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Flipped is not just a story about first love. It's more like a touching and heartwarming YA book for teenagers, teaching them about kindness and beauty. It's a story about growth.

The plot is pretty simple: during the summer break, Bryce, who has moved to a new home, meets Juli. When she sees Bryce's eyes for the first time, Juli is instantly captivated. So for the next 5 years, she follows Bryce's every move, her heart drawn to him. Initially, Bryce finds Juli’s constant presence irritating, but with the guidance of his grandfather, he begins to appreciate her unique qualities. His feelings gradually evolve from annoyance to uncertainty, culminating in a newfound love for the extraordinary Julie.

The book is told from the perspectives of both a boy and a girl, vividly depicting the different views and feelings of boys and girls towards the same or different events. It playfully expresses the differences in male and female thinking, and allows us to feel the pure, innocent love between young boys and girls.

In my memories of youth, besides exam scores, crushes, fights between boys, and girls' gossip, there aren't many tragic things happening. Everyone grows up smoothly, waking up at 6 in the morning and going to bed at 9 at night, living carefree lives. Back then, we would hide our earphones in our uniforms to listen to mp3, discuss which team, Manchester or Liverpool, is better, and tease each other when classmates were rumored to be dating. From Flipped, I felt the warmth, beauty, simplicity, and sincerity that I once experienced. This is probably the biggest reason why I recommend this book with 4 stars; it's full of memories.

I like the description of Juli’s mother: she is a "symbol of perseverance." The tall, fruitless maple tree is probably Juli’s core. She is persistent, kind, and beautiful. I think it's because of this maple tree that a seed of kindness was planted in Bryce's heart. After filtering out contradictions, doubts, and impurities, it can finally take root and grow into a towering tree.

While Bryce's superficial and hypocritical father was undoubtedly a negative influence, his wise and kind grandfather served as a guiding light. He helped to nurture the purity within Bryce's heart. Despite Bryce's attempts to avoid confronting his problems, he consistently presented him with challenges. As Juli aptly observed, Bryce's cowardice prevented him from fully embracing Julie's pure soul, overcoming societal expectations, and remaining true to himself. These internal conflicts caused him significant pain. However, his grandfather offered reassurance, reminding him that he was not beyond hope and that he should persevere. Gradually, Bryce navigated through the darkness, gaining self-understanding and a deeper appreciation for others, and ultimately, the beauty that surrounds him.

Juli, is the little girl that could always see the true nature of others. However, her initial infatuation with Bryce prevented her from seeing him clearly. Good thing is that: as time passes by, she was able to see beyond his handsome appearance and bright eyes to understand his true self. Likewise, Bryce, after much introspection, began to understand both Julie and himself, leading to a personal transformation. I think a person's growth and change takes time. Perhaps it's not Julie's kindness and beauty that changed him, but love. Julie's love for the world, Julie's love for him.

The ending is a heartwarming reminder that growth and maturity take time, and I’m glad to see Bryce grew up. Some people may have ordinary appearances, while others are glamorous and dazzling... But you'll always meet some people who radiate rainbow-like light from the inside out. Once you've met them, others will seem like mere clouds to you. I think Bryce finally understands this.

3.7 / 5 stars