Dumplin'

By: Julie Murphy

4/5 👑

Willowdean is "the resident fat girl," but she doesn't understand why that matters. She's smart, bold, and kind - that's what should matter. Despite her confidence, she can't help but think that everyone is judging her size. She constantly thinks her relationships need to be hidden to avoid judgment and laughter.

Will tries her best to stay out of the limelight, but when she finds some papers in her late Aunt Lucy's room, Will knows something needs to change. She enters the town's annual beauty pageant in hopes of making a point, but the entry will take Will on an adventure she never imagined. She may crash and burn, but sometimes it's worth it. Will everything turn out the way Willowdean wants?

Ahhhh, I loved this book! I wish so much that it existed when I was in high school. I've always had body image issues, and I hated that with all the books I was reading, I never read one that represented who I felt I was. And, on the off chance that I did, it was always about losing weight and then finding happiness. While it's incredibly important to be healthy and mindful of what we fuel ourselves with, I think the literature I was reading made me feel a little isolated, alone, and self conscious. Willowdean was a force to be reckoned with, for sure.

Aside from the body positivity, Dumplin' focuses on so much more! There's poverty and grief and regular, everyday high school drama. It's a book about finding oneself and learning to love who you are now while also accepting that there's room to grow. It truly was an inspiring read and I devoured this book!

The only reason it got 4 crowns and not 5 is because I had trouble with how Will was treating some people. I completely understand that insecurities can lead to hurt, but it was a little difficult to read. Completely realistic, but heartbreaking, nonetheless.

All in all, this book was delightful! Not to mention, the Netflix adaptation actually did the book justice and is well worth the watch! I think the sequel is definitely in my near future 😊