Details

Length: 428
Story Build: Quick
Character development: strong
Age Recommendation: 8th grade and up
Reasoning: language, sexual references (not explicit), drinking references

Summary and Review

Julie Murphy is one of my favorite young adult authors. I think I maybe shouted this at you in my Ramona Blue review or maybe in my Dumplin’ one… ha. Basically, if you haven’t already figured out that I love Murphy, then I guess here is another review where I tell you how fabulous she is.

Puddin’, similar to Dumplin’, is a novel that is driven by characters. Murphy is an author who creates people who you root for and who make you want to read on because of the types of people they are. She makes them unapologetically genuine. Yes, there are core conflicts, but the individuals in her story are the reason you keep turning the pages.

For example, this narrative is about two gals who could not be any different. Millie is positive and a dreamer. She works at her uncle and aunt’s boxing gym and yearns to be a broadcast journalist even though her mother constantly reminds her that Mille should shed weight before achieving that goal. Callie, on the other hand, is popular and crass and tough. You might even say a mean girl — yeah, definitely a mean girl. She’s also on the dance team, and when it loses funding (from Millie’s uncle’s boxing gym), she and the team take matters into their own hands, which results in Callie spending copious amounts of time with Millie.

Through their time together, the girls push each other and form an unlikely bond, which creates a rippling effect in their previously separate circles. What Murphy achieves with these two characters is the perfect juxtaposition — Millie is the supporter and cheerleader while Callie is the confident doer. They both are able to highlight what the other needs in their new and fragile friendship.

Murphy’s side-kick characters are also lovely — Willowdean is back (Dumplin’) as well as her best friend, Ellen. The love interests for Millie and Callie are quite special, and you can’t help but cheer for the budding romances. There’s also some celebration of quality girl friendships; the characters model what it means to have honest and real friendships with bumps along the way.

This is a story about change and acceptance — and while one girl needs to learn to possibly look at herself and evaluate how she could grow to develop into a better version of herself, the other is understanding that she doesn’t need to change for others and maybe people need to alter their views about the world to be more accepting.

Celebrations

I think I’ve made it clear through this review that I just really like Murphy’s ability to create good solid characters. I love that Millie is so upbeat and positive while Callie is actually brutally honest and tough. They were definitely opposites, but it was fun to read from their two different perspectives (the chapters switched points of view).

Hesitations

I originally didn’t pick up this book because I love Dumplin’ so much and was disappointed that it wasn’t told through Willowdean’s perspective. However, Willowdean is in the novel, but it was actually just great to dive into this world again. The novel was a bit predictable, but that really isn’t a mark against it. Truly. It’s a sweet read.