Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming, cross-dressing prince breaks the fairy tale mold.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say this book is an empowering and charming tale that addresses themes of gender nonconformity, self-acceptance, and friendship through the story of a prince who enjoys cross-dressing. The artwork is praised for its beauty, and while there are minor references to alcohol and mild language, the overall message resonates well with readers of all ages, making it a recommended read for older children and teens.
- self-acceptance
- gender expression
- beautiful illustrations
- positive role models
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER, Prince Sebastian of Belgium is in Paris for the social season, where he discovers Frances, a young, talented seamstress and fashion designer laboring away in an obscure tailor shop. With the promise of decent pay and a chance to make her own designs, Sebastian convinces Frances to join his staff at the palace. There Frances discovers Sebastian's deepest secret: Sometimes he likes to wear women's clothes. Frances doesn't care what Sebastian wears, as long as she can keep designing and sewing. As her friendship with Sebastian deepens into something possibly more, Frances realizes she can't keep hiding her talent behind Sebastian's secret forever and decides to leave. Now, without his best friend at his side, or the freedom and empowerment that come from going out as Lady Crystallia, will Sebastian cave to royal pressure and finally marry a princess he doesn't love?
Is It Any Good?
Talented illustrator Jen Wang has written a lively, engaging, and mold-breaking take on the classic fairy tale with the poor girl who meets Prince Charming. In The Prince and the Dressmaker, we're given a prince with a difference and a poor girl with the strength of character to know that she doesn't deserve to live in another person's shadow. Wang's colorful and animated drawings move the story along well and effectively show lots of different moods and emotions as we're asked why what the prince wears matters and given lots of food for thought about hiding our true selves from our loved ones, and from the world at large.
Mature tweens and up who are thinking about how they present themselves to the world, what their talents are, and whether they're worthy of being loved and respected will enjoy this fascinating, fun, and sweet take on the story of a friendship that becomes much more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about role models in The Prince and the Dressmaker. Are Frances and Sebastian good role models? What do you like about them? What about Lady Crystallia?
Which do you think is worse: dressing like a member of the opposite sex or keeping an important part of yourself a secret? Why?
How do you like to express your creativity? What do you do that makes you feel free and powerful the way Sebastian does as Lady Crystallia? Do you paint, play a sport, write, or anything else? What would you like to try?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jen Wang
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Arts , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : First Second
- Publication date : February 13, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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