I found this story to be very lovely, and also an important story when it comes to diversity and representation. I loved all of the characters, from Prince Sebastian to Frances to many of the supporting characters. Sebastian's gender identity is deliberately vague, but I don't think that it's necessary to label them in any specific way (for the sake of this review, however, I am going to approach it as though they are non-conforming or non binary, and refer to them as they/them). I liked the relationship between Sebastian and Frances, and I liked that it showed that intimacy can be something other than romantic, and something other than platonic. I see a lot of reviews referring to this story as sweet and positive, and I think that I personally agree with that. But, that said, I am a cis-straight woman, and the lens through which I see this book and the story it tells may not be the same as someone who would identify in other ways, and therefore I'm not sure that I can gauge whether or not it's a good representation. I did like that it ended positively, as I think that there can and should be stories about non-binary/gender nonconforming characters that don't end in tragedy or trauma.

The art is also very lovely. It seems that there may be some influences from manga and anime, but it's definitely in a category of its own. I loved the vibrant colors for all the clothing, they made the images pop off the page. I also liked some of the styles that evoked the time period in the designs of the characters and settings.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely going to recommend that my library get it if it hasn't already.

A sincerely charming graphic novel about a prince who wears dresses and the seamstress who makes them for them. (I’ll use they/them pronouns for Sebastian for now, out of indecision — they use either she/her or he/him pronouns throughout the book depending on how they’re presenting, so they/them feels best for now unless I see a review that has a better way of addressing that)

I also want to start off by saying that this five star rating is subject to change based on any reviews I see by nonbinary reviewers. As someone who's only just started to consider labels like agender and genderfluid and is still trying to figure out what fits, I don't consider myself really qualified to decide what may be problematic or not in this book, and I'd love to be able to consult other people's reviews to see if some of my less happy feelings were echoed by anyone else.

For one thing, it bothered me that I don't think we got a clear enough explanation of Sebastian's gender. From what they said in text — <b>"Some days I look at myself in the mirror and think, 'That's me, Prince Sebastian! I wear boy clothes and look like my father.' Other days it doesn't feel right at all. Those days I feel like I'm actually a princess."</b> — I got the idea they were genderfluid, but I'm honestly not sure if that's what Jen Wang meant Sebastian to be. I know it's historical fiction and maybe not easy to work in this kind of terminology, but I think an author should be able to make it a bit more clear.

But besides things like that, I LOVED it. The art was beautiful, pastel and fun and a little childish, which fits perfectly. I loved the character designs, like all the scruffy hair and how Sebastian got to have a long, pointy nose and still be considered beautiful. More! big! noses! that aren't villain-coded! please! I loved the cute little romance and, oh god, all the dress designs. All the <i>gorgeous</i> dresses. And that we're getting this kind of positive representation in books suitable for kids… it's wonderful. I was just smiling giddily to myself the entire time. I will definitely be rereading this in the future.

Jen Wang has given us all a gift with her first solo graphic novel. As the title suggests, it's the story of a Prince, Sebastian, and a dressmaker, Frances, who meet when Sebastian's parents hold a ball to find him a wife. The Cinderella comparison ends there, though. Frances doesn't attend the ball, though one of her creations, worn by a young lady who wishes to scandalize society, catches Sebastian's attention.

In the two pages below, you'll see Frances' and Sebastian's first meeting, during which he wears a cloth over his head to hide his identity.
Clearly, the disguise doesn't work for long. It's at this point, very early in the story, that we learn Sebastian's secret: he loves fashion, particularly dresses. He explains that sometimes, it feels right to wear a jacket and pants and present as a Prince. But sometimes, he feels like a Princess. Frances is a kind and creative soul, and quickly becomes Sebastian's seamstress full-time. At night they go out together, with Sebastian dressed in her Frances's creations, and it's not long before his female alter-ego, Lady Crystallia, becomes the most talked-about Lady in Paris.

Let's pause here to talk about the art. Wang ends the book with a few pages on her process, both writing and illustrating. While I enjoyed her work in the graphic novel IN REAL LIFE, a collaboration with Cory Doctorow, this one feels... more. She pencils and inks by hand, a style that seems to really work for depicting the movement and flow of the dresses. The lack of shadowing is most definitely a style choice that takes some getting used to, but again, it works with Wang's art. Her backgrounds, undoubtedly a beast to research and draw, beautifully set the story in time and place.

The story itself is high stakes and high drama, with both main characters at pivotal moments in their lives. Frances, fired by her former employer for that scandalous dress, needs a job, but she also wants credit for her creations. The fact that she is Prince Sebastian's seamstress means that she can't also be publicly known as Lady Crystallia's seamstress, lest he be discovered. Sebastian is under pressure from his parents to select a suitable bride, and soon. He's not out to them or to anyone but his bodyguard Emile and Frances. Frances and Sebastian have a sweet relationship built on trust and art and fashion and fun, but eventually the weight of their dreams and expectations pulls them apart. Wang has filled the story with enough subplots (thread pun here) to keep you guessing until the end of this 280 page work.

Romance readers - I'll warn that the ending is more of a happy-for-now than a happily-ever-after. The ending is left somewhat ambiguous, though the two of them are quite obviously in love and happily so.

Overall, this is a charming book, suitable for the YA audience and, I would argue, younger. THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER's central themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and self-expression are timeless and wrought with a skilled hand. I hope to see it in libraries around the country.
(Review posting at loveinpanels.com in late January)

This is one of the happiest and most unique graphic novels I have ever read. Every kid should read this and feel accepted. This book will show you, people have it in them to really know you and accept you. The illustrations and story are perfect.

This graphic novel is so wonderful, friends! It reads just like a fairytale. It centers around two characters – