Lily and Dunkin

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

Lily and Dunkin are both going into 8^th grade when they first meet.  Although there seems to be a connection right off the bat, the two are dealing with very different, and difficult, issues as young adolescents.  Lily, known by the rest of the world as “Tim”, is a transgender boy who has always known he is truly a girl.  Lily experiences rejections from her father, classmates, and extreme bullying.  Lily meets Dunkin, or “Norbert”, who is a move-in and new to the area.  Dunkin is also struggling with major issues.  He is bipolar and has just experienced tragedy in his family.  Readers experience both characters perspectives through alternating first person chapters in the book, and how their paths cross.  Reading both perspectives has readers cheering for both characters.  Lily is trying to figure out her place in this world.  She is fighting for her relationship with her father, who struggles with losing his son and is against hormone blockers Lily is desperately trying to convince him she needs.  Lily shares how difficult it is to be a transgender.  She is lonely at times, having only one friend in the world, and is teased at school.  Readers learn Lily has a good heart and instincts.  Although Dunkin rejects Lily at school, she can see he is going to be a good friend one day, and truly cares about his well-being.  Dunkin shares his perspective of life on medication.  He refuses to take his medicine, and readers quickly learn why he needs it.  Dunkin wants to feel “normal”.  Dunkin speaks of a character throughout the story, Phineas, who is finally revealed as an imaginary character that controls his thoughts when he is not medicated properly.  Dunkin gets the right help, and even faces the tragedy that led his family to Florida, the suicide of his father.  Dunkin and Lily help each other become who they were meant to be.  I appreciated the perspectives of this novel.  Both characters are faced with difficult problems that many are uncomfortable with discussing.  The way each issue is presented and dealt with opens reader’s hearts and minds.  This novel would be an excellent discussion piece for young teens.  Readers may visit this website:  http://www.donnagephart.com/  to view other novels written by Gephart and learn about what inspires her to write.