The Prince and the Dressmaker
Ratings226
Average rating4.3
although it was really cute and ultimately a happy ending there is a forced outing and I just was not a fan of that AT ALL. obviously look to trans and nonbinary reviewers for their opinions as well before deciding if this book is for you!
Absolutely charming and basically an into to baby's first drag in graphic novel form. The dresses were gorgeous, the romance sweet, and the family dynamics uplifting. Totally joyous for ages 9 to adult!
...I really wish this had been a truly trans story as I know reading something like this when I had been in middle school would've have been so so impactful. As it stands it is ever so slightly gender queer but at it's core it really does seem to be another story about a boy and a girl falling in love.
I adored the art throughout and there were certainly plenty of cute moments, I just think I wanted more than the story was willing to give.
i think i cracked and lost my sanity when the father appeared with a dress on
i mean bro was asking where he went wrong in raising his son and suddenly hes like fuck it time to yassify myself
A sweet graphic novel about a seamstress who wants to be a clothing designer and the prince that hires her. Prince Sebastian sometimes feels like a prince, and sometimes (to his shame) feels like Lady Crystallia, and seamstress Frances designs for both - and you see her career skyrocket as people begin knocking off her designs and she becomes in higher and higher demand. We watch their friendship grow and change, and the way Sebastian tries to keep his secret before his eventually being outed as Crystallia. It wraps up neatly with everyone (that matters, at least) accepting him for who he is, and Frances getting to design her own collections. The art is lovely, and clearly this book has been well-loved because my library copy was pretty close to falling apart. Lovely.
5/5
This gets a solid five stars from me, though I could be biased. It was really well-told and illustrated. Once I picked up this book, I could not put it down. Even though it was short, I felt like I had read a well-developed story. When I read graphic novels, I often get the impression that they are rushed toward the middle or end because they are running out of pages. This was a nice palate cleanser after reading some heavier or darker books recently. Although a part of me wished I could have read it sooner, I felt it was worth the wait. Like Loveless (Alice Oseman), I was concerned that it would fall short of my expectations. I am pleased to say that it exceeded them. The characters did not come across as just stereotypes. There were minor details that became important later in the books. The stunning artwork aided in bringing the story together. Although many people argue about whether or not this is a queer book, I believe it is. It provides excellent representation for those who are still unlabeled or prefer to remain unlabeled. It demonstrates that you do not have to tell the world who you are and that it is more important to wear what makes you feel comfortable, even if it defies “gender norms.”
I definitely recommend this book, but I would warn people that there is a forced coming-out scene.
got this for my bb cousin and had absolutely no choice but to read it to make sure it is age appropriate!!! It is and it's also cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've started reading more graphic novels over the past couple of years, so this format is still kind of new to me. I have the same problem with graphic novels that I have with short stories. Sometimes I just feel like I didn't get enough story. I thought this was a cute story and, in my opinion, the representation is done really well. The graphics were amazing and overall, like I said a really cute story, but I feel like I could have been more immersed in the story if it was longer, and we got more detail. I don't necessarily think it needed to be an actual novel because the graphics bring the story to life, but I needed a little something more.
Beautiful artwork and a wonderful story
This was such a lovely story with beautiful artwork. I loved how the story wasn't just about Sebastian and his enjoyment of presenting as a woman in beautiful and bold outfits but also about Frances and her dream of becoming a designer and creating beautiful things for people to wear.
Es la primera vez que me atreví a leer en inglés, estoy muy orgullosa de haber entendido al menos un 95% del libro (Aunque algunas palabras si las tuve que buscar). Es demasiado lindo este libro, me preocupé mucho de que fuera a tener un final triste (Como casi suele ser) pero estoy feliz de que haya tenido un lindo final (Con beso incluido
Adorable, flawless, visually gorgeous. Jen Wang was made to illustrate 19th century Parisian dresses
This was a very sweet and beautiful graphic novel! The story was sweet, funny, and serious, and the art style is really beautiful.
In 19th century Paris, a Belgian prince and a talented dressmaker strike up a deep friendship over a shared secret and a passion for fashion. I'll try not to spoil it, though, okay, it's not a HUGE secret.
So I think the critical reviews of this comix (of which there are not many) do make a good point: this places modern, 21st century sensibilities and sensitivities in a 19th century context, and stretches that anachronism to the point that it's basically a fluffy, feel-good fantasy. Why, not long ago in the 20th century - even in the late 1990s - the prince's “secret” was still being portrayed as a sinister, scary sign of taboo depravity (I'm thinking specifically, e.g., of The Talented Mr. Ripley).
That said, I think anachronistic historical fantasy like this is just as important as utopian futurism like Star Trek The Next Generation (TNG): we need to have a vision of how things COULD be, and indeed, there's often no really good reason they're not this way. I regularly use TNG as a benchmark for how I want to conduct myself, how I imagine the “ideal” of some behavior is: “well, what would they do in a post-scarcity, enlightened 24th century?” I'm not even joking. Utopias are hard to write convincingly, but they are SO important and so powerful when they are convincing. Similarly, I think a middle grade historical fantasy of how gender norms CAN be fluid, and people CAN be accepting, is also so important. Imagine being a 12 year old reading this? Kids are so good at that: at pointing out the illogical inconsistencies of our ape-hierarchy, average-dumb society. They haven't spent years and years and years marinating in a social stew that put pressures on them to think in a certain way. I'm an old Millennial/young gen Xer, and much has already happened (socially/politically) in my lifetime that I just never would have imagined possible. This book is one of those books that helps you imagine! And so, I say, LET THE KIDS IMAGINE A BETTER WORLD!
Okay, so all that aside. I always adore Jen Wang's art - she has a beautiful, fluid, charming style that is just really lovely to read. Bravissima!
There is no chance you are finishing this book and not finding it god damn adorable.
heart warming and beautiful story and Jen Wang's drawing is stunning and gorgeous and makes everything 10 times more aesthetically pretty