Title: The Prince and the Dressmaker
Author/Illustrator: Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second/Macmillan
Category: Young Adult, Fairy Tale, Graphic Novel
Length: 288 Pages
At a Glance: The graphics are as bright and engaging as the narrative is warm and heartfelt in this story about being true to oneself.
Reviewed By: Lisa
Blurb: Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:
Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride—or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia—the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!
Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances—one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.
Review: The final sentence of the blurb for this delightful graphic novel says it best: “A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.” It absolutely stole my heart and I gave it up gladly for the joyful message of its story.
Set in what is described as the ‘dawn of the modern age,’ Wang’s illustrations leave the reader with no doubt that her story takes place in a long-ago Paris, but there’s also a modern, contemporary tone to the narrative that makes it a timeless tale for a new generation. There’s a bit of a Cinderella feel to the story as well, in our overworked and underappreciated dressmaker, Frances, but then all it takes is one daring dress design to bring her to the attention of an important member of visiting royalty.
Prince Sebastian of Belgium has a deeply held secret only one other person knows—up until the moment Frances discovers what that secret is. Sebastian sometimes feels okay in the clothing that identifies him as male, but he feels so elated when his secret is allowed to emerge. It’s then that Sebastian prefers to wear the gowns which allow Lady Crystallia to blossom, and those moments are so carefree and joyous. Sebastian finds so much happiness in expressing femininity, but when one is the crown prince who is meant to uphold a military legacy as well as to fulfill the duties of the future king by marrying and producing an heir, how does one remain true to oneself and one’s country alike?
There was such a great sense of elation in The Prince and the Dressmaker when Sebastian discovers that Frances doesn’t judge him for his love of expressing Lady Crystallia, and not only that but wants to remain both his dressmaker and friend. The graphics are as bright and engaging as the narrative is warm and heartfelt in this story about being true to oneself—whether that means Sebastian or Frances—and I adored the way Lady Crystallia emerged like a butterfly from a cocoon, colorful and spirited and a budding influencer of Paris fashion.
That elation, however, is tempered by sorrow and Sebastian’s realization that Lady Crystallia is ephemeral, that as prince, he must abide by his parents’ plans for him to marry. Sebastian is so afraid of what his father would think of him if the king were to discover his son doesn’t conform to the gender binary, that the prince is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of his legacy. When Sebastian suffers being outed in a public way, though, we get to witness the true meaning of unconditional love and acceptance and friendship.
If you have a teen who’s questioning, this book would be such an amazing gift to share with them. If you’re a teen or adult who’s looking for a graphic novel that celebrates representation of who you are, that is this book, without a doubt. Or, if you’re simply someone who loves an uplifting tale with the bonus of a whimsical flair to its illustrations along with a deeper message in its happy ending, The Prince and the Dressmaker is all of those things and more.
You can buy The Prince and the Dressmaker here:
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