Lily and Dunkin

I have been MIA for a few weeks but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading (or listening, in many cases, too).  One book that I can't stop thinking about is Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart.  I finished listening to it a couple of weeks ago and still can't shake any of the characters:  8th graders Lily (Tim), and Dunkin (Norbert), sister Sarah, best friend Dare, Mom, Dad and of course, Bubby.

Grab yourself a large iced coffee and a Boston cream donut and a lot of time.  You will not be able to put it down.  There are plastic pink flamingoes, knit wits, a tree called "Bob", a Bubby that works out more than many of us, blue nail polish and a 5 headed basketball player made up of Neanderthals. After Dunkin moves to Florida from New Jersey he befriends Tim (Lily).  Each of them has a secret--Dunkin's fueled by caffeine and Lily's with her struggle to be who she really is, this story comes together as beautiful and thoughtful as a November 15 day in Florida.

Every middle school library needs this important book with characters and stories we can all relate to. From Lily trying to convince her dad that she needs to take the hormones to Dunkin and his Mom moving in with Bubby after everything happened with his Dad with a side of environmental activism to rile any of us up to save "Bob" and "speak for the trees" as we learn from the classic The Lorax, our heart wrenches for all of them in this soon to be classic.

So stop what you are doing, order your drink, find a big tree and escape to Florida for the day.  You will not regret it.

Last week I was on vacation in Ocean City, Maryland and I passed this hotel.
I just couldn't help thinking about Lily and Dunkin and the mysterious plastic pink flamingoes.