Lily and Dunkin

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2016

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-11

Chapters 12-33

Chapters 34-57

Chapters 58-73

Chapters 74-94

Chapters 95-118

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Themes

Desire for Social Acceptance on the Road to Self-Acceptance

Middle school is often difficult for any student; navigating the social waters while exploring personal identity is tricky. At the start of Lily and Dunkin, both protagonists suffer anxiety regarding how they will fit in during middle school. Lily knows that she is “Lily Jo McGrother. Girl” (9); however, part of her is terrified of how others will respond. Her father’s disapproval and the bullying that she experiences at the hands of Vasquez and the Neanderthals make her hesitate to be her true self in a visible manner. Additionally, Lily wishes to pursue a friendship with the new boy, Dunkin. In doing so, she believes that she must change herself, opting to cut her hair to evade Vasquez’s ire and give her relationship with Dunkin a chance.

Dunkin also changes himself to gain social acceptance. From the start of the novel, Dunkin plans to go by a different name, feeling that Norbert will not win him any points in the popularity department. When he first meets Tim, Dunkin feels instantly connected to him, but Dunkin rejects Tim after the popular jocks offer acceptance. Dunkin watches as the Neanderthals bully Tim, but he walks away or stays quiet, fearful they will train their sights on him or reject him from their group. Though he feels guilty about ignoring the Neanderthals’ cruelty, he feels “it was worth it to get a whole bunch of new friends” (98). In his desire for social acceptance, Dunkin also stops taking his meds, thinking that without them he will be a better basketball player and maintain his position amongst the Neanderthals. In doing so, Dunkin sacrifices his mental health for the sake of being part of the group.

While both characters struggle to gain social acceptance, ultimately each of them recognizes the support they already have in their lives and the more important need for self-acceptance. At the start of the novel, Lily presents as a boy, despite it being “a small torture every time [she has] to dress and act like someone [she’s] not” (23). However, gaining strength from the support of her family, Dare, and Dunkin, Lily recognizes that there are people who love her as Lily, prompting her to take her biggest step in attending the eighth-grade dance as her true self. Dunkin’s desire for social acceptance results in his rejection of Tim, whom he believed from the start to be a good person, and his mental health spiraling out of control.

However, after spending the night in Bob, Dunkin starts to recognize the power of Lily’s friendship, knowing that she’s “the real deal” (283). In realizing that the Neanderthals are not his real friends, and admitting that Lily truly is, Dunkin sheds some of his need for broader social acceptance. Knowing that at the dance “all the kids [will be] staring at the guy who just got out of the loony bin” (318), Dunkin leans on the support of his mother and the knowledge that his friendship with Lily is strong and decides to attend. No longer does he need the approval of the Neanderthals, and at the dance, Dunkin is himself and unabashedly Lily’s friend, and he experiences true happiness.

Bullying, Bystanders, and the Silent Victims

As is often the case, Vasquez and his friends, the bullies in this particular story, are perceived as popular, and they wield that influence to belittle and harass those who are not. In Gephart’s novel, Lily seems to draw the ire of the Neanderthals more than others. Vasquez targets her femininity, commenting on her long hair and nails, and her sexuality, calling her a fag, which as Lily and Dunkin note “isn’t the right word” (283). In addition to the verbal abuse he and his friends inflict, Lily suffers their physical abuse as well, including Vasquez spitting in her face and pushing her into the lockers. Vasquez’s most heinous act comes when he and his friends corner Lily in the locker room, and Vasquez “puts both hands on [her] chest and holds [her] in place” (300) before pulling Lily’s pants and underpants down. In each of these instances, Vasquez has an audience, and that audience feeds his cruelty with their riotous laughter or taunting.

While Gephart includes other characters who participate tangentially in the bullying, she highlights Dunkin’s role as bystander. While Dunkin does not participate directly in bullying Lily, though he does laugh at some of the cruelties Vasquez inflicts, he does not take any action to stop him. When Dunkin is honest with himself, and not making excuses for the guys he wants to be his friends, he knows that the Neanderthals’ behavior is wrong. However, Dunkin avoids saying anything for fear of their reprisal, worried that they will call him fag or expel him from their group. In this role of silent bystander, Dunkin wishes that there were “an adult around when this stuff [was] going on” (171), hoping to shift the responsibility to someone else and not put himself in a vulnerable spot.

