Dumplin'

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 7, 2015

Review

Sixteen-year-old Willowdean (Will) has always been confident in her own skin. While working her fast food job, she introduced herself to Bo as "Cashier, Dolly Parton enthusiast, and resident fat girl". Her confidence is shattered when her beloved and obese Aunt Lucy unexpectedly dies from a heart attack. Now her life starts feeling out of control as Bo, Will's her secret crush at work, starts showing signs of wanting to be more than friends and due to recent changes in her childhood friendship with naturally beautiful Ellen, she doesn’t have anyone in which to confide. These changes propel her to make connections with a few other "misfit" school acquaintances and, as a group, they become the first unconventional contestants in the Clover City Miss Teen Blue Bonnet pageant. Will's mother has officially run this sacred pageant every year which forces to the surface the many prejudices and misconceptions around body image, beauty and self- worth. Uncertainty and excitement of first kisses, changing childhood friendships and grief are layered into a snapshot of Will's struggle to regain her confidence with genuine humor and heart. Using Dolly Parton as inspiration and getting help from a few generous drag queens that are sharing in the grief of her beloved Aunt Lucy, Will bridges the gap between bucking the hurtful perceptions of "fat" girls that others, and herself, have while fighting to be who you want to be. Murphy pulls out various issues that make readers think about their own prejudices through the comical and snappy voice of Willowdean. There are references to sex, infrequent gritty language and some underage drinking that fit easily into the fabric of the story line.

Overall Book Score: excellent