Lily and Dunkin

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. NY: Delacorte Press.

Summary:

In Lily and Dunkin the two main characters each tell the story from their own perspective. Lily McGrother (Tim) feels that she is a girl trapped in a boy’s body. The older she gets, the more she wants to be her true self. She befriends a boy named Norbert Dorfman, better known as Dunkin. Dunkin is also coping with his own differences. He is bi-polar and, like Lily, just wants to be accepted. As their friendship grows, they find acceptance with one another, which helps them both learn how to be accepting of themselves.

Commentary:

This book really hits on some important issues that teenagers are facing. I feel that it gives a voice to some populations that until recently weren’t really seen in literature. The reader is able to see the sacrifices it took for Lily, a transgender girl, to be true to herself. It also shed light on mental illness, which is often misunderstood. The book allowed the reader to understand what it is like to be unable to control your own thoughts and actions. The book presents these topics in a compassionate manner that is heartwarming and much needed.

Other Books by Donna Gephart:

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen

Death by Toilet Paper

How to Survive Middle School

Book Trailer: