Summary

Chapter one of Dumplin’ opens up with two of Willowdean Dickson’s favorite things, an introduction to her best friend, Ellen Dryver, and a Dolly Parton song. The girls are in their final days of their sophomore year, impatiently waiting for summer. After school, Willowdean gets stuck in a conversation with Millie Michalchuk, a cheerful girl with a body much rounder than her own. School bully Patrick Thomas eyes the pair, and Willowdean keeps talking until Patrick loses his opportunity to get a few laughs in about Millie.

Will heads off to Harpy’s where she fawns over Private School Bo who works in the grill. She recalls the first time she met Bo and introduced herself as “Cashier, Dolly Parton enthusiast, and resident fat girl,” because being fat does not have to have negative connotations (8). Some old friends of Bo’s come...