Flipped is a story told in two alternating first-person viewpoints, Bryce Loski’s and Juli Baker’s. Eighth-grader Bryce Loski opens the story with a chapter-long recounting of his years since meeting Juli Baker just before the start of second grade. That summer, he moves to a new home in the town of Mayfield across the street from Juli and her family. Juli begins her attempt to latch onto Bryce before the Loski’s moving van is unpacked. That day, Bryce’s father tries to rescue Bryce from Juli’s intense offers to help by sending him inside, but Juli races him down and tries to steer him by the arm. When Bryce tries to break free, he winds up holding hands with her—and Juli won't let go. When Bryce pulls loose, he hides behind his mother, but she tells him to show Juli around their new house. He hides in the bathroom instead until Juli finally leaves.

Bryce’s father helps cover for him in the following days as Juli repeatedly asks Bryce to play; Bryce’s sister Lynetta, however, actually brings Juli in to hunt Bryce down. Lynetta is an unhelpful sister with whom Bryce used to argue often; then he discovered the concept of mentally “div[ing] down” (5) in conflicts with Lynetta (or his parents or anyone else); this passive reaction involves calmly accepting and patiently waiting out the drama of the opposing side.