Lily and Dunkin

Lily, born Tim and assigned "male" at birth, is bullied at school over her gender expression and perceived sexual orientation. She struggles to find acceptance and in the process befriends Dunkin, who is new to the community and is also searching for acceptance, while struggling with trauma in his life and ensuring his bipolar disorder doesn't interfere with his acceptance. Their stories are told with an authentic voice and handled realistically with humour and sensitivity. Suitable for grades 6-8, the novel includes timely topics involving gender identity, bullying, and mental health, and could stimulate conversation about acceptance and identity.