An uncommon friendship between 2 uncommon characters
Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. Tim is 13 years old and on the verge of changing from a boy to a young man, a scary prospect for him. You see, Tim knows his true self is actually Lily, a secret only his best friend Dare knows. His mother accepts this; his father, though, resists. Until Lily has consent from both of her parents, she can't begin the process of becoming her true self.
Dunkin is a newcomer to Florida. He and his mother have recently moved to Florida from New Jersey, and now live with his high energy grandmother. Dunkin first meets Lily as Tim, and the two develop a tentative friendship. And like Lily, Dunkin too has a secret: he suffers from bipolar disorder. Lily and Dunkin sense a connection that doesn't really have an opportunity to take root because Dunkin is befriended by the same group of boys who torment Lily at school.
Gephart handles the subject of transgenderism with a sensitive, delicate touch. Although Lily's character is a little too good, a little too understanding, the sense of anxiety she feels about her situation feels very authentic. Gephart has a bipolar son and her first-hand knowledge of the disorder is apparent in portrayal of Dunkin and how he experiences the effects of being bipolar. While the ending is a bit contrived, there is much to admire in Lily and Dunkin.
