It's hard to find age appropriate books for tweens who want to read the latest YA titles that they may be a bit too mature for (i.e. reading and thematic level). There are always a few books that can be recommended and enjoyed for a wide range of ages and audiences. Flipped is just one example. I can't believe I waited until 2011 to read this book off my shelf.
Description: Flipped is a romance told in two voices. The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. The first time Bryce saw Juli, he ran. That’s pretty much the pattern for these two neighbors until the eighth grade, when, just as Juli is realizing Bryce isn’t as wonderful as she thought, Bryce is starting to see that Juli is pretty amazing. How these two teens manage to see beyond the surface of things and come together makes for a comic and poignant romance.
Review: Flipped is an unputdownable novel about questioning what you believe in and believing in what you feel. From second grade, Bryce has always known how he feels about Juli. She is weird, dangerous, and can't seem to leave him alone. She has a certain way of looking at him which has freaked him out since the first time she hurled herself into his life.
Juli has a tendency to do that when she spots something she likes. She throws herself into things she believes in, whether they're people, projects, or even rotting trees. Juli has always known how she feels about Bryce. He has been walking around with her first kiss for years. It's those bright blue eyes. She would love it if he ever reciprocated with even a tiny smidgen of her enthusiasm or heck even a smile now and then would be fantastic!
Flipped sounds like a lot of YA romances that immediately begins with what we readers call 'insta-love' where the characters meet and fall in love at first sight without really getting to know one another. Flipped is a romantic comedy of errors told in a "he-said, she-said" alternating chapters by two fresh, funny, and insightful voices. Yes, there are two tweens trying to wrestle their hormones and feelings during hilarious misunderstandings and missed opportunities, but the themes of learning to look beyond the surface of people, figuring out who you are, who you want to be, and who you want to be with made this book memorable. It is these questions that changed, structured, and even matured Bryce and Juli's relationship.
Bryce made me laugh especially as how he routinely fails to get Juli off his back. It's clear to him and everyone else that he wants absolutely nothing to do with Juli Baker. Bryce's chapter while comedic offers the reader devise their own bias opinions about Juli while Juli gives us an understanding of her motives as she describes the same events from her point of view. Bryce is completely clueless and it was nice to seem him change as Juli's feelings begin to wane after a horrible spat. Juli is a lovable heroine who is passionate, fresh, smart, and different. She may come off as a morbid stalker in Bryce's chapter, but she is not. She's precocious and wiser than her years.
The book is filled with laugh out loud moments and scenes that made me go "aww". Interspersed but never heavy handed is a substantial amount of serious social commentary woven in, as well as an exploration of the importance of perspective in relationships. The book is also filled with fully dimensional secondary characters and keep the subplots rolling. I absolutely loved Bryce's grandfather Chet who gives Bryce and Juli wise advice though they may not know it until they do their own growing up. Smart, funny, and full of warmth, Flipped is a tween romance that is sure to be loved by all and I highly recommend it.
Rating: 5 stars
Words of Caution: PG language. Recommended for strong Grades 5 readers and up.
If you like this book try: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley
Review: Flipped is an unputdownable novel about questioning what you believe in and believing in what you feel. From second grade, Bryce has always known how he feels about Juli. She is weird, dangerous, and can't seem to leave him alone. She has a certain way of looking at him which has freaked him out since the first time she hurled herself into his life.
Juli has a tendency to do that when she spots something she likes. She throws herself into things she believes in, whether they're people, projects, or even rotting trees. Juli has always known how she feels about Bryce. He has been walking around with her first kiss for years. It's those bright blue eyes. She would love it if he ever reciprocated with even a tiny smidgen of her enthusiasm or heck even a smile now and then would be fantastic!
Flipped sounds like a lot of YA romances that immediately begins with what we readers call 'insta-love' where the characters meet and fall in love at first sight without really getting to know one another. Flipped is a romantic comedy of errors told in a "he-said, she-said" alternating chapters by two fresh, funny, and insightful voices. Yes, there are two tweens trying to wrestle their hormones and feelings during hilarious misunderstandings and missed opportunities, but the themes of learning to look beyond the surface of people, figuring out who you are, who you want to be, and who you want to be with made this book memorable. It is these questions that changed, structured, and even matured Bryce and Juli's relationship.
The book is filled with laugh out loud moments and scenes that made me go "aww". Interspersed but never heavy handed is a substantial amount of serious social commentary woven in, as well as an exploration of the importance of perspective in relationships. The book is also filled with fully dimensional secondary characters and keep the subplots rolling. I absolutely loved Bryce's grandfather Chet who gives Bryce and Juli wise advice though they may not know it until they do their own growing up. Smart, funny, and full of warmth, Flipped is a tween romance that is sure to be loved by all and I highly recommend it.
Rating: 5 stars
Words of Caution: PG language. Recommended for strong Grades 5 readers and up.
If you like this book try: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley
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Oohhh another 5 star review?! Clearly, I need to read this! I haven't heard anything about this one, but I adore a book that can make me laugh and has strong secondary characters. Adding this one to the list, thanks Rummanah!
I know Small loved this one too so I'm bumping it up now in my TBR pile. It sounds so cute with the way you described the alternating POVs, and I think it's hilarious that Bryce can't get rid of Juli.