Lily and Dunkin

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

This amazing novel is about a boy, Timothy (Tim) McGrother, who really wants to be a girl (Lily) and Norbert Dorfman is a young boy who suffers from a bipolar disorder and being the new kid in town too. Norbert befriends Tim when he spies him up a tree and they become friendly with each other. Tim gives Norbert a new name "Dunkin" to help him feel better about his name, but Tim doesn't tell Dunkin to call him, Lily, in fear of how his reaction. Tim really wants to come out this 8th grade year and become Lily in the eyes of everyone, but his Dad's constant fear for Tim makes it hard to be Lily. Tim knows that being a transgender will be hard especially since his puberty hormones are making themselves known. Once the school year starts, Dunkin is swept up by the basketball team members who happen to pick on Tim because he's different and call him names. Dunkin knows that it's not right to see his friend get picked on, but he's too scared that he won't be liked anymore. Not only is Tim having a hard time at school, but Dunkin begins to stop taking his medicine which causes him to have a mental breakdown. Can Tim and Dunkin overcome these obstacles in their lives and be who they truly are.

Lily and Dunkin is an amazing book about two character who are going through dramatic changes in their lives. I find Tim a.k.a Lily's character enduring and I just wanted to support her and the decisions she wanted to make, and that can be hard for a young transgender kid to go through. Dunkin's character is someone who I can relate with and his mental illness disorder is something that most people don't consider when you're trying to help someone. Both characters can really help young preteens and teens who are confused about their own gender or mental illness, and I believe others can learn not to judge those who are different. I'm glad that Dunkin finally realized that before he lost his friendship with Tim/Lily.