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Book Reviews of Flipped

Flipped
Flipped
Author: Wendelin Van Draanen
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ISBN-13: 9780375825446
ISBN-10: 0375825444
Publication Date: 5/13/2003
Pages: 224
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 95

4 stars, based on 95 ratings
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

33 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

mugndoli avatar reviewed Flipped on + 91 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
excellent book. the way it is written lets you see both sides of the story. this book would be extremely helpful for kids- it shows that something that means one thing to you might not mean the same to someone else. it also shows what happens when you do not speak up for what you think is right... good read! great story.
reviewed Flipped on + 74 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This book is a terrific read, whether by the young reader or adult. The title is apropos in more ways than one. The two main characters witness the same incidents, yet interpret them totally differently. Their perspectives and perception of events is quite different, yet they are inexplicably drawn toward each other. This is a wonderful book - I highly recommend it!
skywriter319 avatar reviewed Flipped on + 784 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski's blue eyes that day he moved in across the street from her in second grade, she lost her usually intelligent mind. She spent the next 6 years chasing after him. Not 2 hours after moving into the house across from Juli's, Bryce knew she was dangerous. He spent the next 6 years trying to avoid her, and yet not being able to, because Juli Baker was everywhere, doing everything, often perfectly.

Their middle school years clash between a destroyed sycamore tree, Juli's homegrown chickens and their eggs, Bryce's widowed grandfather, and family problems and secrets. By 8th grade, Juli pegs Bryce as a shallow jerk. She is so over him. Meanwhile, Bryce sees something in Juli that he has never noticed before. Is it the way she talks about beauty and nature like an adult? Is it the way she reminds Bryce's grandfather of his spirited dead wife? Eighth grade will be one flipped year for the two of them.

This book is charming, funny, and well-written. Both middle and high schoolers alike will be able to empathize with the main characters and connect with their teenage language.
reviewed Flipped on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
My whole family loved this book. I read it in one evening, my son read it the next morning, my husband read it that night, and my son re-read it the next day. It's not a long read, but it was really a good story -- a sweet story. It's the story of the evolving relationship between neighbors/classmates from 2nd grade through 8th grade. A set of events is told from the perspective of Juli and then Bryce. Their very different personalities are well-done and it's easy to imagine both of these kids.

Interestingly, the movie is going to come out soon, which was filmed in my home town. My son was an extra in the movie, I had the chance to tell Rob Reiner that I was so pleased he chose to turn this sweet story into a movie. He smiled broadly and responded, "It IS a really good story, isn't it?"

So, yes. We liked this book.
reviewed Flipped on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a really great read! I could not put it down! I took it everywhere I went, whenever I had some spare time I was reading this book. You can really relate to bryce when Julie is chaseing after him, and he wants to run, but then you can also relate when he ends up falling for Julie!! It also has a nice ending, with a little surprise twist.
Suzgot2 avatar reviewed Flipped on + 82 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. Takes you back to your pre-teen/teenage years. I think every kid has "flipped" at least once.
reviewed Flipped on + 191 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a book for middle school girls. My daughter who is a voracious reader loved it! It has received numerous awards and has received fantastic reviews. It is the story of an eighth-grade girl in a hilarious he-said she-said romance, and it is funny and engrossing.
lvp avatar reviewed Flipped on + 41 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I couldn't wait to write a review about half way through this book stating how much I was annoyed with it and it's alternating chapters. After I got into the story however, I realized how much it was really needed. The different points of view really made me realize how much people are different and how much I was just like Juli when it came to being googley eyed over a boy and maybe just how annoyed he got with me. It really is a cute and very real book.
Ashley1010 avatar reviewed Flipped on + 67 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Story is about life, love, and discovery.

Two sides to every story - Two main characters flip chapters in this book; each voice is distinct and I was interested in each of them equally. Author does a great job with this idea.

While book might be geared towards the young-adult age; as an adult I found it relatable and interesting.

This book was a random find for me, but I am so glad it crossed my path! Read it if it crosses yours.
reviewed Flipped on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Delightful!Delicious!And totally teen.
We flipped over this fantastic book, its gutsy girl Juli and its wise, wonderful ending.

A School Library Journal Best Book
An IRA-CBC Children's Choice
An IRA-CBC Teachers' Choice
A new York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
A Judy Lopez Memorial Award Honor Winner
soccereeshy avatar reviewed Flipped on
Helpful Score: 1
This book was amazing. It tells how two middle school age student's feelings for eachother suddenly flip. I liked this book so much that I read it more than once.
reviewed Flipped on + 7 more book reviews
Very good book
reviewed Flipped on
I really enjoyed that this book told the story of a boy and girl from both of their perspectives. It is interesting to see how they both thought of the same situations. Highly recommended for young teens.
reviewed Flipped on + 9 more book reviews
Cute story!

