Lily and Dunkin each tell their stories from their perspective in this book about growing up into the person you want to be. Lily whose real name is Tom and Dunkin whose real name is Norbert are both considered to be unusual eight graders. Lily is a boy who identifies with being a girl and is going through the transgender process and Dunkin has bipolar disorder which leaves these two with self-image problems. Both have supportive mothers and dads that have a difficult time relating to them. Dunkin who is big feels awkward and Lily feels like she’s trapped inside the wrong body, but despite their differences their similarities allow them to develop a sweet friendship amongst their peers who are not always ice or considerate.
This book delves into two different topics that most people are not comfortable with or understanding of and presents the storyline in an endearing manner. Readers are able to see what it is like to feel left out of a place or feel trapped in your own body unsure of who you are. They also see what it’s like to suffer with a mental disorder, with no total control of your thoughts and actions, and how not using the medication that is given to help can become harmful. It also touches on some other realistic topics like bullying, family, and grief.
Great book to use for making connections when reading. It can be used to challenge students and get them out of their comfort zone to understand the feelings of others. Readers can generate a list and make text to self connections as they read about the characters and their struggles.
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