WOW David is gonna HATE this!

While I loved Puddin', the companion to Dumplin' I just KNOW that David Levithan would hate, hate, hate it! Author Julie Murphy has written about yet ANOTHER young girl who is comfortable being a person of size. 
Can you believe it? 
Fantastic. 
I might even like it more than Dumplin' but I don't know...maybe just the same.  I loved it. 

Julie Murphy

wrote Dumplin', which I really enjoyed even though David Levithan wouldn't have, because it has a person of size in and she doesn't hate herself.  Ramona Blue was just as great as Dumplin', but it was different.
This book takes place in Eulogy, Mississippi.  Ramona talks about how the devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina overshadows the devastation along with the Mississippi coast.  I need to find out more about that.
Anyway, I like reading small towny and rural setting books because I know so little about these places "in real life."
I also loved the way in which Murphy addresses the fluid nature of sexuality. Or maybe Ramona is truly one of those people who loves hearts not parts?  Either way, just more testimony that the world is not black and white but shades.  Great book.

Little Dumplin'

Dumplin' was recommended to me by my dear, dear friend Kara who always recommends fantastic books to me.  And this one was just fantastic.  Not only does the main character, Will(ow) love Dolly Parton, who I believe is an angel walking on earth, but she is fat, like me and man, could I relate to this story.
Dumplin's mom is a former beauty pageant winner and my mom could have been, had she not been so shy and had she lived in pageant country like Will(ow)'s mom.  Texas is pageant country, Southwestern PA is not.
I wonder if Julie Murphy is a person of size because she really hit the nail on the head with this book.  Dumplin knew just what it is like.
Just a great, great story that doesn't fall into predictable traps.
I bet David Levithan hates this book!