Lily and Dunkin

By: Donna Gephart

Narrated by: Ryan Gesell, Michael Crouch, Donna Gephart

California Young Reader Medal winner

Connecticut Nutmeg Children's Book Award nominee

Georgia Children's Book Award nominee

Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award nominee

Named one of the best kids books of the year by NPR, New York Public Library, Junior Library Guild Selection, and Goodreads Choice Awards.

For people who enjoyed Wonder and Counting by 7's, award-winning author Donna Gephart crafts a compelling story about two remarkable young people: Lily, a transgender girl, and Dunkin, a boy dealing with bipolar disorder. Their powerful journey, perfect for fans of Wonder, will shred your heart, then stitch it back together with kindness, humor, bravery, and love.

Lily Jo McGrother, born Timothy McGrother, is a girl. But being a girl is not so easy when you look like a boy. Especially when you’re in the eighth grade.

Dunkin Dorfman, birth name Norbert Dorfman, is dealing with bipolar disorder and has just moved from the New Jersey town he’s called home for the past 13 years. This would be hard enough, but the fact that he is also hiding from a painful secret makes it even worse.

One summer morning, Lily Jo McGrother meets Dunkin Dorfman, and their lives forever change.

©2016 Donna Gephart (P)2016 Listening Library

Critic reviews

One of YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults

One of YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

One of ALA's Rainbow Book List—GLBTQ Books for Children & Teens

Rainbow Awards Winner of Best Transgender Book

An Indie Next Pick

"Gephart clearly has a lot of heart, and she tells their stories with compassion."—Kirkus

"A thoughtfully and sensitively written work of character-driven fiction that dramatically addresses two important subjects that deserve more widespread attention."—Booklist, starred review

“Gephart sympathetically contrasts the physical awkwardness, uncertainty, and longings of these two outsiders during a few tightly-plotted months, building to a crescendo of revelation…[A] valuable portrait of two teenagers whose journeys are just beginning.”—PW

Amazingly Educational

This book, from start to finish, was absolutely what I wanted it to be. I've been wanting to read a book about this subject for a long time, because I wanted to educate myself about it to better understand the people who deal with it. It's done so beautifully, elegantly and respectfully too!
A+. Hope they'll have these at schools.

A wonderful tale

While parts of this story are hard to listen to due to content, every moment is worthwhile. I originally purchased this to see if I could read it with my 6th grade students. I think it’s above their current level, but if I ever end up with older students then it’s definitely on my list.

FANTASTIC!!!!

The author definitely successfully wrote a story that was true to each character. With all the research she did, she nailed it. This story had everything including an emotional drive, comedy, and seeing humanity in a different light. We all want to be loved for who we feel are, and we deserve that love and should not be judged for who we love, how we define ourselves, and be ridiculed for our mental health. Mental health matters and there should not be a stigma around it. No matter what color we are or where we are from, it should not determine our mental health status. We all have a past and not all of us have accepted it, to move forward in life. We are all a working progress. I recommend this book for all ages. I’m 28 and I loved it and I learned so much from this book, to add on to the knowledge I already knew. Please listen or read this book. The narration is also amazing!!!!! You won’t regret the credit.

A fun book for children and adults

What made the experience of listening to Lily and Dunkin the most enjoyable?

I decided to read the book because I saw that one of the characters had Bipolar. Since I have an interest in mental health issues, I gave the book a go. I was pleasantly surprised. Lily and Duncan are both is middle school, and each has a serious problem with to contend with. Lily is a transgender girl who wants to come out. Duncan has Bipolar and wants/needs friends. The book switches between each character as they try to face the difficultly of middle school. Lily is bullied, both verbally and physically. And it is Duncan's new friends that are doing the bullying. Lily has to decide is come out is worth the risk of bodily harm, and Duncan has to decided who his friends are. From that alone, this book was good. But in addition, the author had adults in the book who were important to plot and fleshed out well.

The narrators did a good job on the book as well. I never fell out of the book because one of the narrators lost the flow of the plot. When listening to the book, often narrators make a difference. These two did a good job.

In the end, I would recommend this book. Although it is meant for younger readers, it is not dumbed down. Adults will find the story fulfilling and complex.

It was okay

It was a good book but it needed a little more pazzaz in the being

Absolutely Amazing

This book is absolutely amazing. While it does feel very middle grade and that might turn some away, for its target audience this book is perfect. It reminds us all that everyone is going through something and the world is full of shades of grey. Everybody needs to read this book. Everybody. It’s incredibly heartwarming and inspiring I can’t even put it to words.

Perspective is everything!

All ages can benefit from listening to Lily's perspective! This story is endearing and develops such a clear understanding of transgender perspective! Beautifully written and narrated!

fantastic read, especially for trans youth

I felt this book really encapsulated what the characters were going through. it was well paced and left me feeling like I got a whole story start to finish. I couldn't put it down.