I have mega-love for this book and look forward to reading Dumplin’. It is wonderful to see this representation, and three cheers for Millie who accepts and supports her friend.įriendship, girl-power and chasing your dreams.

Asexuality is the last big unknown in LGBTQA+ and huge numbers of misconceptions still exist. Amanda explains that she knows her sexuality the same way as any straight person knows. Amanda comes out as biromantic ace (that’s someone who is asexual but crushes on both genders.) How refreshing to see a character on the asexual spectrum beginning a relationship. The other storyline I loved was about Millie’s friend Amanda. This shared revelation brings the girls closer. People write Millie off because she is fat – her word – and everybody assumes Callie is stupid because she is pretty. Both girls are regularly judged on their appearance. Sure, at its heart it is about a pretty girl and a smart one, but instead of making them polar-opposites it shows that both have vulnerabilities and flaws. It also challenges the American High School stereotypes.

It is about finding out who our friends are and making choices for ourselves. The first thing I can say is Puddin’ is totally relatable. So well that I am going to put Dumplin’ on order and I have a chart counting down to the film release. Puddin’ is the companion novel, but it works well as a standalone. It was one of those books everybody was talking about last year, but I never got around to adding it to my pile. An act of retribution brings the girls together and they find they have more in common than they thought.Ī feisty, chatty read full of friendship and attitude. Millie and Callie have nothing in common. She wants to get to nationals with her team and doesn’t care what she has to do to get there. There is a job at her uncle’s gym, her secret crush and she is determined to make it to broadcast journalism campĬallie Reyes lives for the Shamrocks, the school dance team. Millie Michalchuck has spent every summer at Daisy Ranch fat camp. Maybe Callie isn’t the biggest bully in school, but she is not what I would call nice either.

Hard as I try, I just can’t imagine a world where the next few months working with Callie aren’t miserable.

Puddin' by Julie Murphy