Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
I couldn't find a bad thing to say about Dumplin' if I tried. This is the best YA fiction I've read this year. It made me laugh so hard, cry at times, and I was engrossed in Willowdean's life. I highly, highly recommend this and can't wait to watch the movie!!
I'm unsure how I feel about this book. There were a lot of things I liked about it, but there were also some things that I didn't like.
The protagonist of this book is "fat" (her words not mine) and she feels comfortable in her skin, until she doesn't (at the pool, when her boyfriend touches parts of her, etc.). That's all fine for me. I mean even people who feel most comfortable in their skin can have times when they don't. It was refreshing (to me) to read a book--especially a YA book--that has a "fat" protagonist who feels mostly comfortable with herself and one where she's not obsessing about losing weight, or feeling the need to be thin. I know that I didn't have that type of self assurance at her age and it was nice to read about someone that age who does.
I'm just not sure that I can agree, though, that it's a "body positive" book. There was a fair amount of negativity against the thin girls in the book and to me, a body positive book should be positive for both--you shouldn't shame the thin girls in the novel, just because they are thin. To me, body positivity isn't just about accepting yourself when you're fat/overweight and not giving a f*** about what people think of you; it's also accepting people for who they are and not judging them based on the fact that they're thin. Willowdean in general, is pretty judgmental about the people she interacts with; I might expect something different from someone who was seemingly comfortable in their own skin.
Too, some of the "drama" in the book just didn't ring true, to me--especially the fight with Ellen (the resolution of which was just way too fast and not satisfying (for me)), and the "breakup" with her boyfriend.
I did find that the characters were realistically drawn and I enjoyed reading it--enough to continue with book 2 (a companion novel, not a sequel), but I think there were just too many issues that I had with the book to rate it higher.
The protagonist of this book is "fat" (her words not mine) and she feels comfortable in her skin, until she doesn't (at the pool, when her boyfriend touches parts of her, etc.). That's all fine for me. I mean even people who feel most comfortable in their skin can have times when they don't. It was refreshing (to me) to read a book--especially a YA book--that has a "fat" protagonist who feels mostly comfortable with herself and one where she's not obsessing about losing weight, or feeling the need to be thin. I know that I didn't have that type of self assurance at her age and it was nice to read about someone that age who does.
I'm just not sure that I can agree, though, that it's a "body positive" book. There was a fair amount of negativity against the thin girls in the book and to me, a body positive book should be positive for both--you shouldn't shame the thin girls in the novel, just because they are thin. To me, body positivity isn't just about accepting yourself when you're fat/overweight and not giving a f*** about what people think of you; it's also accepting people for who they are and not judging them based on the fact that they're thin. Willowdean in general, is pretty judgmental about the people she interacts with; I might expect something different from someone who was seemingly comfortable in their own skin.
Too, some of the "drama" in the book just didn't ring true, to me--especially the fight with Ellen (the resolution of which was just way too fast and not satisfying (for me)), and the "breakup" with her boyfriend.
I did find that the characters were realistically drawn and I enjoyed reading it--enough to continue with book 2 (a companion novel, not a sequel), but I think there were just too many issues that I had with the book to rate it higher.
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love Willowdean. Her insecurities are so relatable to girls.
I pushed this YA novel to the top of my list so I could see it before it aired on Netflix. I picked it up a year or so ago solely because of its inclusion of Dolly Parton.
It started slowly for me, but it gained pace halfway through. I couldn't put down the book until I knew what happened. I loved Will's gumption, and her insecurities were believable.
One of my favorites lines from the book was, "There's something about swimsuits that make you think you've got to earn the right to wear them. And that's wrong. Really, the criteria is simple. Do you have a body? Put a swimsuit on it." That sums up Will's epiphany. She realizes that she's missed opportunities and relationships because she felt unworthy. She discovers that she does not have to overly complicate everything. She deserves the same freedom other people have.
I thought Murphy's job options for Will was apt. She doesn't get a job in the same mall fashion store as her best friend because she can't fit into the clothes there. Her job at Harpy's (Is this name coincidence, or a play on harpies?) forces her to interact with people when she'd rather hide. The two friends' jobs also split their paths, giving them friends and experiences not shared by the other one.
However, I felt a few plot lines were uneven or the resolution was too abrupt. For example, the reconciliation of Ellen and Will was obvious, but Will's new friends' embracement of Ellen into their fold was unlikely based on my observation of group friendships. Amanda, Millie, and Hannah may have seen Ellen as a threat, someone who may take away the person who holds them together. The only reason Will paid attention to them is because El wasn't in the picture.
I enjoyed the scene at Dolly Parton Night at the Hideaway. I would like to know more about Lucy and El's mom's visits there. Lucy seemed to be important to the employees, yet that seems incongruous with the way Will describes her. What did Lucy do at the HIdeaway that made her so beloved by the employees?
I wish the final pageant scene had been described more. The entire book was a build up to pageant night, but that chapter felt rushed.
I am looking forward to seeing the show on Netflix this weekend-- and to reading the sequel when I have more time.
It started slowly for me, but it gained pace halfway through. I couldn't put down the book until I knew what happened. I loved Will's gumption, and her insecurities were believable.
One of my favorites lines from the book was, "There's something about swimsuits that make you think you've got to earn the right to wear them. And that's wrong. Really, the criteria is simple. Do you have a body? Put a swimsuit on it." That sums up Will's epiphany. She realizes that she's missed opportunities and relationships because she felt unworthy. She discovers that she does not have to overly complicate everything. She deserves the same freedom other people have.
I thought Murphy's job options for Will was apt. She doesn't get a job in the same mall fashion store as her best friend because she can't fit into the clothes there. Her job at Harpy's (Is this name coincidence, or a play on harpies?) forces her to interact with people when she'd rather hide. The two friends' jobs also split their paths, giving them friends and experiences not shared by the other one.
However, I felt a few plot lines were uneven or the resolution was too abrupt. For example, the reconciliation of Ellen and Will was obvious, but Will's new friends' embracement of Ellen into their fold was unlikely based on my observation of group friendships. Amanda, Millie, and Hannah may have seen Ellen as a threat, someone who may take away the person who holds them together. The only reason Will paid attention to them is because El wasn't in the picture.
I enjoyed the scene at Dolly Parton Night at the Hideaway. I would like to know more about Lucy and El's mom's visits there. Lucy seemed to be important to the employees, yet that seems incongruous with the way Will describes her. What did Lucy do at the HIdeaway that made her so beloved by the employees?
I wish the final pageant scene had been described more. The entire book was a build up to pageant night, but that chapter felt rushed.
I am looking forward to seeing the show on Netflix this weekend-- and to reading the sequel when I have more time.
What a wonderful book. Have you ever thought of how many great books we would miss out on if a movie did not draw our attention to it? A Netflix movie encouraged me to add this book to my to be read pile. The news that Julie Murphy was writing a third book in the series led me to read it this month and I was pleasantly surprised.
In Dumplin’ the main character Willowdean Dickson is grieving the loss of her obese aunt who she was closer to than even her mother. Her mother, a former beauty queen, runs a beauty pageant every year that her daughter is not very interested in. The divide between mother and daughter seems to get wider when plus sized Willowdean decides to enter the beauty pageant as a tribute to her departed aunt.
Most will expect this novel to have something profound to say about obesity. But instead the book gives a look at the insecurities people hide and deal with daily. There are no answers given in this book and nobody was transformed into a princess in the end. Mostly everyone carried on the same as ever even the bullies. Secondary characters are also used to highlight the insecurities persons struggle with and to encourage the main character on her journey toward self-acceptance.
In Dumplin’ the main character Willowdean Dickson is grieving the loss of her obese aunt who she was closer to than even her mother. Her mother, a former beauty queen, runs a beauty pageant every year that her daughter is not very interested in. The divide between mother and daughter seems to get wider when plus sized Willowdean decides to enter the beauty pageant as a tribute to her departed aunt.
Most will expect this novel to have something profound to say about obesity. But instead the book gives a look at the insecurities people hide and deal with daily. There are no answers given in this book and nobody was transformed into a princess in the end. Mostly everyone carried on the same as ever even the bullies. Secondary characters are also used to highlight the insecurities persons struggle with and to encourage the main character on her journey toward self-acceptance.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes