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YA Lit.: Dumplin'



Nowadays, young adult literature covers a wide range of themes, offering commentary on everything from self-image and confidence to abuse and death. While the recent release of the Netflix series (based on the novel) 13 Reasons Why  has arguably created a negative association between young adults and literature, there are plenty of YA novels that deal with teenage realities beyond suicide.

Julie Murphy's Dumplin', a novel full of southern charm and the narrator Willowdean's no non-sense sarcasm, provides the reader with a classic battle between feeling good in your own skin and wanting to fit in with society's bodily expectations. Willowdean, an overweight 11th grader in a town obsessed with an annual beauty pageant, can't seem to get away from the local pressures to be a beauty queen. Usually comfortable in her skin, Willowdean starts to question her confidence when a co-worker shows romantic interest. Although dealing with a serious topic that could easily turn into a downward spiral of self-harm and eating disorders, Murphy's protagonist handles her struggles in a way that is more empowering than depressing.

Currently, I am halfway through Dumplin', and while I have trouble buying into the realism behind some of Murphy's characters and their choices, I have enjoyed Willowdean's journey in rebuilding her self-confidence thus far. Exhibiting a gradual increase in risky behavioral choices, it is clear that Willowdean is struggling with a desire for risk and reward that stems from cognitive changes during adolescence. As a result, it is easy for a young adult reader to relate to her thought process and reasoning.

However, the main love interest, Bo, is sometimes less than believable. With an aggressive past, creepy tendencies, no respect for boundaries, and a stereotypical bad-boy heartthrob appearance; Bo is otherwise a mystery to Willowdean and the reader. Bo tends to make choices I would never associate with a popular-ish teen male, and his pursuit of Willowdean despite her larger size seems unrealistic for high school. Unfortunately, societal standards have conditioned Willowdean to be just as skeptical as the reader.

With half the novel to go, I look forward to seeing how the rest of the story unfolds. Will Murphy's characters take a more realistic turn? Hopefully so. The story is full of positive messages about respecting yourself, and if the characters take on more realistic traits by the end, I will not hesitate to recommend the novel for use in a secondary classroom.

Comments

  1. mbFebruary 4, 2018 at 3:59 AM

    Very interesting and thoughtful perspective. I especially appreciate your critical perspective. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amy GagliardiFebruary 8, 2018 at 10:43 AM

    I like that you are open to being critical about the novel, as well as finding aspects that you enjoy. I wonder how you would use this novel in the classroom if it is not entirely realistic? Would this have an effect on the students?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kayla CarewMarch 14, 2018 at 4:45 PM

    Hi, Allie! As you know, I also read Dumplin', so it was nice to hear your perspectives in greater depth. I, too, thought that the book lacked a sense of realism. After finishing the novel, does your opinion on this issue stand or has it changed? Do you think that Julie Murphy purposefully made the reader view the characters and circumstances as unrealistic to push preconceptions?

    ReplyDelete

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