Dumplin' was reviewed by two of our staff members!
BROOKE'S REVIEW
Everything’s bigger in Texas. The hair, the homecoming mums, the beauty pageants ... yes, especially the pageants. Willowdean Dickson, AKA Dumplin’, is daughter to a former Clover City Miss Teen Blue Bonnet pageant winner, and it is her mother who has affectionately given Willowdean (Will to her friends) her nickname. While her mother may say “Dumplin’” affectionately, to Willowdean, it just brings attention to the fact that she’s not a size 2. Fortunately, dreaming about being skinny isn’t something that Willowdean give more than a passing thought to. She’s comfortable with who she is, and knows that true beauty isn’t skin deep. Willowdean has been struggling lately over the recent death of her Aunt Lucy. Lucy was an inspiring figure in Willowdean’s life, never letting the fact that she weighed 500 lbs stop her from living her life. It is even because of Aunt Lucy that Will met her best friend Ellen Dryver during the summer before first grade. Lucy and Ellen’s mother bonded over their love for Dolly Parton, and Will and Ellen (El) became fast friends to the tune of “Dumb Blonde.” The girls are inseparable, sharing everything together, so why does Will keep her crush on Bo, the new boy at Harpy’s Dogs and Burgers where she works, a secret from El? As her crush on Bo becomes more complicated, Will begins to feel in over her head, and without her best friend to turn to (how can she let El in on her little-BIG secret now?!) Will does something drastic to regain her confidence ... she enters the Clover City Miss Teen Blue Bonnet pageant. Dumplin’ is an engaging, inspiring, funny read about young women navigating the confusing world of friends, boys, and self-esteem. Willowdean is a strong role model for both young girls and women alike, reminding us that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. She accepts herself for who she is, she stands up for herself, and she inspires others to do the same ... many of us probably wish we could have been as confident and decisive when we were in high school. As a plus, Dumplin’ is well-written in an easy-to-follow, engaging style. Dumplin’ is available at our Raceland and South Lafourche branches, and is also in Playaway and eBook format. Just place a request with us, and we will have it sent over to your home branch! Fans will be happy to know that a movie is in the works, and is set to be released in 2018. Additionally, a sequel to Dumplin’ called Puddin’ comes out in May 2018. Happy Reading!
Stars: ****
- Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
HEATHER'S REVIEW
Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dixon (or Dumplin’ as her former beauty queen mom refers to her) has always been comfortable in her own skin. That is until she meets Private School Bo while working at Harpy’s (the local fast food restaurant) and starts to question herself, her size, and her relationships. In order to gain back some of her confidence, Willowdean does something she vowed she never would – she enters the local Miss Clover City beauty pageant along with a few more “unlikely” contestants.
This novel is filled with Dolly Parton songs, beauty queens, a love triangle, a best friend’s fallout, and so much more while still maintaining its Southern Texas charm! I really enjoyed this book. It’s a quick read that is sure to have you wanting more.
Stars: ****
- Heather, Branch Assistant
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GENRE: Books for Reluctant Readers; Realistic Fiction
STORYLINE: Character-Driven
TONE: Amusing; Thought-Provoking; Upbeat
CHARACTER: Relatable; Spirited
SUBJECT: Beauty Contests; Friendship; Overweight Teenage Girls; Self-Esteem; Self-Esteem in Teenage Girls; Sixteen-Year-Old Girls; Small Towns; Teenage Boy/Girl Relations; Teenage Girls
LOCATION: Texas