nglofile 's review for:

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

4.0

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This book would have meant so much to me had I had it when I was younger. I understand some of the disillusion expressed by other reviewers, and yes, some of the complaints are valid. Still, one of the aspects I most appreciate is that Willowdean is flawed. She occasionally thinks and says hurtful things, even as she knows how that scars. She isn't always brave. She is often unwise. She's a teen herself. Her journey is ongoing. Not a one of us is pure in our motives or in how we treat others -- still less in how we may think of others. Truth be told, we tend to be hardest on issues in others that we most dislike in ourselves.

I could nitpick some of the narrative choices and the occasional afterschool-special spelling out of theme, but that's not where I want to land. This is fun, spirited, heartfelt, and offers a diversity in representation that is still sorely lacking. I applaud.