Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Willowdean Dickson's mother won the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant once upon a time (can still fit in the dress in fact), and has happily helped run the pageant ever since. But Willow herself is--and she'll be the first to say it--fat. Fat to her is just a word, a description, nothing else. Nothing to make her feel bad about herself, and it certainly doesn't prevent her from deserving good things. Like love, right?

But then she starts working at a fast food restaurant and meets Bo, who is handsome and laid back and who happens to show interest in Willowdean. His affections, however, don't add to her confidence. It makes her feel insecure.

Plus her best friend, Ellen, who has been by her side for many years seems to be distancing herself, and her mom just doesn't seem to get who Willow is, and how she can hurt Willow (she calls her "Dumplin'" and has her watch reality TV shows about losing the pounds, not exactly subtle). Under the weight of all these troubles, Willow decides that what her confidence needs is to strut its stuff before the judges of the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant. 

What I Liked About It:

• Willowdean was well-written. She had a lot of good sides to her, but she also had many flaws, and part of the journey is her tackling her weaknesses, going through changes
• The supporting characters were awesome. I loved Bo, and I absolutely adored Millie, a girl heavier than Willow who signs up for the pageant when she hears Willow is going for it
• There were emotional moments, but there was a lot of humor, too, and I like a book with a balance
• Willow and Ellen are obsessed with Dolly Parton--and though I don't know much about her, it was fun reading about it, and seeing the characters so passionate made me feel a little passionate, too
• The message I took away from it. I had a confidence boost myself
• It made me want to visit Texas

What I Didn't Like:

• Willow sometimes drove me nuts, but in the same way your best friend does when they're in the wrong. You love them, but you also want to give them a shake
• Her mother! Ugh. I loved how she was written, and she's not a terrible human, but she's one of those good-intentions-but-poor-execution characters

Overall, this book was sweet, funny, and very well done. I recommend it. 

**Book contains language and reference to teenage sexual activity (mild)