Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

Sooo…last week my newly-13-year-old asked me to get her Flipping Forward Twisting Backward from the library. I’m not actually sure how she found it, but it’s a new verse novel about a girl who’s amazing at gymnastics but has made it to the 5th grade without anyone realizing that she can’t–not really–read. When her vice principal catches on, however, he offers her options she didn’t realize she had; the catch is that her mom has to consent, and her mother doesn’t actually believe her. (That last part was difficult for both the parent and the teacher in me, because really? I managed not to hate her by reminding myself that a relatively-recently-divorced single mother with an emotionally demanding job–surgeon–isn’t always thinking straight.)

I knew my girlie was excited about the book, but when it came in at the library on Tuesday, I took a good look at it and decided I could commit myself to read it quickly before passing it on. (If she’d been at loose ends for something to read, mind, I would have given it to her, but as far as I know, she’s solidly into at least two different books at the moment.) I started it on Tuesday and finished it yesterday, and I’m reviewing it before she gets home from school so that I can surprise her with it (she did seem a little glum when there weren’t any library books for her on library day). The best part is that it was beautiful. I especially appreciated the supportive friends and sister, and I think the intended audience is going to love it, since it won’t be judging the parents and teacher in the same way I can’t help doing. (Also, Flipping Forward packs plenty of feels into its 130-odd pages.) If you like verse novels, gymnastics, or Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s Fish in a Tree, don’t miss this one.