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Dumplin' Julie Murphy Books

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Dumplin' Julie Murphy Books

This. Book. I am almost speechless. Coming from the "fat kid" in her class who has had weight issues her whole life, this story hit me like a truck. I only wish there had been a Bo, who was pretty much my high school self's dream. I will never eat or see a red sucker without thinking about Bo! I may be in my 30's now, but the memories from that time in my life stick with me to this day. I also wish I had realized back then, like Willowdean eventually does, that you can be a heavier girl, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve love and that I don't have to give a rat's backside what anyone thinks, especially those who are judging me by what you look like. Also, don't settle, no matter who you are; wait for the butterflies! This book made me laugh so damn hard! Willowdean's inner dialogue had me laughing out loud because I could so relate and her description of her thighs incapacitated me for 20 minutes I was laughing/crying so hard! This book was so well-written. I could hear the Texas accents and picture all the characters perfectly. I haven't had a book affect me this much since Eleanor and Park and/or Fangirl. I think all teens, especially the girls, should read this because it's a good example of acceptance and friendship and family. I can't wait to see what this author does next!


Tags : Amazon.com: Dumplin' (9780062327185): Julie Murphy: Books,Julie Murphy,Dumplin',Balzer + Bray,0062327186,Romance - General,Social Themes - General,Beauty contests,Beauty contests;Fiction.,Dating (Social customs),Dating (Social customs);Fiction.,Friendship,Overweight persons,Overweight persons;Fiction.,Self-esteem,Texas,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fiction-Coming of Age,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),Social Themes - Dating & Relationships,Social Themes - Friendship,Social Themes - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance,TEEN'S FICTION - COMING OF AGE,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Dating & Sex,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Friendship,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes General (see also headings under Family),YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance,Young Adult Fiction,Young Adult FictionSocial Themes - Dating & Sex,Young Adult FictionSocial Themes - Emotions & Feelings

Dumplin' Julie Murphy Books Reviews

[...]

Favorite Character

Aunt Lucy – Even though she’s no longer alive, she still serves as a great example and supporter for Willowdean.

Favorite Line

Three stood out to me because there are some great one line zingers

“Plus, having sex doesn’t make you a woman. That is so freaking cliché. If you want to have sex, have sex, but don’t make it this huge thing that carries all this weight.”

“Marcus mumbles something about PMS and to my surprise, from the kitchen, Bo says, “Why can’t she just be having a s***ty day? You don’t need to make up some bulls*** reason why.” (THANK YOU.)

“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.”

Fun Author Fact

Inspiration for her first book came from a discussion/argument with teens in a library about where they would barricade themselves in said library if the zombie apocalypse came.

Is this worth a book hangover?

Yes – while we both had mixed feelings about, I think the character driven story makes it a fun, quick read. The positive representation of a fat and happy character – as well as her new friends – will be really meaningful for some readers.
Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’ follows the story of a high school girl, and tells the tale of all the drama in her life. She has a best friend who she’s been having trouble connecting with lately, a mother who seems to care more about a beauty pageant than for her own daughter, and a crush who makes her all too aware of all the imperfect things about her body. You see, Willowdean is overweight, trying to get over her beloved auntie’s death, all while trying to maintain the confidence she has in herself despite the world trying constantly to undermine her. Before going into this book, you find yourself believing that this is the story of a fat girl and her fatness; however, the book is not about being fat. It’s a book about one woman’s life, and she just happens to be fat. There are obstacles along the way because of how she looks, but ultimately, this book is about friendship, loss, family, first-love, confidence, and embracing who you are.

The first thing that struck me as a reader was Murphy’s characterization; so often, when we’re reading books about underdogs, they are portrayed to be perfect human beings when it comes to personality. Not here. Willowdean is flawed in the way that she forms first judgments about other people- judgments that are often harsh. She can be cruel inside her own mind towards other people, but isn’t everyone, to some extent? Her development as a character becomes apparent as the book progresses- as she grows up, she learns to not only accept herself but others around her. Perhaps the one piece of critique this book gets the most is Willowdean’s judgments, but to me, that’s what makes her and the book so three-dimensional.

The novel is multi-faceted, in the way that it doesn’t focus on one thing over another, giving the reader a perfectly rounded picture of Willowdean’s life. We see her friendships, her relationship with her deceased aunt and her mother, her boy problems, her work. All of these things work seamlessly together to construct a solid storyline.

However, some of the secondary characters felt flat. There were so many of them that they can be hard to keep track of. Their personalities blend together after a little, and had the book been longer, perhaps the book would deliver more of a punch with all the different characters. The strange little love triangle was another thing I wasn’t big on- I didn’t think the book needed it, and if I consider the situation objectively, I don’t particularly think the situation was handled in the best way.

But all in all, Dumplin’ is a solid contemporary that deals with an important issue with sass and poise, simultaneously. The ending is spectacularly handled ambiguous but leaves the reader content. It’s a three-dimensional, fast-paced reader, good for even those people who don’t usually reach for contemporaries.
As a conservative Christian, I just can’t get excited about a book that repeatedly takes the name of the Lord in vain. Of course, I doubt the author cares at all for my opinion, but I write this as a heads up to other Christians who may be considering buying g this book. It’s too bad, really. She had a chance to write a fairly good YA novel and ruined it by having the characters use this type of language.
This. Book. I am almost speechless. Coming from the "fat kid" in her class who has had weight issues her whole life, this story hit me like a truck. I only wish there had been a Bo, who was pretty much my high school self's dream. I will never eat or see a red sucker without thinking about Bo! I may be in my 30's now, but the memories from that time in my life stick with me to this day. I also wish I had realized back then, like Willowdean eventually does, that you can be a heavier girl, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve love and that I don't have to give a rat's backside what anyone thinks, especially those who are judging me by what you look like. Also, don't settle, no matter who you are; wait for the butterflies! This book made me laugh so damn hard! Willowdean's inner dialogue had me laughing out loud because I could so relate and her description of her thighs incapacitated me for 20 minutes I was laughing/crying so hard! This book was so well-written. I could hear the Texas accents and picture all the characters perfectly. I haven't had a book affect me this much since Eleanor and Park and/or Fangirl. I think all teens, especially the girls, should read this because it's a good example of acceptance and friendship and family. I can't wait to see what this author does next!