Customer Reviews

Flip Flop (Real TV, 2)

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This is a story about a seventeen year old girl who struggles with having an alcoholic father and a mother who does her best to deny how serious the problem really is. Her mom is a very private person and has taught Briana to not share their family business with anyone - ever. So Briana's closest friend has no idea what is going on in her life, in fact no one does - until one of the designers on Flip Flop who has struggled with the same things in her life, recognizes the signs and convinces Briana to open up to her. An interesting theme running through the book is the serenity prayer - God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. She clings to this as a lifeline and prays it often. The designer who reached out to Bree challenges her to draw even closer to God, as does the older brother of her best friend.

The reactions of the characters to the situation presented make for reality and real-life drama. What would you do in Briana's shoes? Wendy Lawton guides the reader through a real life dilemma and shows that easy, pat answers do not always come. However, through it all, God is real, too, and He'll catch you when it looks as if the floor has fallen out. Since I love the Trading Spaces show, this makes for a great read.

Briana Harris is a typical teen who struggles to keep family secrets. Embarrassed by her alcoholic father, Bree does everything she can to keep her friends from discovering the truth. When her best friend Chickie Wells signs them up for Flip Flop, a reality tv show similar to Trading Spaces, Bree is scared. Will her dad be around and drunk? Will he make a scene? Will she be totally embarrassed by him?

Lawton captures the hopes and fears of teens dealing with alcoholic parents. The reader journeys with Bree as she struggles to deal with her father's problem and the impact it has on her entire family. Lawton masterfully captures the voice of teens today, writing a book they will surely connect to.

Wendy Lawton has written a winner that teens and adult alike will have a hard time putting down.