Parents might reach for this book when their teen is struggling with body image or navigating the shifting, often cruel, social landscape of high school. It's a powerful story about the pressures to fit in and the courage it takes to stand out. The book follows two very different girls: Millie, a fat and confident aspiring journalist, and Callie, a popular dancer from a wealthy family. When a prank gone wrong forces them to work together, they form an unlikely friendship that challenges their assumptions about each other and their social circles. This companion to the bestselling book Dumplin' explores themes of self-acceptance, body positivity, socioeconomic differences, and the complexities of female friendship. It's an excellent choice for teens aged 13 and up, offering a hopeful and humorous narrative that champions kindness, empathy, and the importance of finding people who accept you for exactly who you are. It provides wonderful representation for fat teens and validates the idea that self-worth is not determined by size or popularity.
Some instances of teen slang and occasional mild profanity like 'hell' and 'damn'.
Romantic ContentMild
Features teen dating, crushes, and some kissing.
Substance ReferencesMild
A scene depicts underage drinking at a high school party.
Sensitive Topics
The book's primary focus is body image and fatphobia. The approach is direct and celebratory of body positivity, with a protagonist who is already confident in her body. It is a secular narrative. Other topics include bullying, parental pressure, and underage drinking at a party. The resolution for both protagonists is hopeful and realistic, emphasizing personal growth over a perfect, tidy ending.
Ideal Reader
A teen aged 14-17 who either feels like an outsider or, conversely, feels trapped by the expectations of a popular clique. It's perfect for a reader grappling with their own body image or who is tired of stories where fat characters must first learn to love themselves. It will also resonate with teens navigating the complexities of female friendships and social hierarchies.
Parent Prep
No specific pages require a preview, but parents should be ready to discuss themes of fatphobia, bullying (both overt and subtle), and social cliques. A scene involving underage drinking at a party might also be a point of conversation. The book can be read cold, but the context of it being a companion novel to *Dumplin'* might be helpful, though not necessary. A parent hears their teen expressing negative self-talk about their body or weight. They notice their child struggling with intense peer pressure, or they are concerned that their child is part of a group that is unkind to others.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will connect with the friendship story, the injustice of the social situations, and the humorous dialogue. An older teen (15-18) will better appreciate the nuanced critiques of social structures, the internal struggles of Callie's character, the socioeconomic tensions, and the themes of ambition and carving out your own future.
What Makes It Special
What makes this book unique is its protagonist, Millie, who is fat and already self-confident. Her story is not a journey to self-love, but a journey of navigating a world that isn't ready for her. The dual POV that gives depth and empathy to the 'popular mean girl' is also a standout feature, offering a complex look at why people behave the way they do.
Read plot summary
This dual-perspective story follows Millie Michalchuk, a fat, confident teen who dreams of being a broadcast journalist, and Callie Reyes, a popular dancer secretly struggling with insecurity and family pressure. After Callie and her friends pull a cruel prank on the gym owned by Millie's uncle, Callie is forced to work there as punishment alongside Millie. What begins as a tense, mandatory association slowly blossoms into a genuine, if complicated, friendship that forces both girls to confront their prejudices, their friend groups, and what they truly want for themselves.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Millie starts the book with a lot of self-confidence, while Callie's confidence is tied to her popularity. How do their different views of themselves affect the choices they make and how their friendship develops?
2
Callie participates in some cruel behavior to maintain her social standing. Do you think the book wants us to forgive her? Why is it important to see the story from her perspective?
3
The book discusses the idea of being a 'good fat person' versus a 'bad fat person'. What does Millie mean by this, and how does she challenge that idea throughout the story?
4
Both Millie and Callie have complicated relationships with their parents and their expectations. How does parental pressure shape who the girls are at the beginning of the book, and how do they grow beyond it?
