Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton follows Claire, a fifth-grader and aspiring gymnast, as she struggles to read like her fellow students. Up until now, Claire has been able to hide that she has trouble reading through careful listening and memorization. But her frustration with the letters twisting and flipping turns into tension with teachers, students, and family. In the principal's office, Claire is well known and takes part in office pizza often. Mr. McKay starts to think that Claire may have a learning disability that makes her see letters differently. But to take the test to see if that's true, Claire must get her mom's permission. And convincing her mother that there's something her daughter needs help with is much harder than getting the letters to sit still or to land a giant pirouette, full twist, fullaway.

In this novel, the print edition is set in an easily decodable typeface, and the free-verse prose is broken into digestible lines. This is perfect for reluctant readers who are intimidated by pages of text as well as those readers with dyslexia. Claire's relationship with her mother surrounding her learning disability is tense and believable. This short read ends happily, but I felt a few more chapters were needed to fully dissolve the tension between Claire and her mother. I would recommend this title to students of elementary age who struggle with reading and those who want to know more about learning disabilities that their peers may be living with.

I'm not sure that this one fully lands. The plot is easily enough understood. But the emotional impact, the rationale behind various character's decisions, isn't present. This one may have worked better as a traditional narrative.

I particularly enjoy books written in verse, and this is no exception. Because the author has dyslexia, as does the main character, Claire's (the character) thoughts and feelings are very real. The author packs a lot of punch with very few words. This is a book I will share with my students.

Flipping Forward Twisting Backward is a quick middle-grade read about a girl having trouble at school. I loved the free verse poetry and illustrations sprinkled throughout; it's a fun school story that every child will be able to relate to! Even though the book moves fast, author Alma Fullerton has given us memorable and relatable characters: friends, family members, and school staff who all sparkle and shine.

“She never asks
what we perfected
because all we
need to know
is how we
improved.”

Flipping Forward Twisting Backwards is a fun, accessible read that’s great for all sorts of readers, but especially emerging readers. The novel in verse form is great for the subject matter. Claire is a gymnast who is confident and strong on the mat but less confident in the classroom, where her teacher assumes she’s not paying attention and she impulsively lashes out, frustrated by her shortcomings. The book does a good job talking about learning disabilities, how kids compensate, and the assumptions made about their behavior. I love how it clearly demonstrates that there are all kinds of different “smarts,” and kids with learning disabilities aren’t “stupid.” This is especially well shown with how the coach points out that Claire can pick up a routine fast even if school is hard. I didn’t like the line “Claire, for someone / with a learning disability / you’re really smart” for this reason, as it wasn’t fully interrogated, and sort of unintentionally fighting against the whole argument of the book. The whole point is that kids with learning disabilities can be smart, just in a different way, so the book should be more careful to call out this kind of language and why it’s problematic. I also didn’t understand why and how the mom suddenly changed her stance from not believing in the learning disorder to suddenly believing at the end. It seemed like more needed to happen for her perspective to shift more gradually. But over all I enjoyed this read and would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and PeachTree for the eARC!

FLIPPING FORWARD TWISTING BACKWARD is a middle grade novel-in-verse that tells the story of Claire, a young gymnast who is keeping a secret: she doesn't know how to read. Over the course of the story, we see Claire struggle to find and accept help from her friends, her family, and her teachers. The story is accompanied by several illustrations throughout.

I loved seeing a dyslexic character as the protagonist of a middle grade novel, and I thought the NIV format was used beautifully at times to illustrate the way that Claire experiences words and reading. I also really liked how Claire related her experiences with gymnastics to her difficulties reading. Her supportive best friend, Emma Lea, was a real highlight as well.

Claire's mother was a difficult character, and there were some scenes with her that were heartbreaking and tough to read. Her attitude towards Claire's struggle was sometimes jarring.

The story itself was fairly quick, and I think will appeal to the younger end of the MG spectrum.

