Summary/Synopsis

This story is about twin brothers, Tristan and James, who are about to be separated and
sent to different schools when they leave primary school for secondary school. They have
mixed feelings about going to their new schools and are anxious about this. Besides
being worried about their separation, they are also concerned about whether they can
adapt to their new schools, especially without each other's help. Their mother, who loves
them both dearly and cares about them, is equally anxious.

The climax occurs the day after the school play. Tristan and James react very differently
to the school play. They both realise how much they depend on each other and how
difficult it would be to adapt to their new schools on their own. Tristan is not sure whether
to go with James to Highfields or to go to Chesterlea Grange on his own.

After some thought and discussion, Tristan, who is disabled, finally decides to go to a
special school, that is, Chesterlea Grange, while James goes to Highfields. In the end, the
twins find that their worries are unnecessary as they both adapt to and enjoy their new
schools. The twins realise they have made the right decision and are both very happy in
their new schools. Tristan describes his new school as fantastic...hence the title, Flipping
Fantastic.

Characters

Main Characters

Tristan

Tristan

Tristan is the twin who has a physical disability. He moves around in a wheelchair and
cannot walk or move his arms easily. He is also unable to dress himself or play football.
Tristan is good in Maths and computers. He is also good in drama and acts very well as
Tom Sawyer in the year-end school play. Although Tristan cannot play games, he is good
at swimming.

Even though Tristan is disabled, he is emotionally stronger and more confident than
James. However, Tristan is indecisive and changes his mind three times about going to
his new school. He is also concerned about how James will manage without him and ask
Kiara Jones to be James' 'special friend' and help him get used to his new school.

James

James

James has no physical disability. He is good in sports and plays football. James hates
drama and does not like Jessica Parker. He lives in fear of her and her 'stupid laugh'.

James is shyer and less confidence than Tristan. He is also more nervous and very
worried about going to new school without Tristan. This is mainly because he is very
dependent on Tristan.

Mum

Mum

Mum is a loving, caring mother who supports her sons and wants the best for them.

She is very concerned about her sons and does not get upset even when Tristan changes
his mind a couple of times about going to his new school.

Mum sees the good in both her sons and is extremely proud of them. She is a very
determined mother and always has a positive attitude. Consequently, she does not like
the negative word 'disability'.

Minor Characters

The teachers

Mr Sewell

He is the twin's English and drama teacher.

Tristan likes him very much.

Mrs Robert

She is Tristan's favourite teacher in Peter Hill Primary.

She teaches Maths.

Schoolmates

Kiara Jones

Kiara Jones

Kiara plays football and Tristan arranges for her to be James'

'special friend' at Highfields to help him adapt to his
new school.

Both James and Tristan like her very much.

Jessica Parker

She is with the twins at Peter Hill Primary.

James does not like her and hates her 'stupid laugh'.
However, Tristan fells that she only laughs at James because
she wants him to notice her.

Elements of the Story

Setting, in literature, is the time, physical details, and circumstances in which as

situation occurs. Setting includes the background, atmosphere or environment in which
characters live. Setting enables the reader to better envision how a story unfolds by
relating necessary physical details of a piece of literature. A setting may be simple or
elaborate, used to create ambiance, lend credibility, emphasize, accentuate, organize, or
even distract the reader. Thematic meals, games, projects, friendships and lively
discussions create the setting of Conversations in Literature.

Setting of the "Flipping Fantastic"

Time
- End of Primary School.
- Going to Secondary School.

Place
- The place where the
narration is written is not
mentioned although three
places are referred to in
the story.
- The places referred to
are Peter Hill Primary,
Highfields and Chesterlea
Grange.

Chesterlea Grange

Characters are either major or minor and either static (unchanging) or dynamic
(changing). The character who dominates the story is the major character.
Readers can learn about characters in many ways, including:

Physical traits
Dialogue
Actions
Attire
Opinions
Point of view
There are no limits on the types of characters who can inhabit a story: male or female,
rich or poor, young or old, prince or pauper. What is important is that the characters in a
story all have the same set of emotions as the reader: happiness, sorrow,
disappointment, pain, joy, and love.
Characters of the "Flipping Fantastic"

Main Characters
1. Tristan
2. James
3. Mum
Minor Characters
1. The teachers: Mr Sewell and Mrs Robert
2. Schoolmates: Jessica Parker, Kiara Jones

Plot
Narrative tradition calls for developing stories with particular pieces--plot elements--in
place.
1. Exposition is the information needed to understand a story.
2. Complication is the catalyst that begins the major conflict.
3. Climax is the turning point in the story that occurs when characters try to resolve
the complication.
4. Resolution is the set of events that bring the story to a close.

Plot of the"Flipping Fantastic"

Exposition
The main characters, Tristan, James and Mum, are introduced. We also learn more about
the twins and the upcoming school play.

Rising Action
Both Tristan and James have mixed feelings about going to their new schools. They are
worried about being separated and whether they can adapt to their new schools.

Climax
The climax occurs the day after the school play. Tristan and James react very differently
to the school play. They both realise how much they depend on each other and how
difficult it would be to adapt to their new schools. Tristan is not sure whether to follow
James to Highfields or to go to Chesterlea Grange on his own.

