#amanda lumbard

[cannondisabledcharacters]

Today’s disabled character of the day is Amanda Lumbard from Dumplin', who has Limb Length Discrepancy

requested by anon

[representativecharacters]

Dumplin'/Puddin' Triple

Character: Amanda Lumbard

Representation: Biromantic asexual, Limp

Their Importance: She’s a tomboyish, sporty and cheery person with a limp caused by a congenital hip disorder. Unlike most other disabled characters in stories like this this is an authentic part of her personality rather than a show of how sweet or inspiring she is. She is one of a very small number of disabled characters in YA who isn’t defined by angst over her condition. In Puddin she reveals that she’s biromantic and explains asexuality and romantic orientation to her accepting friends about in a very light and accessible scene.

Issues: She was completely removed from the film adaption.

Character: Hannah Perez

Representation: Dominican, Lesbian

Their Importance: She’s a loud, forcible person, completely unapologetic in her identity. She’s way deeper than just being a “sassy minority sidekick”. She can be petty and mean and also call people out on their bs and make powerful points. She isn’t conventionally attractive, mainly due to her misaligned teeth, which doesn’t lessen her worth at all and all the jokes about her appearance come from bigoted jackasses that aren’t funny in the slightest. Hannah angrily challenges the idea that she should have to alter her apperance to be respected (which ties into the central theme of the book). While she becomes friendlier to the rest of the main group she’s never completely softened.  She casually comes out to the protagonist towards the end of the book and takes part in the pageant with her girlfriend as an escort. More butch/masc lesbians don’t tend to show up in YA  because they’re ”stereotypical” so having Hannah attending the pageant in combat boots with no make-up was pretty special. Despite the whole plot revolving around a pageant she’s never “prettied up” in any way. As she tells us she shouldn’t have to.

Issues: She was white-washed and all references to her sexuality (aside from one glimpse of a girl implied to be her girlfriend) were removed for the film (plus the typical Hollywoodizing removal of her “unpretty” features and toning her personality way down).

Character: Millie Michealchuck

Representation: Fat 

Their Importance: She doesn’t fit into the narrow band of “acceptable” body variance, being heavier than the protagonist, having awkwardly shaped features and having nothing resembling fashion sense. She’s a sweet and painfully sincere person who has a lot of inner strength and depth. She’s one of the protagonists of Puddin where she determinedly chases her dream of being a journalist, battling against other’s expectations the entire time. Also it is a bit of a refreshing change to see religious characters who are sincere in their beliefs and is a decent person.    

Thanks to anon for the write up!

[strangenoquestion]

'It has to be every Saturday night?' asks Willowdean. 'That’s prime date-night real estate.' Amanda shrugs. 'The only date I’ve got is with my TV and my cat. I’m in.'

Julie Murphy, Puddin’

[strangenoquestion]

'But I don’t even mean the pageant. I’m talking about all of us just hanging out, ya know?' She shrugs, her whole body flopping. 'Yeah, I guess. But I kind of like it when it’s just us.' For a moment her words make my heart burst. Amanda and I haven’t been friends forever like Will and Ellen, but being the butt of everyone’s jokes for much of middle school and high school has bonded us together in a way that is stronger than time. 'Me too. You know that. But I just wish we all had a reason to get together every once in a while.'

Julie Murphy, Puddin’

[strangenoquestion]

'Good morning, beautiful!' I say. 'You are smart. You are talented. You are kind.' 'There is nothing good about mornings,' she says, her voice muffled by what sounds like a pillow. 'But at least you got the beautiful thing right. Smart? Talented? Kind? I’ll work on those.' 'All mornings are good,' I tell her. 'It’s those afternoons that ruin everything.' I chuckle at myself, but Amanda’s silence is evidence that she doesn’t find my humor cute. 'Daily affirmations. I read about it last week. You speak the things you want to be. I figured it’d be easier if we affirmed each other. Spice things up!' 'I can play this game,' she says. 'I just say good things for you to be.' 'Pretty much.' 'You are a plate of hash brown. You are a waffle. You are a cinnamon roll.' 'Amanda!' I roll my eyes. 'Take this seriously.' 'What? I’m hungry and no one is taking that seriously. She huffs into her receiver.

Julie Murphy, Puddin’

[strangenoquestion]

She turns back. 'I get called a freak every day. I might as well make a show of it.' 'Straight from the horse’s mouth,' mumbles Amanda after Hannah’s a safe distance away. Millie kicks her underneath the table. 'That wasn’t very nice.' 'Well, neither is she,' says Amanda.

Julie Murphy, Dumplin’

[strangenoquestion]

I'm not doing this to be some kind of Joan of Fat Girls or whatever. I'm doing this for Lucy. And for me. I'm ready to go back to being the version of myself I was before Bo. I'm entering this pageant because there's no reason I shouldn't. I'm doing this because I want to cross the line between me and the rest of the world. Not be someone's savior. I shake my head. “This isn’t a good idea.” “All my favorite things start as bad ideas,” says Millie. “Millie, people are cruel,” I tell her. “I know that. And so does Amanda, I’m sure.” Amanda nods. “Haters gonna hate.” “But doing this pageant is the ultimate KICK ME sign on your back. You don’t need my permission, but I don’t want to be responsible for that.” Millie’s shoulders slump. Ellen kicks her toe in the dirt. “They should do it. If Millie and Amanda want to enter the pageant with you, they should. Viva la revolution and all that.” Millie’s shoulders slump. Ellen kicks her toe in the dirt. “They should do it. If Millie and Amanda want to enter the pageant with you, they should. Viva la revolution and all that.” "No," I say. "Y'all should go home." Amanda shrugs and starts to walk off, but Millie stays put, silently asking for an appeal. Ellen grabs my hand and squeezes it tight. I sigh. "Registration for the revolution is two hundred bucks."

Julie Murphy, Dumplin’

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Amanda Lumbard from Dumplin’ is asexual!