Alternative Universes meet Romantasy? Flipped by Leah Cypess

The july/august version of Asimov's contains an interesting short story by Leah Cypess: Flipped.

 

The Genre is unusual for Asimov's, as it's clearly young adult. I usually try to avoid YA, as it often does not tell me (a 46 year old) anything new. 

 

This story, though, bears some interesting truths that never outdate as long as you live.

 

Becky is a teenage school girl and she has a crush on Jake for at least six years. Although they had been friends in elementary school (before he was so hot), they do not talk nowadays. One day, he sits next to her and kisses her. As if that would not be a big enough shock, he reveals to her that he's from another, an alternate universe. And in that universe, they have been together for three years. 

 

Because of her best friend (who's an SF fan), Becky knows enough about alternate universes to believe Jake. They start dating in this universe, too. Becky cannot believe her luck. 

 

There are some obstacles, of course. The story lives a lot from the mystery. Not much is revealed about the "slipping" between universes, but it's absolutely sufficient for a short story and it makes sense to me (a SF fan, as most Asimov's readers are). I learn a lot about Becky, sufficiently about Jake (both versions) and eventually, a bit about that other Becky in the other universe as well.

 

Not long after a promising start of an unexpected love story, Becky gets suspicious. What is Jake really planning? Although she does not guess everything, she is right to not trust him entirely. The twist catapults an interesting story to a really good, memorable one. The ending opens another can of worms entirely and leaves me very satisfied, my own fantasy in full action.

 

Under the surface, it's not the plot that's most interesting here. There is a cool B-Story. Our narrator Becky, is very likeable, although she clearly is not as self-confident as the Becky in the other universe (maybe that's even why she's so likeable for me) and she really wants to stay herself. During the course of the story, she learns that staying true to herself is more important than anything else, even an attractive boyfriend.

 

There are other aspects, which only are possible in stories in the phantastic genre, like the small differences between the versions. What makes a person? What might change a person? In which ways? What influences our lives and our personality besides genes? 

 

It's a very cool, easy and satisfying read. Not only for young readers, but I could imagine even my preteen child reading that with pleasure (if it would be translated to German).