"She (Coach Tami) never asks what we perfected because all we need to know is how we improved."

written in verse, 'flipping forward twisting backward' explores star athlete-gymnast fifth-grader claire's struggle with dyslexia and how it gets her in trouble in school. despite its brevity, we are able to fully connect and empathize with our young protagonist and the issues the book tackles, from dyslexia to divorce never feel heavy-handed or hammered in. every word counts. i think writing the book in verse was a wise choice because it slowed down my reading speed and helped me digest its themes better than i would have if i read it any faster, and having shorter chapters makes it just the right book to recite to young beginner-level readers and especially both audiences who struggle with dyslexia. the principal is also incredibly and supportive of claire and her talents and her struggles. i think every dyslexic kid out there needs a central, grounding figure like that in their lives, and it is up to us to be a good example. empathy will spiral out from there. *thank you, netgalley, for the ARC!*

I found this book by accident. I was meandering around Netgalley, thinking about the thousands of ARCs I have to read and review, when this cover caught my eye. Artistic gymnastics is my favourite sport ever, and the girl on the cover looked like a gymnast to me. I then proceeded to read the plot (which, as you’ll discover later this week, is something I now do before downloading ARCs, thank you very much) and discovered that not only was this book about an aspiring Olyimpic gymnast, but it also dealt with dyslexia and it was in verse.
Had this book existed — translated in Italian, of course — when I was younger, it would have been my all times favourite book. As it stands, at 23, it still is one of the cutest and most wholesome books I’ve read so far this year, and it’s one I’ll keep recommending.
Anyways, let’s start from the very beginning, which is to say the title. I think it’s such a clever title, because it encapsulates both parts of the story: flipping forward and twisting backward can refer both to gymnastics and what dyslexic people feel like the letters are doing on the page, when they try to read and have yet to find their reading method. I really loved all the comparisons, metaphors and similes that linked the sport and dyslexia in the text as well, I found them to make the reading experience all the more interesting.
I think that, for being a very short novel and also in verse, we got to know Claire, our main character really well. I think she is a fully developed person and not just words on page. I also think the author did a great job with the secondary characters, from Claire’s family, to her classmates and the school staff. I feel like they were all well flashed out, which is a hard thing to accomplish in such few words.
Something that I really liked is how the teachers and the principal behaved, because I know from second-hand experience, how hard it can be to find teachers that care about learning disabilities or even know how to spot them in pupils. At least here in Italy, schools still have a long way to go before they reach the level of Mrs French and her small tricks.
I think the most realistic part of this book, is how Claire’s mom reacts at first when discovering her daughter cannot read and has been faking it the whole time, and how she overcomes her bias and confronts her own ignorance in the end. Granted, it was maybe a bit too rushed, but it’s wholesome and I think this book will be empowering for many kids.
The gymnastics part was also really well done, even if I don’t know if someone who knows nothing about this sport will understand the elements and difficulties the main character is referring to. As a ex amateur gymnast and hardcore fan of the sport, I understood everything, but if I detach myself, I can see how it could be hard for someone.
However, even if you don’t get exactly what she is saying, it’s still an enjoyable read and you can look up videos of actual gymnasts doing their exercises. Also, there are illustrations inside the book, which are extremely beautiful and also helpful in this regard.
I love when novels in verse feature illustrations, pictures and/or peculiar designs, so I was very glad to find out that this was indeed an illustrated one. I believe the author herself did the drawing, if not I am sorry, but I don’t know who did. Whomever made the illustrations did an incredible job, anyways. I loved the gymnastics one the most, of course, but I think it is a lovely art style in general. I would love to read more books with illustrations like these.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially as a gift for kids with learning disabilities: not only will they feel seen while reading this, but I believe they will be really empowered by the end. You can do anything you want, kids of the world.

This is a fabulous book that has a realistic view of the voices around a child and how they respond to situations. Children learn how to adapt and hide disabilities rather quickly in order to fit in or not disappoint their loved ones. This is a story about a child hiding her dyslexia until she can't anymore and it should be in classrooms everywhere.

The part I really enjoyed was learning the author was diagnosed with dyslexia in grade 4 and was able to write an amazing book. Very much a they did it and you can too lesson for the kids.

I received an eARC so I could read and review this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

Claire is a gymnast, A good one. At the gym, when she’s twisting, turning and flying, the world works and makes sense.