Through Lily’s chapters, readers are provided insight into the feelings of the victim. At first, Lily tries to avoid drawing Vasquez’s attention, opting to cut her hair short and ignoring the fruit he throws at her head. However, as Lily starts to take small steps toward being her true self, she longs to stand up for herself. While she “give[s] Vasquez the finger” (191), she does so as he walks away, fearful of the type of retaliation he might inflict should he see her. Later, when the Neanderthals hold her and pull down her pants in the locker room, Lily thinks about screaming but “know[s] it’s the worst thing [she] could do. They’d be on [her] in a second, pounding the life out of [her] before anyone” (300) arrived. The fear of further cruelty often forces victims to stay silent, knowing that yelling or running will only incite further torment. Lily feels she must suffer in silence, not wanting to tell anyone what happened because of the strong sense of shame and embarrassment she feels.

Suffering in silence only serves to enhance Lily’s emotional distress, and she spends the following day in bed and attempts to avoid attending school for several days after the incident. When Vasquez apologizes and Lily realizes that should she tell anyone he would be kicked off the basketball team, it might seem at first glance that Lily holds a great deal of power in that circumstance. However, Lily agrees to stay silent, possibly out of fear of judgement from peers, a sense of humiliation, or fear of what type of physical harm might be inflicted by Vasquez after he’s lost any reason to restrict his behavior. Gephart’s portrayal of Lily as silent victim reveals the fear that dictates the behaviors and reactions of those who are targeted by bullies and those who stand by and watch without acting.

Honesty and Support as Important Aspects of Friendship

Gephart explores different aspects of friendship. Readers see glimpses into Lily’s relationship with Dare, Dunkin’s relationship with the Neanderthals, and Lily and Dunkin’s relationship as a means to determine the types of behavior that qualify as true friendship.

Lily and Dare have been best friends since preschool. Lily’s first memory of Dare is her reading a Berenstain Bear book and allowing Lily to be Sister Bear. From the very start, Dare has allowed and encouraged Lily to be her true self, and as they experience their eighth-grade year, things are no different. Dare prompts Lily to practice being herself in public and encourages Lily to at least think about wearing her borrowed clothing to school. In doing so, Lily knows that she has an ally in Dare. However, Dare is not always gentle in her support, making it clear to Lily that she is disappointed when she opts to hide behind “playing the Tim game” (57). Though Dare’s irritation is uncomfortable for Lily, she also recognizes that Dare is nearly “always right” (79) about Lily’s need to be herself even when it’s hard. The relationship between Lily and Dare illuminates supportive behavior and an unwillingness to let the other make excuses that makes for a very honest and lasting friendship.

In examining the relationship between Dunkin and the Neanderthals, Gephart highlights some of the more dysfunctional aspects of what many teens mistake for friendship. Dunkin assigns the term friends to the Neanderthals; however, he recognizes that their conversations are limited to “basketball and girls and [...] mak[ing] fun of other people” (170) and that “they don’t really listen or care about anything that’s serious” (170). With this realization, readers, along with Dunkin, recognize that Dunkin and the Neanderthals aren’t really friends. Additionally, Dunkin recognizes that if he were to be unable to play basketball or stand up against something they had done, he would no longer be welcome in their group. Dunkin realizes that his values differ from those of the Neanderthals, specifically he hates himself for watching and allowing Lily’s harassment. It is clear by the end of the novel that the relationship between Dunkin and the Neanderthals does not qualify as true friendship; instead, their relationship is based on a desire to attain social acceptance or personal gain.

Lily and Dunkin’s relationship is a bit more complicated at first, given that they are both enthusiastic about their friendship until Dunkin’s decision to “march right over to enemy territory and set up camp” (93), choosing to pursue social acceptance instead of a friendship with Lily. Aside from being drawn to one another, there are other indications that Lily and Dunkin will ultimately find their way to friendship. While Dunkin first tries to dismiss or excuse Vasquez’s behavior toward Lily, as the novel progresses, he becomes more uncomfortable with Vasquez’s behavior, even acting to intervene in surreptitious ways. Additionally, Lily roots for Dunkin, even giving him the thumbs up after scoring on his team’s basket, believing that Dunkin is a good person, if a bit misguided.

Toward the end of the novel, each proves that they are true friends by being supportive. Dunkin attends the dance to protect Lily even though he worries “all the kids [will be] staring at the guy who just got out of the loony bin” (318), and Lily listens compassionately to the challenges Dunkin has faced and reassures him that she’s “so glad [he’s] here” (321). In these moments, Gephart highlights how Lily and Dunkin’s honesty with one another has allowed them to show acceptance and provide support, making clear that their willingness to do both have allowed the blossoming of a true and meaningful friendship.