Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton

Release: August 2, 2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Peachtree
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

A high-energy novel in verse starring a fifth grader who is almost as devoted to competitive gymnastics as she is to hiding her poor reading skills. What happens when Claire’s secret starts unraveling?

Claire is by far the best gymnast on her team, and she’s well on her way to qualifying for the state championships. The gym is where Claire shines. But at school, she’s known as a troublemaker. She seems to spend more time in the office than in class—which is fine with her since it enables her to hide the fact that she can’t read. She has never been able to make sense of the wobbling jumble of letters on a page. No one except her BFF knows.

But when a sympathetic principal wonders if Claire is acting out because she’s dyslexic, her mother balks. She’s afraid Claire will be labeled “stupid” and refuses testing. Claire has always assumed she’s dumb; she never imagined her reading problem could have a solution. Is she strong enough to take on both her reading challenges and her mother’s denial? Is it worth jeopardizing her spot in qualifiers?

Told in clear and poignant verse and featuring black and white illustrations, Claire’s struggle with something that seems to come easily to everyone else will resonate with readers and have them cheering her on.

About the Author:

Alma Fullerton couldn’t read until she was in the fourth grade. Today she works with students who have learning disabilities. She is the author of several middle-grade and young adult novels that garnered acclaim and awards in her native Canada. Alma is also the author/illustrator of several picture books. She is on faculty with the Highlights Foundation for teaching novel in verse writing and is an RA for SCBWI’s Canada East region.

Flipping Forward Twisting Backward Review:

“Flipping Forward Twisting Backward” is a beautiful middle-grade novel because it focuses on how children suffer from learning disabilities, and I enjoyed how the author portrayed it.

What I liked about the story is how realistic the author portrayed Claire and her family. Claire is adorable, and you can see how smart and energetic she is at everything, except when it comes to reading. I could understand her frustration and be rooting for her to get her needed help.

The author also wrote about Claire’s family well, and it was interesting to see how each member reacted to Claire’s situation. As much as I got frustrated with Claire’s mother for not listening to her, I could understand why she acted that way. I liked the family dynamics, where Claire feels she cannot turn to her mother or father but has support from her sister Bethany. Bethany and Claire shared an incredible bond and were one of the highlights. The author also adds excellent references to famous people who also suffered from the same disabilities while growing up but went on to do great things. The story portrays not to get discouraged just because you perform differently from others.

Similarly, I also liked the gymnastics element of the tale and how the author discourages bullying. The author also writes the story in a poetic manner, which makes the story stand out and fun to read. Sarah Mensinga also drew the illustrations beautifully, and I loved Claire’s expressions with her family and gymnastics performance.

Overall, “Flipping Forward Twisting Backward” is a well-written middle-grade contemporary novel worth checking out.

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of FLIPPING FORWARD TWISTING BACKWARD, US Only.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post, and make sure to enter the giveaway!