Unfortunately, at school it doesn’t work that way. Letters twist and turn and move when Claire tries to read. She’s gotten good at hiding it, but it is getting harder and harder to do so. Worse yet, when she finally admits it, her mother fights her on it, feeling Claire is too smart to have a learning disability.

Kids who struggle with reading, or almost anything, will see themselves in Claire. In addition, the verse format leads to short sentences and a great deal of white space, which makes this an easier book to read. It well deserved a place in classroom and school libraries.

Author Alma Fullerton struggled to read and even after a teacher helped her become a reader despite her dyslexia, some told her that she would never be a writer. Books like this one will hopefully keep at least a few others from reaching such an absurd conclusion. Fullerton’s main character, Claire, has reached the fifth grade and is a star gymnast with dreams of the Olympics, but her inability to read is becoming more and more apparent and her mother is holding gymnastics practices over her head if her grades and her outbursts in school don’t show improvement. When her frequent visits to the vice principal cause him to suspect dyslexia as the root of Claire’s difficulties, the new goal becomes to convince her mother to allow her to be screened and to receive extra help. Told in fast-paced verse, readers will feel Claire’s intense passion for gymnastics, her feelings of inadequacy, and then the budding realization that she is smart and that there is help for her difficulty reading. Great choice for readers in grades 3-5 who enjoy realistic fiction and NIV.

I want to thank NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of “Flipping Forward Twisting Backwards” to review.

This book follows Claire as she flips her way through fifth grade trying to keep up with her life as a gymnast and her struggles with reading. This book shows how heartbreaking life with undiagnosed learning disabilities can be and how important it is to differentiate learning.

I love the poetic style in which this book was written and that the font for the book was chosen specifically because it creates a well-defined word type. The spaced out words, short sentences, and smaller chapters make this a great book for people struggling to read.

This isn’t a picture book, but there are a few illustrations throughout that are gorgeous and add to the story. I really appreciated their inclusion in the book.

This book made me cry multiple times, but I think that just goes to show how powerful the words were. I got so angry at the characters who wouldn’t listen to Claire and I wished that they would take a moment and think. I couldn’t put this book down and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to add more disability diversity to their shelves. I highly recommend this book.

Overall, if you or your child is disabled, you are looking to diversify your shelves, or you are in need of a quick, but emotional read, I recommend you give this book a chance!

My CAWPILE score for this book was the very rare 10.0 aka 5 stars, because I truly think this book was exceptional.

This story was really cute. I think middle grade readers will enjoy this.
My only critique is that I wish there was more of the story. It felt too short and it would've been nice to have more of Claire's story.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree for the advanced copy of this book.

"Flipping Forward Twisting Backward" should be included in everyone's 2022 library book orders. This is a book that needs to get into the hands of kids everywhere. Alma Fullerton does an amazing job not only of describing what it is like to be a child with a learning disability, but also highlighting how difficult it can be for those children to get help from the adults around them. This book will be a beacon to kids who struggle with learning disabilities and will ultimately remind them that although they may learn differently, they are no less capable or less than their peers.

Claire is a fifth-grade gymnast hiding a big secret. While she's a superstar in the gym, she's earned a reputation for being a troublemaker in the classroom. What the adults around her aren't able to see is that Claire acts out in class because she is unable to read. The words on the page dance around the same way she does during her floor routine at gymnastics practice. When her principal finally asks if they can get to the root of her behavior issues, Claire confesses her struggles. Although he is quick to offer help to her, Claire's mother believes that Claire is simply pretending that she can't read and threatens to pull her from the state gymnastics qualifier if she doesn't stop acting out. Will Claire be able to convince her mom that she really does need extra support at school without losing the gymnastics team she loves so much?

Claire is a lovable and determined narrator who will appeal to all middle grade readers. She is a loyal friend who has a kind heart and refuses to give up when she struggles. Watching her evolution throughout the novel as she advocates to get the help that she needs at school while also working towards her goal of qualifying for her state gymnastics tournament is so compelling. Young readers will be cheering Claire along with every step she takes towards becoming a stronger reader; while older readers will examine the reactions of adults in Claire's life and be forced to think about how their own actions are helping or hindering the students in their lives. An important novel for readers of all ages, and one that I think will become a modern classic.

