Flipped Introduction

Okay Shmoopers, gear up for a romantic comedy made for the young at heart. And what does every good rom com need?

  • Two folks who kinda sorta dig each other
  • Some weird miscommunications between the almost-lovebirds
  • An obnoxious friend who just doesn't quite get it
  • Some family drama
  • A surprise twist
  • A bit of awkward hand-holding
  • And a big grand finale. With a kiss? Wait and see…

Open up a copy of Flipped, and you'll find all this and some chickens to boot. With Wendelin Van Draanen's young adult novel, we've got ourselves a love story with some fun twists and turns.

So here's the deal: Bryce and Juli meet when they're just seven years old. Oh yeah—when we said young at heart, we meant it. And for Juli, it's love at first sight. But for Bryce, well, Juli isn't his favorite gal. Okay we'll level with you: he thinks she's the most annoying girl to walk the face of the earth. Ever.

Yet as they grow up to become teenagers, things get a bit more complicated. Let's just say Juli isn't always going to think Bryce is the cat's meow… and Bryce starts to realize that maybe Juli doesn't have cooties. And is actually super smart. And cute. Like really cute.

Plus we get to hear the whole thing straight from Bryce and Juli themselves. Yep—we hear the story from Bryce, and then we get the scoop from Juli too. But watch out—because these two hardly ever agree.

When Wendelin Van Draanen published Flipped in 2001, it had readers, well, flipping. And it's no surprise—she's written tons of popular books for young adults, and in the process she's hit just about every genre out there, from mystery to romance. Van Draanen knows what readers like, and Flipped is no exception.

 

What is Flipped About and Why Should I Care?

Let's get real here: love can be the pits.

Have you ever had a crush on someone? Maybe just a teensy weensy twinge that the guy or gal next to you is a little extra special? Well Bryce and Juli sure have. And they're here to remind us that having a crush isn't easy. In fact, it can be downright tough.

Juli and Bryce meet in second grade—and while Bryce thinks Juli is Queen of Cooties, Juli thinks Bryce is Mr. Perfect. Over the next six years, Juli learns that having a crush isn't all it's cracked up to be, and Bryce realizes that maybe cooties aren't that bad. Especially compared to the confusion he feels now that he actually likes Juli back.

So Bryce and Juli go through the ups and downs of having a crush… and there are a lot of ups and downs. But they give us an entertaining story along the way, and they keep us guessing about how their relationship will end up.

Even though having a crush can be a rollercoaster of emotions, Bryce and Juli remind us that it's still a pretty fun ride.