Dumplin'

Willowdean isn't perfect. She is human. Her self-confidence in her body can be shattered by a boy's hands roaming toward a roll of fat. Because her own body positivity is on shaky ground, in the beginning especially she judges others based on how they look. These are thoughts, maybe a comment made to a friend.

I've seen some criticism for this in reviews, and while I appreciate the point, I think those reviewers are missing the point, and looking for a saccharine character, which changes the whole book. She is a girl who is learning and struggling some. She is deeply worried her newly sexually experienced, traditionally pretty, friend is leaving her in the dust. She spouts messages of loving her body, but doesn't know why the cute guy likes her. She has lost an overweight family member too early to a heart attack. Her mother is obsessed with and runs the local beauty pageant.

When she does have uncharitable thoughts, she regrets them. Because she wants to be happy in her own body, and knows that no one has the right to judge others based on looks. She knows that from the beginning, and then she goes on – albeit accidentally – to better know some of these girls.

That's the best hope for all of us, isn't it? Because anyone who claims they never mentally judge anyone about their looks is a liar. You stop yourself, you reprimand yourself, and over time you are less likely to even entertain the thoughts. But we've all soaked in a culture of looks mattering particularly if you're a woman, seeing false examples of perfection everywhere, thinking we're in competition with other women for all the good things.

And Willowdean would be the first one to say that has to stop. And by the end, she would be the first one to say it and mean it whole-heartedly.

I listened to the audiobook borrowed from the library using overdrive. The narrator was good. Lots of Texas accents, which sorta fascinated me.