Flipped By Wendelin Van Draanen: Character Analysis

Readers connect with characters through the challenges that they face in everyday life. In the realistic fiction novel, Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen, many characters face brand new challenges in their lives that they have to solve. In the novel, Bryce Loski faces a challenge of being embarrassed as a Basket Boy, just like I face a challenge of performing at dance competitions. Bryce Loski felt self conscious and embarrassed when he was chosen and auctioned off as a Basket Boy. Bryce didn’t want to feel embarrassed in front of his peers while being a Basket Boy. One example of this is “They have to come up with fancy picnic lunches and then be humiliated in front of the whole school while girls bid to have lunch with them” (Van Draanen
I face the challenge of competing at dance conventions. At dance competitions, I face many challenges, one of which is the anxiety I have before going on stage. It’s an astounding feeling. Between the rush of adrenaline in my veins and the butterflies in my stomach, it’s like nothing else in the world. The moment I step on the stage, though, it all suddenly makes vanishes. The anxiety helps me perform better because it makes me focus even more before I compete. A second challenge that I have to face at competitions is extremely quick changes. When I compete multiple times within a category, I have to be ready to run. This is a challenge because I have to switch my mindset, not to mention my hair and costume, sometimes in all of five minutes. Everyone on my team helps each other out like a family to ensure that we get everything done on time. I also face the challenge of being on a tight schedule. A week before the big weekend, I know my entire schedule down to the minute. This can cause added stress, especially if the competition is running early or later than it's supposed to. Having such a tight schedule makes even the smallest thing, like eating dinner challenge. I have to overcome and face these many challenges multiple times in a year, but overcoming my fears makes me a stronger person and