First sentence: In the gym club
there's always someone
who flies higher
and works harder
than everyone else.
In the gym club
there's always someone
who pushes to be
number one.
In the gym club
there's always someone
who can do
anything.
When I am
in the gym club
that someone
is me.
There's
no better feeling
than being number one
when everywhere else
you're last in line.

Premise/plot: Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton may just be my new favorite children's book published in 2022. Claire, our protagonist, excels in gymnastics. She absolutely loves it; she loves her teammates. What she is not loving is school. And not for the reason you may be thinking. (Though to be fair, I don't know what you are thinking.) Claire may be in fifth grade, but, Claire has a secret, a big secret, a secret that is getting heavier and heavier by the day. Claire cannot read.

Flipping Forward Twisting Backward captures Claire's struggle as she begins to ask for help--beg and plead--for help.

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this one. I loved the characters. I love Claire. I love that she has a great supporting cast. She has some great friends and teammates. She has a great big sister. There are a few adults that really do want to help. (Including a principal that is actually super-helpful). But not all the characters are supportive and compassionate. Trigger warning, Claire is the victim of bullying at school. And even her teacher's words and actions can be seen in a biased way. (Though I am not saying the teacher is a bully.) I loved the story. I loved seeing ALL of Claire's life--at home, at school, at the gym. I loved that there was a balance of things going wonderfully right and going horribly wrong. This realistic balance carries over in the characterization as well--very human. No one is all good or all bad. Even the most difficult characters have redeeming qualities on display--now and then. For example, her mother, whom I wanted to yell at or "shake" for a good bit of this novel. I thought the subject of learning disabilities is (and was, and probably ever shall be) relevant. In this case, we're talking dyslexia. I also loved the writing.

This book is fantastic. It is written in easy to read poetry that students will enjoy reading. It normalizes learning differences and dyslexia and shows the reader how it feels for someone to experience that in school and how it impacts their relationships. It also is highly engaging with the gymnastics connection which will likely draw in many young readers.

I LOVED this novel in verse. Claire is amazing at gymnastics and may even have the skills to go to state; but reading and writing don't come as easy to her as sports do. When she's reading, the letters flip and twist more than she does on the high beam routine.

I love the symbolic connection between Claire's dyslexia and her gymnastics routines. I also absolutely adore the principal in this story. He's literally the best (he has pizza in his office every day for kids who are hungry - like that's the literal best principal out there). I love the friendships shown in this novel too" Claire's friends, her oldest sister and her team are the best: they see she has a learning disability and they do everything they can think of to help her. This means putting up practice sentences around the house. Practicing vocabulary and spelling while jogging and homework help at practices.

Faking it until 5th grade is impressive, but I am glad Claire finally learns she has dyslexia and she can get some help!

Highly recommend as a book in verse and as a sports read.

The story of Claire, who is an extraordinary gymnast but has a difficulty in reading due to her learning disability, is an example to emphasize the difficulties with which these children face. The principal is the main figure that support Claire and he realizes she is confronting with dyslexia. The mother of Claire is the one who does not accept in the beginning that her daughter can have any issue in learning.
The message of the book and the difficulties of Claire fight the stigma associated with dyslexia and it helps to normalize it.

Claire is a gymnast. She's good at it and it's her whole world. It comes fairly easy to her unlike school. She struggles with school, reading specifically. No one seems to understand how much she struggles with it and that she's not goofing off and she's not stupid. Luckily, she has a couple people by her side who understand her and help her out.

I was so excited to pick this book up. A young girl who loves gymnastics, but struggles with school. I'm very pleased that this didn't disappoint.

With the narrative in poems, it really allowed the story to flow quickly and nicely, but also really allow Claire's emotions to shine through. Not just her emotions, but her personality. For such a short story, she really shined through.

If there is one negative about this, it is how short this is. I really fell in love with Claire. Her struggles, her life, her growth. I could have read so much more of her story.

This really is a heartwarming story that left me feel very full and giving me the chance to understand a little more about what those with dyslexia go through.

For young readers, this would be an excellent book to pick up.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.