Dumplin’

Bibliography: Murphy, J. (2015). Dumplin' New York, NY: Balzer + Bray.

Audio Edition Information: Unabridged production

Length: 9 hours and 2 minutes

Version: Unabridged

Publisher: Harper Audio

Audible.com Release Date: September 15, 2015

ASIN: B011VD0G94

Genre: Realistic fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14+

Plot Summary: Willowdean is perfectly happy in her jumbo-sized body. She has no qualms about embracing her inner beauty, but her mother has other opinions. As a state beauty pageant has-been and coordinator of the town’s annual pageant, Will’s mother truly believes that happiness can only be found in a sized two sequined gown. Will may always be the runner-up when it comes to the contest for her mother’s affections, but it turns out that she is number one to someone else--Bo, her really cute and taciturn co-worker. She’s had a crush on him for a while, so when she discovers he likes her back, she should be over the moon. And she is. Mostly. She starts questioning how he can like her when everyone else discounts her as unworthy. She can’t possibly ask him and their secret summer romance doesn’t move past kissing or past summer. Heartbroken over her break-up with Bo, her aunt’s recent death and the rising contention with her mom, Will looks to Dolly Parton for comfort. She drowns herself in Dolly’s music, finding comfort in the words she knows so well. It’s a shock to everyone, including herself, when Willowdean decides that she and her band of misfit friends should enter the upcoming pageant. Even though her mother is horrified and embarrassed that her fat daughter wants to participate, Will is ready to show the pageant world that beauty is so much more than skin deep. The pageant world is much more than she bargains for and she’s going to need more than Dolly to help her out.

Critical Evaluation: I listened to the audio version of Dumplin’, so I focused on production characteristics and quality. The reader, Eileen Stevens, presented a convincing portrayal of Willowdean Dickson. It can be challenging to portray a teenage girl without sounding flip or condescending or falling into the teen girl stereotype of high pitch tones and whiny cadences. What is missing from her performance, though is a Texas drawl. While a typical Texas accent incorporates sounds from the upper and lower part of the southern US, as well as remnants of Spanish speakers and German immigrants, Stevens makes Willowdean sound like an actress who’s had the accent trained right out of her. There was nothing in the voice to emphasize the southern influences that helped make Willowdean exactly who she is. Another failing on the part of both the reader and the producer was a frequent lack of clear distinction between Willowdean’s thought processes and her dialogue. As a listener, I often had no idea if Will was talking to someone or merely sharing her narrative. It broke the fluidity of the story and created momentary confusion. Regardless of these faults, the story was full of quirky characters and a strong plotline. It’s natural for a reader to root for the underdog in any story, but when that underdog is a Dolly-Patron-loving overweight girl with the guts to enter a beauty pageant… get the crown ready.

Reader’s Annotation:  What’s a plus-sized, Dolly-Parton-lovin’ Texas girl to do when beauty pageant season rolls around? Turn in her registration and hang on for a Texas-sized roller coaster of a ride!

Author Information: Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cats who tolerate her. When she's not writing or trying to catch stray cats, she can be found reading, traveling, or watching movies so bad they're good. Her debut contemporary young adult novel, Side Effects May Vary, is out from Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins and has been well-received by Kirkus, School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist, Seventeen Magazine, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin', Julie’s sophomore novel has received glowing reviews including two stars from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Film rights have been optioned by Disney.¹ (Additional author info is not available.)

Curriculum ties: societal ideals, social studies

Booktalks: beauty pageants

Challenge issues: obesity, death, beauty pageants, transvestites

Challenge resources (for usage in a challenge situation):

• Library Selection Policy

• Rationale explaining why the item was chosen for the collection
• Active listening skills
• Awards
• Reconsideration form (as a last resort)
• Illinois Library Association (Banned Books Listings)
• National Council of Teachers of English “Right to Read”
• Positive and negative reviews: expert, parent, student
• ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
• ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom

• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

Reasoning: Because it characterizes the struggles and empowerment of an overweight teen girl, Dumplin’ can provide readers with hope when they face pressure from their families and peers. It is also a great resource to help readers develop empathy and compassion for those who may feel ostracized by societal norms. Dumplin’ entertains, educates and inspires.

References:

¹Murphy, J. (n.d.). Julie Murphy bio. Retrieved November 21, 2015, from http://juliemurphywrites.com/bio
Dumplin' (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2015, from http://www.amazon.com/Dumplin-Julie-Murphy/dp/0062327186/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449176226&sr=8-1&keywords=dumplin

Texan English. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texan_English