Lily and Dunkin

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

Told from interchanging perspectives of Lily Jo McGrother (A.K.A. Timothy McGrother) and Dunkin (A.K.A. Norbert Dorfman), this is a story of friendship and courage, and coming to accept oneself.  Lily was born with boy parts but has known all her life that she is a girl.  The summer before 8th grade, with the help and encouragement of her friend, Dare, shes decided to be brave and make some changes.  In addition, she begs her mom and dad to get her the expensive hormone blockers that will help keep her body from developing into a man.  Lily's got the support and love of her sister, Sarah, her mom, and her best friend Dare.  She gets picked on constantly by a group of boys she calls the "neanderthals".  Her dad and grandmom are also less than supportive of Tim being Lily.  Through the coarse of the book, Lily gets braver and braves- painting her nails, wearing Sarah's makeup, and finally starting the hormone blockers (that her dad has agreed to, after seeing a psychologist), and dressing up as a very feminine mermaid for Halloween- which leads to her biggest goal yet- to go dressed as a girl to the holiday dance.  Lily's path crosses with Norbert's right before the start of 8th grade.  Lily dubs him Dunkin, as he hates his name.  Dunkin has moved from New Jersey with his mom, to live with his grandmother in Florida.  Through the unfolding of the story, it is discovered that Dunkin suffers from Bipolar disorder, just as his father.  Because Dunkin wants to impress the boys on the basketball team, that he made simply because he was tall, he quits taking his medication which ultimately leads to him having to be hospitalized.  Before being hospitalized, Lily confides in Dunkin about how she feels like she is a girl in a boy's body and Dunkin is accepting of the shocking news.  During Dunkan's hospitalization, he finally comes to terms with his father's death and his own need for medication.  Dunkin shows up at the dance thinking he will need to protect Lily from the neanderthals and finds that she is fully dressed as Lily.  The two dance the final dance together and Lily's father shows up fully supporting her new look.

In true Donna Gephart style, the facts aren't told all at once, but come to be known to the reader bit by bit.  It's a technique that keeps the reader reading.  Covering two hard topics in one book was a big undertaking- especially considering the taboo topic of transgendered children.  Gephart's characters are believable and easily help the reader to connect in one way or another.  The characters of Lily and Dunkin help open the eyes of readers who may otherwise have zero experience with transgender people or those with Bipolar disorder.  It allows a window into the world of their struggles and triumphs.  Gephart does a great job of keeping everything real and avoiding any stereotypes.  The characters- both kids and adults, are believable and relatable.  Here is a book trailer for Lilly and Dunkin.