Van Draanen ( Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy Mystery, 2000, etc.) deftly manages the difficult task of establishing and maintaining the reader’s sympathy with both characters. The story is told in both voices, in alternating chapters that develop from a sort of “he said, she said” dialogue into an exploration of perception, misapprehension, and context. But in their eighth-grade year, Juli’s fight to save an old tree from being cut down causes Bryce to look at Juli with growing admiration-just at the same time that Juli finally realizes that Bryce’s character does not measure up to his eyes. For her to back off-you know, just give me some space.” Six years after their meeting, Bryce is something of a judgmental priss (just like his father), and Juli is full of passion and enthusiasm for life. It’s his eyes.” As far as Bryce is concerned, the feeling is definitely not mutual: “All I’ve ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone. Honestly, one look at him and I became a lunatic. For Juli, it is love at first sight: “The day I first met Bryce Loski, I flipped. When Bryce and Julianna (Juli) meet, they are both seven and Bryce has just moved in across the street. Proof that the course of pubescent love never runs smooth.
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