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Parents' Guide to

Puddin'

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Good-hearted companion tale lacks spark of Dumplin'.

Book Julie Murphy Friendship 2018
Puddin' Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Beclee101
Beclee101 Adult
November 24, 2018
age 15+

Good message, strong characters.....but....

I loved the message of this book. The idea of different kinds of people with different backgrounds and different belief systems really resonates with me. I also believe the two main characters are extremely strong and the author pulls you into their relationship wanting to know more and how their story plays out. My biggest criticism is the underlying and pervasive sexual undertones. It is constant throughout the book. It is glorified and gave an almost ‘every teen does it’ feel as well as a feeling that every teen needed to have a sexual experience. I felt this completely distracted from the main theming. Language was also prevelant through the book and used many profane words as well as perverse descriptions, ‘dick pics’ for instance. Overall, this book is a great read for an older teen or young adult. I was disappointed the author didn’t dial back the sex and language to make it acceptable to a wider teen reader population, a population that needs to hear the message in this book.
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What's the Story?

PUDDIN' tells the story of the unlikely friendship that grows between Callie, co-captain of the dance team and all-round queen bee on campus, and Millie, a fat girl on the fringes of the high-school social scene. Callie is laser-focused on becoming captain of the dance team next year by leading the team to the national championships this year. Millie wants to attend a summer seminar in broadcast journalism at teh University of Texas, Austin, but she can't find a way to tell her mom that she doesn't want to go back to fat camp this year. After taking part in a vengeful act of vandalism, Callie is forced to work with Millie as part of her punishment. Can Millie show Callie that there's such a thing as real friendship?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Author Julie Murphy takes her fans back to familiar territory with this friendship tale that doesn't quite have the same spark or fresh attitude as the book that inspired it. Readers who come to Puddin' because they fell in love with Willowdean in Dumplin' may be disappointed that she's relegated to the sidelines here. Unfortunately, neither Millie nor Callie are funny or engaging enough to take Willowdean's torch and run with it.

That being said, there are still enough positive messages, good role models, friendship drama, relationship drama, romance, and slumber parties to make it an enjoyable read for teens looking for a light, good-hearted read. Teens who relate to Callie's intensity will enjoy her journey to becoming a better person and a good friend. Those who struggle to accept themselves for who they are, and their bodies for what they are, will root for Millie as she learns when not to take "no" for an answer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the strong language in Puddin'. How much is OK in books, movies, TV, etc.? Is it realistic? Is it a big deal?

  • What make Millie and Callie good -- or bad -- role models? What are their character strengths and weaknesses? Do you like both of them? Why, or why not?

  • Did you read Dumplin'? If you did, do you like this book as well? If you didn't, would you like to now? Why?

Book Details

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