True’s Comments (group member since Apr 08, 2020)

True’s comments from the St Heliers Library Recommends group.

Diners. Dolly Parton. Drag Queens. What more alliteration could I add to truly express how iconic and endearing this book is? Julie Murphy’s Dumplin tells the story of Dolly Parton devotee and plus size teenager, Willowdean Dickson, who is the daughter of an ex beauty-queen diet obsessed mum. Willowdeans mum runs the annual Miss Tenn Blue Bonnet Pageant, which leaves their house in a constant tornado of glitter and fabric and makeup, stirring the awkward silence that has drained the house since Willowdean’s Aunt Lucy died from a heart attack due to obesity. Willowdean felt that Lucy understood and guided her more than her mother. Lucy shared her love for Dolly Parton and the self-acceptance that her mum is often questioning. When her mother decides it's time to clean out Lucy’s room and turn it into a craft room for the pageant, Willowdean is hugely upset and decides in an impulsive burst of rebellion, both against traditional beauty standards and her mother, that she is going to enter the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant.

This book is very easy to misjudge and fear the typical repetitive narrative of a sad, overweight girl who is misunderstood by her mother and depressed about the world around her sorta thing. Good news: it's not. Willowdean has unshakable confidence and a very strong sense of self. While the story progresses, the reader does get insight towards Willowdeans thoughts and finds out she is less confident that she lets on. However, Willowdean has had to accept herself because she has always known she would never be a picture perfect beauty queen like her mum. Because of this, she is a huge realist and gives many memorable quotes, such as ‘My thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Really, the criteria is simple. Do you have a body? Put a swimsuit on it.’ It's really reassuring to be brought back to reality even in a fictional story.

Of course this book does cover more topics and issues, friends, boys, love, heartbreak, crappy part time jobs. But it doesn’t discuss them more than they need to be discussed because, overall, this book really is just the typical life of a suburban teenage girl. However, this is actually something that makes the reader really appreciate the book. It is easy and enjoyable to read and isn’t trying too hard or making anyone uncomfortable. It still covers many important topics and raises many valid points in subjects such as body image and feminism, but it ultimately is really just an uplifting and easygoing book. And sometimes, especially during times like these, a light and happy book is exactly what you need.

It's Kind of a Funny Story


I read It's Kind of a Funny Story when I was in High School and I cried so much, happy and sad. This story is about 15 year old Craig who has struggled with depression for most of his life, but becomes suicidal after the pressure of school, friends, love, jealousy, substance abuse and more gets just all too much and he can't cope anymore. The local hospitals acute psychiatric ward has been closed for renovations, so Craig checks himself in to the adult ward.

This book is semi-biographical and inspired by author Ned Vizzini's stay in a mental health ward due to his own battle with depression.
Vizzini tells this story through humour so Craigs depression is not too scary for the reader, but treats it seriously the same way any physical illness would be treated. It is terrifying being a teenager and you couldn't even pay me to go back to school and do it again, and I think that's what really made me fall in love with this book as an uneasy little high schooler. Vizzini really helps to explain the amount of pressure that is put on young people, and validates feelings that most teenagers are experiencing. He acknowledges how hard it is to be a teenager and how sometimes feeling sad or nervous really can morph into something much more serious. Craig is not just a moody or typical teenager, he is mentally ill and because of this his illness is taken seriously.

One of the most enjoyable parts of this book is Craigs friendship with Bobby, a middle aged man who is trying to recover from depression so he can have a healthy relationship with his daughter. Bobby takes Craig under his wing when he first enters the ward. He teaches Craig how things run and makes him feel comfortable. The first time they meet is in the hospital waiting room. Craig is waiting to be seen and Bobby is wearing hospital scrubs, faking being a doctor so he can escape the ward for a few minutes. Craig thinks he's funny, and they soon develop a strong friendship both helping and encouraging one another to recover, despite their massive age difference.

This coming of age story is told confidently with reassurance, even though the book has a sensitive nature, it is responsible and does give answers and hope. Ultimately, it is touching and encouraging and reading it feels like you are really being heard-even though you aren't the one telling the story. One of the most important things that is taught in this book is: live. Even when it's seems impossible. A really meaningful quote Craig says is
“Things to do today:
1) Breathe in.
2) Breathe out.”

And sometimes that's enough. I highly recommend this book this book to any teenager who just needs hear their feelings and experiences are valid, and there is a way through. This book is hopeful, and I'm thankful to have read it while I was at High School.