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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After seeing a preview for the movie on Netflix, I was really excited to read the book (and then watch the movie). I found the book to quick-paced and a nice light read which was needed after some of the books I have been reading lately. I liked the general plot and overall story. The beauty pageant was fun, I liked the YA romance component, and the friendship of the girls entering the pageant was great.
The one thing that I feel like this book was lacking was development of the characters and their relationships with each other. In so many places, I wanted to understand more about the characters and what their motivations were. Why did Bo and Willowdean like each other? What made Bo keep Willowdean a secret? Rosie and Will’s relationship also felt so surface level when in fact there had to be lots of layers to explore. What about Lucy’s relationship with Ellen? Ellen mentions that she wants Lucy’s bee pin, but nothing else is mentioned of the pin or of the relationship.
Amanda, Millie, and Hannah were important figures in the story, but the readers never seemed to really get to know them and even understand their real reasons for being in the pageant. What made Millie rebel against her parents? Why was Hannah always seen as the mean one?
Maybe my expectations were too high on this one, but the characters really fell flat for me.
The one thing that I feel like this book was lacking was development of the characters and their relationships with each other. In so many places, I wanted to understand more about the characters and what their motivations were. Why did Bo and Willowdean like each other? What made Bo keep Willowdean a secret? Rosie and Will’s relationship also felt so surface level when in fact there had to be lots of layers to explore. What about Lucy’s relationship with Ellen? Ellen mentions that she wants Lucy’s bee pin, but nothing else is mentioned of the pin or of the relationship.
Amanda, Millie, and Hannah were important figures in the story, but the readers never seemed to really get to know them and even understand their real reasons for being in the pageant. What made Millie rebel against her parents? Why was Hannah always seen as the mean one?
Maybe my expectations were too high on this one, but the characters really fell flat for me.
What a fantastic contemporary story about empowerment, self-love, learning to accept others, and friendship - with Dolly Parton drag shows! But, for me, this book was filled with just so much heart. It made me laugh, cry, and then laugh some more. I wish I could put this book in the hands of every young adult who would benefit from reading about Willowdean (aka: Dumplin'). In Dumplin', Willowdean is a self-professed fat girl who always felt comfortable in her own skin, until a co-worker and the town's annual beauty pageant cause her to start grappling with her feelings, self-confidence, and friendships.
Willowdean is sassy and funny, but she certainly isn't perfect either. She tends to waffle between someone she knows she can be (and felt like she was for many years), and someone she doesn't particularly like. When we meet her, she also has a tendency to judge others for various reasons, and I love that we get to see her grow and learn from this over the course of the novel. When it comes down to it, her thoughts and feelings are honest and real and many teen readers (as well as adults) will identify with her doubts and frustrations.
The secondary characters are all fantastic - unique and distinct, with honest portrayals of friendships. These characters present such different personalities and refreshing perspectives. It is indeed a motley crew of misfits - but, one I would certainly love to hang out with. There is an overall message I loved, too, that amid a town's obsession with beauty and pageants, everyone can be a bit of a misfit.
Dumplin' highlights strong friendships and relationships, but at the same time doesn't shy away from how difficult teenage relationships can be, even when they involve people you've known your whole life. What I loved most of all, however, is how it shows the rewards of relating to others, taking a chance on them, and what it means to have someone else's back.
Basically, this is just a fantastic contemporary book with so many wonderful and thought provoking moments of empowerment and self-realization. Yes, it is a book about weight and body image, but there is so much under the surface that many teens will identify with - no matter their shape or size.
STARS: Recommended for grades 9 and up. Recommended for all YA collections, especially those where contemporary fiction is popular. There is some strong language scattered throughout (not overly used) and references to sex off the page.
Willowdean is sassy and funny, but she certainly isn't perfect either. She tends to waffle between someone she knows she can be (and felt like she was for many years), and someone she doesn't particularly like. When we meet her, she also has a tendency to judge others for various reasons, and I love that we get to see her grow and learn from this over the course of the novel. When it comes down to it, her thoughts and feelings are honest and real and many teen readers (as well as adults) will identify with her doubts and frustrations.
