Flipped Book Report

Kiara Tucker
Bento
English Honors Period 5
September 30, 2014
“Flipped” Book Report Wendelin Van Draanen is the author of the Fiction novel Flipped. This book has 212 pages and the theme is to never exclude of overlook anything or anyone. The setting of the novel is in a brand new (unnamed) town where the characters are established. The protagonist in this story is Julianna (Juli) Baker and the antagonist is Bryce Loski, but later on in the story, these two characters switch roles. The conflict of the story is man versus man. "Flipped" by Wendelin Van Draanen tells the story of two youngsters whose diverse views of their relationship evolve over many years until those perspectives are "flipped." The story begins when seven-year-old

Seven-year-old Juli Baker has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of her new neighbors for weeks ever since she learned that a boy her age would be living there. On the day the Loskis are unloading their truck, Juli races over to introduce herself. She is captivated by the cute boy with the gorgeous blue eyes. Juli is a high-spirited young girl who is open and friendly. When she jumps into the moving van to help, young Bryce is immediately annoyed. He finds her aggressive and does not like her muddy shoes. He spends the next two weeks doing everything he can to avoid being around his new neighbor who relentlessly pursues him. Juli recognizes that he is withdrawn and not around much but she powers that to his shyness. The relationship remains this way from second grade through sixth grade. The entire time the very shrewd Juli allows her heart to rule her head. She does not pick up on the signals that Bryce sends off, namely, that he doesn't want anything to do with her. She takes every opportunity to get closer to him. She whispers the correct spelling of word in his ear during spelling tests, she climbs a huge tree to retrieve his kite that is caught in the branches, and she gives his family eggs every week from her pet chickens.

"But every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare. And since you know what a tree-climbing weenie I am, I think it's pretty clear that I'm willing to do anything to get her to talk to me. Man, I'll dive after her into a chicken coop full of poop if that's what it takes. I'll ride my bike all the stinkin' way to school for the rest of eternity if it means being with her”” (147)

This passage shows Bryce trying to win Juli over after constantly ignoring her attention over the course of four years. This introduces Bryce becoming the protagonist and Juli becoming the antagonist because Juli does not want anything to do with Bryce since he was untruthful with her.
“Sometimes a little discomfort in the beginning can save a whole lot of pain down the road.” (178) This passage shows the difficult transition for Juli after losing feelings for Bryce and Bryce gaining feelings for her. She realizes it is only going to take time for her to adjust to the new ways of life. She grasps that there will be not only individual change within her daily life, but change in the relationship with her and Bryce for the good and