Dumplin'


Dumplin' is a 2015 young adult novel and the second book by the American author Julie Murphy. It was first published in hardback in the United States on September 15, 2015 through Balzer + Bray. An audiobook adaptation, narrated by Eileen Stevens, was released through Harper Audio. The book focuses on Willowdean, a plus-size teenager who finds love, but also realizes that she is more insecure about herself than she initially thought.

Synopsis

Willowdean, nicknamed "Dumplin’" by her mother and called "Will" by her friends, is an overweight teenager who has always felt comfortable with her body and herself. She doesn't care that her mother was a teen beauty queen or that people have poked fun at her weight. All of that changes when she meets Bo, a handsome boy her age that has expressed interest in dating her. Suddenly Will is full of insecurities and can't bring herself to date him out of fear of what others would say. In order to prove to her self-worth, Will has decided to enter and win the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant. However, as the date of the pageant approaches, Will finds that it's not that easy to take part in a pageant — especially after her best friend Ellen decides to enter.

Reception

Critical reception for Dumplin' has been positive. Commonsensemedia and Entertainment Weekly both gave Dumplin' favorable reviews and both praised Murphy for writing an overweight character "who is struggling with her weight only in terms of accepting it". The Chicago Tribune also wrote a favorable review, stating that "If the book's ending is a little too Disney Channel optimistic, it's understandable — Willowdean deserves no less."

Adaptation

and Jennifer Aniston star in the movie adaptation, written by Kristin Hahn and directed by Anne Fletcher.