Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

This morning I wrote a long blog post about how much I loved reading this book.  I waxed poetically about my love for Drag Queens, my need for better self confidence in a bathing suit and how all around impressed I was with the main character Willowdean.  I posted it.

Then I worried about my use of the word “fat” to describe the main character.  I know this is how Willowdean describes herself but I thought that maybe I should add a little caveat acknowledging that fact and that it is not my favorite word to use.  I went in to edit and I deleted the whole darn thing.

I’m going to try and find the old post.  But this book and this character deserve to be written about and read right now.  So, while we all wait to see if I can work the technology here are the big points:

(1)  Willowdean is confident in a way that is totally enviable.  From page 1 she is completely comfortable in her own (self-described) fat self.

(2)  Willowdean has a crisis of confidence.  It happens to the best of us.  Hers doesn’t come from people mocking her or leaving her out.  It comes from the amorous attention of a boy she likes.

(3)  She gets her confidence back by her own damn self.  Big props to Julie Murphy here.