Annotation: In alternating perspectives, two young teenagers describe their lives living across the street from each other.
Justification for Nomination: Flipped is an excellent novel about the different perspectives two young teens can have regarding their neighborhood, friends, school, and each other. Juli Baker is a spunky girl who loves the sycamore tree down the block, her collection of chickens, and her neighbor across the street, Bryce Loski. Bryce, on the other hand, has only feelings of annoyance towards Juli and his biggest goal each day is to try and avoid her.
Beyond the relationship Juli and Bryce have with each other, there are several really meaningful relationships that are formed between Juli and her dad, Bryce and his grandpa, and Juli and Bryce's grandpa. It's a powerful novel about the importance of good relationships over "things". Juli is the one with the spunky attitude and the close-knit family with little money. Bryce comes from a family where they can put on a good face, but they hardly know who they really are. As Bryce's family comes undone, Bryce begins to see Juli in a new light and appreciate her for her complexity.
Flipped is an excellent novel for the pre-teen and younger teenage reader. It's entertaining, fast-paced, funny, and the story will stick in their minds for a long time. As uplifting as it is, it's also a good reminder of how important your family relationships are and how much your happiness depends on non-monetary things.
Genre: humor, coming of age
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