Falling Action
At first, Tristan tells his mother that he does not want to go to Chesterlea Grange. Then,
James talks to him and Tristan changes his mind.

Resolution
This is the ending where the twins realise that they have made the right decision. They
are both happy in their new schools.

Theme, in literature, is the central idea or ideas explored by a literary work. John
Gardner puts it this way: "By theme here we mean not a message - a word no good writer
likes applied to his work - but the general subject, as the theme of an evening of debates
may be World Wide Inflation."
A work of literary may have more than one theme.

Themes of the "Flipping Fantastic"

There are a few themes in this story. They are:
1.

The relationship between brothers

Being twins, the two brothers are extremely close to each
other.

They depend on each other a lot and they fear

being separated.
2.

The pain of separation

The twins experience the pain of separation when they have
to go to different schools.

3.

Fear of change
The twins fear change as they are very comfortable as they
are presently.
They are worried as they know their lives will be very
different when they go to another school, especially if
they go to different schools.

4.

Mother's love
The mother's love for her children is unlimited.
She is proud and supportive of both her sons.
She understands their characters well and
worries about them constantly.
She refuses to accept that Tristan has disabilities and
her attitudes helps Tristan carry on with life in a positive
manner.

5.

Adapting to new environments

The twins learn that they cannot fight change and they have
to adapt to their new environments.
In the end, they find that they need not have worried as they
adapt to their new school quickly and are extremely happy
there.

Moral Value, in literature, is the beliefs and personal opinions about what is right
(honest, ethical, true) conduct and what is wrong (dishonest, false, harmful) conduct held
by individuals and held collectively by socially cohesive groups of individuals.
Moral Values of the "Flipping Fantastic"
1. It is important to get co-operation and support from family
members to make good decisions.
2. Parents who are patient and understanding can build a child's
confidence and self-esteem.

Point of view: the perspective from which the story is told.

The most obvious point of view is probably first person or "I."

The omniscient narrator knows everything, may reveal the motivations, thoughts

and feelings of the characters, and gives the reader information.

With a limited omniscient narrator, the material is presented from the point of

view of a character, in third person.

The objective point of view presents the action and the characters' speech,
without comment or emotion. The reader has to interpret them and uncover their
meaning.
A narrator may be trustworthy or untrustworthy, involved or uninvolved.

Point of View of the "Flipping Fantastic"

This story is told in the first person point of view. It is in the form
of a diary or journal. The three main characters give their
personal points of view on the events and incidents that occur in the story.

Summary of Flipping Fantastic

This story is about twin brothers, Tristan and James, who are about to be separated and
sent to different schools when they leave primary school for secondary school. They have
mixed feelings about going to their new schools and are anxious about this. Besides
being worried about their separation, they are also concerned about whether they can
adapt to their new schools, especially without each other's help. Their mother, who loves
them both dearly and cares about them, is equally anxious.

The climax occurs the day after the school play. Tristan and James react very differently
to the school play. They both realise how much they depend on each other and how
difficult it would be to adapt to their new schools on their own. Tristan is not sure whether
to go with James to Highfields or to go to Chesterlea Grange on his own.

After some thought and discussion, Tristan, who is disabled, finally decides to go to a
special school, that is, Chesterlea Grange, while James goes to Highfields. In the end, the
twins find that their worries are unnecessary as they both adapt to and enjoy their new
schools. The twins realise they have made the right decision and are both very happy in
their new schools. Tristan describes his new school as fantastic...hence the title, Flipping
Fantastic.
Resource: Curriculum Development Division. Ministry of Education.2009
Show questions one by one
1. Tristan will be going to a special school
A. ? with his mother
B. ? together with James
C. ? because of his mother's request
D. ? which helps children become able
2. Tristan and James
A. ? twin brothers
B. ? schoolmates
C. ? dislike Karia Jones
D. ? cousins
3. Both the brothers are feeling
A. ? nervous to act in the year-end school play
B. ? sad to leave their primary school
C. ? happy to enter highschool
D. ? sad to leave Jessica Parker

4. The only problem with Tristan's new school

A. ? very small school
B. ? is that it is a residential school
C. ? has huge paddock and horses
D. ? has computer facilities
5. Each brother thinks that the other brother
A. ? is excited about living the primary school
B. ? happy to enter highschool
C. ? is not worry about going to a new secondary school alone
D. ? is much clever than he is
6. What does the expression,'live-wire' means with regards to Tristan?
A. ? Noisy and serious
B. ? Nervous and calm
C. ? Quiet and Depressed
D. ? Friendly and talkative
7. Tristan and James are depressed because they
A. ? had quarreled
B. ? could not be in the same play
C. ? they could not go to a summer camp
D. ? had to go to a different secondary school
8. Why do the twins have to go to different schools?
A. ? They are competitive
B. ? They have different needs
C. ? They asked to go to different schools
D. ? They do not like to be in the same school

9. The word,'lottery' probably refers to them being lucky to have found

A. ? places i n their own school

B. ? two different day schools
C. ? suitable secondary schools
D. ? inappropriate secondary schools
10. What do you think is the approximate age of the two main characters?
A. ? about 12 years old going on to 13
B. ? about 2 years old going on to 3
C. ? about 6 years old going on to 7
D. ? about 18 years old going on to 19