Lily and Dunkin

Review from Voice of Youth Advocates:

Although she was born Timothy McGrother, Lily Jo is a girl, and all she wants is what most every eighth grader wishes for: a sense of peace and normalcy in her life. Norbert Dorfman has just moved to Lily’s neighborhood and is eager for friendship and belonging as well, but he is battling mental health issues and a family broken apart by tragedy. As the lives of these two middle schoolers become entwined, Lily and Norbert (nicknamed Dunkin for his love of said restaurant) will get from each other the strength and hope to stay true to themselves, even with so many obstacles in the way. With thorough research and a lot of personal experience, Gephart has written a story that will speak not just to one specific community, but to humanity as a whole. As Lily aches for the transitions she is going through during puberty to just disappear so she can finally look on the outside what she knows she is on the inside, and as Dunkin tries and fails to escape his bipolar disorder by avoiding his medication and his mom’s gentle guidance, the reality of their situations is keenly felt. Yet at the same time, both teens are experiencing those familiar awkward and unnerving middle school years, when it seems like everyone is pushing, pulling, and pressuring themselves to squeeze into some definitive place in the grand scheme of things. Dunkin is far from perfect when he pairs up with the bullies that have been torturing Lily and nearly ruins their friendship, and Lily experiences heartache at home as she struggles to convey to her dad what it means to live in her body.