The secondary characters are all fantastic - unique and distinct, with honest portrayals of friendships. These characters present such different personalities and refreshing perspectives. It is indeed a motley crew of misfits - but, one I would certainly love to hang out with. There is an overall message I loved, too, that amid a town's obsession with beauty and pageants, everyone can be a bit of a misfit.
Dumplin' highlights strong friendships and relationships, but at the same time doesn't shy away from how difficult teenage relationships can be, even when they involve people you've known your whole life. What I loved most of all, however, is how it shows the rewards of relating to others, taking a chance on them, and what it means to have someone else's back.
Basically, this is just a fantastic contemporary book with so many wonderful and thought provoking moments of empowerment and self-realization. Yes, it is a book about weight and body image, but there is so much under the surface that many teens will identify with - no matter their shape or size.
STARS: Recommended for grades 9 and up. Recommended for all YA collections, especially those where contemporary fiction is popular. There is some strong language scattered throughout (not overly used) and references to sex off the page.
Dumplin' is a breath of fresh country air. I'm not typically a contemporary fan, but every now and again if confronted with a sweet, funny, and well written story I'll pick one up. Willowdean feels good about her fat body. Sure, she knows her mom would rather have beauty pageant thin daughter and her aunt lived much of her overweight life out of sight, but she's bold and extroverted and in love with all things Dolly Parton.
Her life is going her way until she starts feeling distance between herself and her best friend, Ellen, and when her cute crush of a coworker, Bo, starts paying her attention she never thought it could feel bad. Our thoughts about ourselves and our bodies are complicated, and perhaps never more so that when we're teenagers. One of the many things I loved about this book was how real Willowdean felt. She wasn't always likable, she didn't always think or do the best things, and that's what I liked best about her.
Dumplin' is about first love, outgrowing relationships, body acceptance, a beauty pageant, and it made me feel just as good as looking at this sparkly Dolly:
Her life is going her way until she starts feeling distance between herself and her best friend, Ellen, and when her cute crush of a coworker, Bo, starts paying her attention she never thought it could feel bad. Our thoughts about ourselves and our bodies are complicated, and perhaps never more so that when we're teenagers. One of the many things I loved about this book was how real Willowdean felt. She wasn't always likable, she didn't always think or do the best things, and that's what I liked best about her.
Dumplin' is about first love, outgrowing relationships, body acceptance, a beauty pageant, and it made me feel just as good as looking at this sparkly Dolly:
I can't believe I slept on this book for SO LONG. I was completely captivated from the very first page. First and foremost, I loved how our main character was different than most. She was fat, but that didn't mean she hated herself. Usually when plus sized characters are portrayed in books, they're fat and completely unhappy with themselves. I loved seeing Dumplin being unapologetic about her body. It was like a breath of fresh air. Even when everyone was against her entering the pageant (except for her newly found group of friends), she did it. Ugh, I just loved a lot about this book! So ready to read Puddin.
Spoiler
This wasn't some book with a fairytale ending. She didn't even win, but that didn't make her feel any less accomplished.
I really enjoyed this book. I love the lightness of it. Even though there was som swearing, I thought that it was true to how teenage girls act. Even though I am not from Texas or know a thing about beauty pageants, I thought that it cover everything well. I was a little displeased at the end of not knowing if Bo and Will are officially together. I am so happy that she made up with Ellen. I was not totally into the whole body shaming process that Will went through, but I get that she was trying to find herself after her aunt died. Some parts were a little predictable, but overall I really enjoyed it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
Un peu déçu par la fin, que je trouve assez expéditive
This book was ok. Once more I think it was one I’d like more if I read it. I found I never got hooked and often had to crank it loud to hear clearly while in the car. I loved the movie and I enjoyed moments of the book. It just didn’t capture my attention in the way I’d imagined it would.