whereas, Juli’s character says, “All I could think about was Bryce. All I knew was that his eyes were a dizzying blue, and that I wanted to kiss him.” The drastic differences both characters feel about each other in the beginning of the story sets up the plot for an interesting twist. The story is suspenseful and intriguing as each chapter makes you want to continue reading to find out what happens in the end. The big idea of the story is to never judge someone by the way they look. There is always more to someone than their appearance and it is what is underneath that truly matters. show less

Fourteen-year-old Wren Clemmens is pulled from her room in the early hours of the morning, driven to the airport, and taken to the desert in Utah, where she will be forced to participate in an eight-week wilderness survival program. Wren is smart, and figures out how to find water and make fire - but can she figure out what's going on inside her? That is the challenge. Along the way, Wren sometimes rejects help angrily, but she learns quickly, and once she graduates from Rabbit to Coyote, show more she makes friends with the other girls, especially Hannah - who helps her see that her friend Meadow wasn't a friend at all.

Near the end of her time in the desert, Wren goes on a quest by herself, during which she faces coyotes and also her own thoughts and memories: the way people treated her, how she treated them, the impact of her actions, and how she wants to be a person in the world. She writes the letters to her family that she needs to write, and in the end, it's not just her mother or father who comes to collect her - it's both of them, and her sister and brother as well. Wren has transformed, and has hope for her future.

Quotes

"A little rain goes a long way when the land is parched. Sometimes it doesn't take much for what's dormant to bloom." (Michelle to group, 164)

"I like how I feel strong now. All I ever felt before was angry. I used to think it was the same thing, but it's not." (Mia to Wren, 171)

Trust between people is a convoluted thing, because which comes first - trusting or being trusted? (215)

"There's a wisdom passed through the ages that says that if we walk far but are angry as we journey, we travel nowhere." (Mokov to Wren, 237)

Cursing how this wide-open place traps you inside your thoughts. (261)

I've never even thought about who I want to be. The question has always been What do you want to be? You know...when you grow up? (270) show less

First sentence: All I've ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone. For her to back off--you know, just give me some space. It all started the summer before second grade when our moving van pulled into her neighborhood. And since we're now about done with the eighth grade, that, my friend, makes more than half a decade of strategic avoidance and social discomfort. She didn't just barge into my life. She barged and shoved and wedged her way into my life.

Premise/plot: Bryce Loski and show more Juli Baker narrate this he-said, she-said middle grade novel. It was love at first sight--in second grade--for Juli Baker. But for Bryce, well, Juli is a pesky, pesty neighbor that follows him--literally--everywhere. But in eighth grade, however, roles seemed to have flipped. She begins to doubt her feelings for him--there's more to attraction that just eyes and smile--and he begins to see her in a whole new way.

This one opens with a flashback scene of sorts showing the introduction or "meet cute" of this unlikely pair. But most of the story chronicles sixth grade through eighth grade. Reader see the same exact events through two pairs of eyes.

My thoughts: I am rereading this one after watching the movie for the first time. I ADORED the movie. It definitely changed some things up. For one, it took the contemporary setting of Flipped and made it a period piece. In the movie, the story unfolds in 1957-1963. And the soundtrack is FANTASTIC. I think one reason--pure speculation--to make this switch is it feels a little less controversial to have a girl literally chasing down a boy and smelling him if you set it in the distant past. Also some of the viewpoints of the characters seem to align more with what you'd expect in days long ago. (Teasing about being having a r****d in the family, etc.) Some of the scenes just have JERKS.

This one is thought-provoking. Love it or hate it. I definitely think the book doesn't address consent or boundaries--a must for a contemporary book being published post #metoo. The main message, I believe, is looking beyond appearances. What makes someone attractive. What makes you "flip" for someone. Juli is best for illustrating this. She's so accustomed to "loving" or "crushing" on Bryce, that she doesn't stop to consider WHO he is. What kind of person is Bryce? What is his character? If she really knew him--actually knew him--would she still love him? Is her attraction all surface-level? As for Bryce, he seems much less self-aware and just a bit clueless and immature. (Not for not liking girls. But just on processing and observing the world.)

The book definitely is open-ended and ambiguous. As is the movie--to a certain degree--but the closing music, "Let It Be Me" and the fact that she joins him outside to help him plant the new tree, does add an element of hope that the book doesn't quite reach. show less

English review at the bottom

"La primera vez que Juli Baker vio a Bryce Loski, flipó. La primera vez que Bryce vio a Juli, corrió"

Este libro es absolutamente bello. Leerlo es estar todo el tiempo así:

o así

y en ocasiones, así

Pero principalmente es amar y odiar a los personajes.

La historia sigue a Juli Baker y a Bryce Losky durante 6 años, desde que Bryce se muda al vecindario de Juli a la tierna edad de 7 años. Juli queda enganchada de Bryce principalmente por sus ojos, aunque chequen show more que ella pocas veces habla de su personalidad, mientras que Bryce en el momento en que conoció a Juli se sintió asustado e intimidado.

Con el transcurso de los años, Juli continua enganchada de Bryce, mientras que Bryce sigue huyendo de Juli, encontrándola chocante.

Si bien los primeros dos capítulos son infantiles yo LOS AME. Simplemente Juli y Bryce notaban las cosas de manera completamente distinta y es absolutamente hermoso. De hecho, es uno de las mejores combinaciones de POV que he leído, en ningún momento confundes a los personajes y siempre denotan la personalidad de cada uno de ellos.

Conforme avanza la historia vemos crecer a estos chicos hasta notar su verdadera personalidad y a sus familias. Las familias de ambos son muy distintas, dan más profundidad a la historia, el papa de Juli y el abuelo de Bryce son dos personajes que se dan a querer...es más, quiero dos para llevar por favor.

Yo odio los amores instantáneos, pero aquí sirve. Por un lado Juli no esta dispuesta a morir por Bryce ni algo similar, pero acepta que la engancho desde que lo vio y eso es lo que desata la historia. Como crece Juli es maravilloso, es una chica decidida, inteligente, soñadora y sentimental, que se vuelve más realista conforme la historia avanza. Bryce por su parte se vuelve menos superficial y valiente, lo cual adore, los errores que cometió pueden perdonarsele primero por su edad y segundo por que realmente esta arrepentido.

El final sinceramente ME ENCANTO obviamente sabemos que Bryce y Juli no se conocen y merecen hacerlo, más por todo lo que han crecido, aunque es obvio que, si se da, la relación no va a terminar en "Vivieron felices para siempre" porque tienen trece años, así que pulgares arriba por el final abierto donde apenas van a realmente hablar nuestros adorables y cambiantes protagonistas, tanto el del libro como el de la película, me parece excelente para la historia porque no lleva a que se arruine nuestra percepción de ambos.

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"The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. The first time Bryce saw Juli, he ran"

This book is absolutely beautiful. Reading it is be all the time like this:

or

and sometimes:

But mainly is to love, and sometimes hate, the characters. The story follows Juli Baker and Bryce Losky for 6 years since Bryce moves into Juli's neighborhood at the tender age of 7 years. Juli is hooked Bryce mainly through his eyes, although she rarely talks about his personality , while Bryce at the time he met Juli felt scared and intimidated.

Over the years Juli continuous hooked Bryce, Bryce while still running away from Juli, found her shocking. While the first two chapters are childish I love them. Juli and Bryce just noticed things in a completely different way and is absolutely beautiful and funny. It fact, it is one of the best POV combinations I ever read, there's no moment when you confused the characters and all the time you can watch the personality of each one. As the story progresses these kids grow and yu discover their true personality and meet their families. About htta...these families are very different, aren't just ornament because they give more depth to the story, Juli's father and Bryce's grandfather are two characters you really love as the plot unfolds.

I hate instant love, but here serves. On one side Juli isn't willing to die for Bryce or something similar, but accepts that at the moment she saw him she gets hooked and that's why the history gets unleashes. The way Juli grows is wonderful, it is a strong, intelligent, dreamy and sentimental girl, who becomes more realistic as the story progresses. Bryce meanwhile becomes less superficial and brave, which adores, he committed errors can be forgiven because of his age first and second that really is sorry.

The final I sincerely loved obviously know that Bryce and Juli are not known and deserve to do more for everything you have grown, although it is obvious that, if given, the relationship will not end in "they lived happily ever after" because they are thirteen, so thumbs up for the open end where you just go to really speak our adorable and changing protagonists , both the book and the movie, I think it's great for history because it leads to our perception of both ruined. show less