Dumplin': Go Big or Go Home

by Julie Murphy
Hennepin County Library hardcover 371 pages
genre: YA realistic

Read this in July and made notes. Just found notes yesterday . . .

Plus:
interesting characters (Mitch - sweet, Millie, Bo, Hannah (angry girl) . . . )
Willowdean's connection to Aunt Lucy
Texas stuff - football, pageants . . .
drag queen show / humor
W & E re-friending page 338-9 and *talking* to one another again

Minus:
Willowdean's confidence vs. fear, her treatment of El (Best Friend!), Mitch, mom . . .
page 124 - she has a hot guy totally into her and THAT makes her body-conscious?!
Too much teen angst / I don't really "get" her message about self-esteem and empowerment

Dolly Parton stuff - fun

This just didn't really work for me, but it was okay. I'm trying to think of readers who would enjoy it . . . not sure it would get read much.

Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock

by Claire Rudolf Murphy
PRMS, hard cover, 60 pages
genre: Non-fiction history

Very quick & cool read about the children who lived on Alcatraz Island over the years. Lots of awesome photos! This island and its history fascinate me. There's not a lot of info here, but it's well-organized and easy to follow.