Dumplin’ is one of the few novels that I’ve loved both the book and film-adaptation. In both forms, Dumplin’ depicts the raw feeling of proving one’s self-worth, not based on outward appearances, but based on one’s self-respect and confidence in one’s capabilities. While capturing the jealousy, insecurity, and self-fulfillment of a teenager navigating the superficiality of teenage social-status and norms of beauty, Dumplin’ also left me with a message that will be prevalent throughout my life.

Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’ captures small-town Texas teen Willowdean Dixon’s path to finally feeling comfortable in her own skin. Through Willowdean’s, or Will’s, narration, she illustrates how being overweight affects her relationship with her former beauty pageant winning mother, Rosie Dixon, and her conventionally pretty best friend, Ellen. Will’s mother, being obsessed with maintaining physical beauty, never pursues a close relationship with her daughter, leaving her sister, Lucy, Will’s aunt, to take her place as a mother figure. Both Lucy and Will bonded over their love for country star Dolly Parton, an affection she also shares with Ellen. Through their idealization of Dolly Parton, a figure of confidence and glamour, Lucy encouraged Will to value and love herself despite being overweight.

To me, this was the part of the novel that stood out to me the most. Dolly Parton’s music in the novel inspires and influences Will to achieve the best version of herself and to approach that moment with the highest level of confidence. Dolly’s influence enforces the idea of figuring out who you are and doing it on purpose. While Will struggles to accept her plus-size figure due to her constant comparison to Ellen, Will chooses to compete in her mother’s beauty pageant, forcing herself to discover what real beauty is.

Today, beauty is very subjective. How we define beauty differs between cultures and the kinds of societies we live in. In my opinion, beauty is not what is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but the confidence and goodness that a person carries within. It’s true that confidence makes someone more attractive, but what makes someone beautiful is when that confidence is real and grounded in self-worth; it is when that confidence cannot be shaken by any form of social comparison or deprivation. One cannot find worth in comparing oneself to others.

Will finds her beauty in self-worth, fulfilling her aunt Lucy’s wishes and proving to her mother that there’s more to beauty than being thin. Will stops blaming others for judging her and making her feel less than and looks within herself to build that esteem to feel good about herself. Being overweight does not define her; only Will can decide what defines her and how that will shape who she is and who she wants to be in the end.

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.