The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. And from the second grade to the seventh, that's how it was. She says: "My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss." He says: "It's been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort."
But in eighth grade, their views of the world and-each other-turn upside down. He says: "I'd spent so many years avoiding Juli Baker that I'd never really looked at her, but now I couldn't stop." And she says: "I felt a cold, hard knot tighten in my heart. I was through with Bryce Loski."
Is there hope for happiness in junior high?
Have you flipped?
loveangel avatar reviewed Flipped on + 148 more book reviews
a good book about both sides of a story flipped
tiggerser avatar reviewed Flipped on + 5 more book reviews
When I started this book with my 10 year old son, he was wondering why I was reading a story about love to him and seemed lackluster about reading it with me. However, a few chapters in the characters grew on him and he couldn't wait to keep reading and see what happens. It has a unique storyline in the fact that it is told from two key characters perspectives. It has helped him to understand that there are always two sides to the story and that intentions can be perceived from different lights depending on their own circumstances. A timely read for any adolescent.
reviewed Flipped on + 14 more book reviews
Very good reading, funny..
reviewed Flipped on + 2 more book reviews
Loved this book and so did my daughters. Then we went and saw the movie.
reviewed Flipped on + 2 more book reviews
Great read for any age!
reviewed Flipped on + 17 more book reviews
Interesting story told by different characters.
reviewed Flipped on + 80 more book reviews
Great great great great book!! Really fun!! Terrific for 9-12 year olds! As a teacher, I love it too!
reviewed Flipped on + 80 more book reviews
FUN well written book!
reviewed Flipped on + 10 more book reviews
"A wonderful, light-hearted novel." ~Library Talk
"A fast, funny, egg-cellent winner." ~School Library Journal, Starred RL6
reviewed Flipped on
I really liked the book, but I thought that the ending was a little dull. In my opinion, I think the ending was a bit too abrupt. When I finished, I was like: ''Wait, what just happened?'' I think it could've been a little bit better if the book was longer. But overall, the book was really interesting to read--and amusing, too. It was fun reading about the chaotic middle school experiences of Julianna and Bryce.
reviewed Flipped on
Read this book with my 12 year old daughter. It was nice to have a book to read together that was age appropreate.
reviewed Flipped on + 1450 more book reviews
Occasionally, I read books I plan to give the younger members of my family. This was one and it's very well written with a believable plot that is appropriate for the age. It's recommended by several organizations and gets mine, too. Written from two viewpoints, that of a boy and a girl, it begins with two families who live across the street from each other and two young people growing up attending the same school. Trouble is, the girl falls for the boy but he doesn't like her. He's enamored by the popular girls. Yes, its complicated. Before I give too much away I'll stop here and simply say it's a read to share with those approaching and moving into their teen years. However, the book cover makes it difficult for the young reader to determine whether or not to choose this book to read.
sfc95 avatar reviewed Flipped on + 686 more book reviews
To me this is a real life lessons book. There is so much that can be taken from this book, from the two perspectives it is told from, the changes in life that bring you to who you are, the compassion for your fellow human being. All this wrapped up in a fourth grade level book that I am truly hoping my daughter will read. I think the book is spectacular, if it doesn't give you some self introspection then read it again. To me there was so much more than a budding romance between two second graders.
reviewed Flipped on + 2 more book reviews
I really liked this book, its applicable more towards the younger kids than anyone else, but it's a great read nonetheless!
reviewed Flipped on + 2 more book reviews
I loved this book and I couldn't put it down when I was reading it!!
reviewed Flipped on + 3 more book reviews
Julianna has always like Bryce, but Bryce has never been intrested in her. From a young age Julianna chasses Bryce around and he hides from her.
This is a story about their friendship and there love for eachother.
reviewed Flipped on + 50 more book reviews
The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. And from the second grade to the seventh, that's how it was. But in the eighth grade, their views of the world and each other turn upside down. Is there hope for happiness in junior high? A wonderful, light-hearted, totally teen novel.
reviewed Flipped on
this is an excellent book. I would recomend this book to teens.
zoesnicholson avatar reviewed Flipped on + 20 more book reviews
I absolutely loved Wendelin Van Draanen's newest novel Flipped. With a (startlingly) realistic romance between two very different people, Flipped is definitely a great read!

I loved this book for one main reason - the realism! Seriously...which teenager hasn't felt like Juli at one point or another? She is such a great protagonist! Teenagers / tweens (and even adults!) who read Flipped will enjoy relating to Juli.

The character development is also phenomenal! I truly felt emotionally connected to each and every character in this story. They all felt so real! Wendelin has certainly given her characters a lot of depth and I truly enjoyed that! Even the secondary characters - such as Juli and Bryce's families - had so much depth to them as well.

The plot is realistic and creative! The plot's realism shines through the story constantly! The writing is great and I enjoyed the duel narrative aspect. Unlike some duel narratives where each narrator sounds the same, it is easy to distinguish Juli's chapters from Bryce's - their voices are both different, yet they both sound like they're actually being narrated by modern-day teenagers. This added to the "flowiness" of story. Wendalin's writing is great!
"But every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.
My only critique regards the ending. I felt that the ending was rushed - I would have liked to seen how their romance continues for a few more days. The ending seemed so abrupt - I didn't want the story to end!

All in all, this is a strikingly realistic book and I'd highly recommend it to teenagers and adults alike. This is an amazing, sweet book that will definitely touch your heart.