Lily and Dunkin

The story begins with Timothy imagining being a female. His true identity is not accepted by his father and is also immensely criticized at school.  Timothy is constantly bullied and harassed for his desire to be a girl and feminine behavior.

At the beginning of the story, he is trying his mother’s dress and is wishing to be called Lily. Timothy walked out to help his dad bring in the groceries. When his dad sees what he is wearing (his mom’s dress), he almost has a heart attack and immediately orders him to go inside. He is worried that someone will see Timothy wearing a dress. Before he goes back in, Timothy sees Dunkin walking happily holding Dunkin donuts.

Well, his legal name is not Dunkin, but he wishes to be called that (just like Dunkin Donuts). His real name is Norbert; he detests it.

These boys’ struggles bring them together and become friends.  Together they undergo humiliation and rejection. Norbert is going through a difficult stage in his life. Norbert is battling a mental disorder. He refuses to take his medication and ends up in the hospital. There he learns that his father killed himself.

After several classmates witness one of his mental breakdowns, he is embarrassed about going to the school dance but goes anyway. Timothy also goes but shows up as Lily wearing a dress and make up.  They dance together and when the lights turn on, everyone is staring. Timothy does see a special someone offering his support, his dad! His dad promises to support and love Lily.

Lily and Dunkin is an excellent book to share with children and teach them that being different is okay. They can learn to sympathize and feel compassion for these boys by seeing how much they suffered. When students meet someone who is different, they can think back and remember how Timothy and Norbert felt. They will be more likely to accept those who have different views or believes.

As a reading teacher, I couldn’t help but focus on all the great words students can learn. Donna Gephart’s writing style and choice of words can help teachers teach unfamiliar words such as perpetually, lingers, oblivious, constricting, alliteration, vulnerable, and many others.

Students may be able to connect to the characters if they have been bullied before.  The teacher, with the help of the librarian and school counselor, can motivate the students to create an anti-bullying video. The best video can be uploaded to the school’s website.  

Donna Gephart is a creative writer and lover of libraries. She has fond memories as a child visiting these magical places. It is amazing that her books are now in the shelves of those libraries she enjoyed. She has written several books: Death by Toilet Paper, Olivia Bean Trivia Queen, How to Survive Middle School, and As if Being 12-¾ Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother is Running for President.

Donna Gephart-Wild About Words. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2018, from        http://www.donnagephart.com/

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