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After Aunt Lucy dies, Willowdean clings to her fatness because Lucy was also fat. Losing weight feels like betraying a ghost. This nuanced take on grief—where food becomes memory and weight becomes love—is rarely handled with such grace in YA literature.
: An essay on Medium discussing how the story challenges beauty standards and illustrates the experiences of "fat characters" with justice . Classroom Lesson Plan : While technically for The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling Dumplin-
As trade routes like the Silk Road expanded, the concept of dough-wrapped fillings migrated West. In Italy, it evolved into the ravioli and tortellini . In Poland, the pierogi became a national treasure. In Russia, the pelmeni —small, meat-filled dumplings—were perfect for freezing during long winters, allowing hunters to carry non-perishable food into the wilderness. After Aunt Lucy dies, Willowdean clings to her
In contrast, Will has a strained relationship with her mother, Rosie, a former beauty queen and the longtime director of the local Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant. Rosie is heavily invested in pageant culture and often projects her own insecurities onto Will through "reproachful" healthy meals and subtle weight-related comments. The Catalyst: Romantic Doubt : An essay on Medium discussing how the
“What, then?” El asked, peeking over the stall door. Her eyes widened. “Is that… a kazoo?”