Review by Booklist Review
Waylon Brewer is white, gay, and fat, with a flair for the dramatic, and he's counting down the days until he and his sister, Clementine, move away to college, and Waylon can finally live his life loud and proud. But one night, after discovering Clementine's plans may have changed, Waylon decides to film an audition for Fiercest of Them All, a TV drag show. Then the video gets leaked online, and Waylon finds himself nominated for prom queen as a joke, along with Clementine's Afro-Dominican girlfriend, Hannah, who is nominated for prom king. Hannah convinces Waylon that the best way to push back and ensure they leave high school proudly, on their own terms, is to run for prom court. In order to run, though, Waylon gets paired up with prom-king nominee Tucker, also white, who is adorable but infuriating, with a history of making Waylon feel terribly self-conscious. Along with Clementine and Hannah, a diverse group of friends, peers, teachers, and even drag queens push Waylon and Tucker to consider what it means to live in the moment and be true to themselves and each other. With her signature blend of humor, sensitivity, and panache, Murphy has crafted a sensational narrative that is bursting with life and is anything but a drag.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Murphy's best-selling Dumplin' series grows bigger and better with every installment, and this book will quickly rule the YA realm.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Waylon (dubbed Pumpkin by his grandma) stands out in his small Texas town of Clover City. He is tall, fat, red-headed, and gay. He's got his head down and his eyes set on graduation and moving to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine. However, his plans fall apart when double-dumped on the same night--first by his friends with benefits, Lucas, and then when finding out that Clem has been hiding a college acceptance to an out-of-state school. Waylon channels all his angst into an audition tape for his favorite drag competition show, Fiercest of Them All, which later gets leaked to the whole school. On top of that, he is then nominated as a finalist for Prom Queen as a joke. Devasted at first, Waylon later decides to own it. Murphy is at it again with a third return to Clover City and the Dumplin' universe. This book introduces new characters and allows readers a glimpse of past favorites. Waylon is a strong protagonist--fully developed and completely unapologetic. Tackling heavy topics with humor, this novel touches on the importance of staying true to yourself even (and especially) when it's hard. VERDICT A must-purchase for fans of Murphy's previous books, a good prom story, and RuPaul's Drag Race.--Alicia Kalan, The Northwest Sch., Seattle
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Waylon Brewer does not fit in at Clover City High School. He's fat; he's gay; and he loves drag, particularly a drag-competition TV show called Fiercest of Them All. But no one, not even his twin sister, Clementine, knows that he wants to actually perform in drag: that is, until his audition video for the show, starring "Miss Pumpkin Patch," is accidentally posted publicly on Facebook. It goes viral, naturally, earning Waylon immediate mockery at school and a nomination to prom court -- as queen. Along with Clementine's girlfriend, a similarly gender-bending candidate for king, Waylon embraces the joke and campaigns to win the crown; it doesn't hurt that his cute classmate Tucker is a fellow nominee (for king). This third story set in Clover City, Texas, features a genuine and unbreakable sibling bond; a strong romantic connection; and a cast of well-developed supporting characters, including guest appearances from Willowdean (Dumplin', rev. 11/15) and Callie and Millie (Puddin', rev. 5/18). Like those protagonists, Waylon learns to love who he is and refuses to settle for anyone who doesn't. Or as he tells Tucker: "I'm done being with people who are embarrassed by me...I'm too good to keep secret." It's easy to cheer for Waylon -- who eventually triumphs both as himself and as Pumpkin -- in this celebration of individuality and self-expression. Rachel L. Smith July/August 2021 p.120(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
High school is just the beginning. Fans of Puddin' (2018) and Dumplin' (2015) can rejoice, as they're off to visit Clover City, Texas, once again. In this installment, they'll be introduced to Waylon "Pumpkin" Brewer, so nicknamed for his bright orange hair and freckles. Life can be difficult for a fat, flamboyant, gay teen, but it becomes even more difficult when Waylon's mostly-not-serious video entry for a drag queen reality competition is accidentally shared widely on social media instead of being posted only for members of the school's queer club to see. Before it's taken down, it garners some support--and some attacks. Although senior Waylon has the support of his family, including his twin sister, Clem, and her girlfriend, Hannah, he has to deal with more homophobia at school when he's nominated homecoming queen. Inspired by Hannah and her acceptance of the nomination for homecoming king, Waylon takes control of his story and decides to stay in the competition. The novel is full of inspiration, fabulousness, and romance, and readers will be enthralled as they race to learn what happens to Waylon and his friends. There is nuanced discussion to be had in the fitness subplot sparked by Waylon and his formerly heavy frenemy, Kyle, who is insensitive about sharing his weight-loss journey. Most main characters are White; Hannah is Afro-Dominican. Enticing as homemade pumpkin pie. Bon appétit! (Fiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
