Dumplin

“Willowdean. Her name’s Willowdean.”

When Collin visits Bo at Harpy’s Burgers & Dogs, Collin asks Willowdean her name. Bo responds before Willowdean has a chance to say anything. Willowdean loves that Bo always calls her by her whole first name. This Is significance later in the narrative when Bo refers to her as “Will,” highlighting the new distance in their relationship.

“All my life I’ve had a body worth commenting on and if living in my skin has taught me anything it’s that if it’s not your body, it’s not yours to comment on. Fat. Skinny. Short. Tall. It doesn’t matter.”

As soon as Willowdean tells Ellen that Callie is a “twiggy bitch,” Willowdean regrets it. Willowdean is jealous of Ellen and Callie’s friendship, but knowing what it is like when someone says something mean about your body, Will promised herself never to comment on anyone else’s body. Later, Will apologizes to Ellen for the remark about Callie.

“I don’t get why we call it a crush when it feels more like a curse.”

Bekah Cotters comes to Harpy’s, and Willowdean watches as Bekah flirts with Bo. When Bo smiles at Bekah, Willowdean feels like she’s “swallowed a handful of rocks” (39) When Willowdean says that her crush on Bo “feels more like a curse,” it is an example of the multitude of confusing emotions she feels when she is around him.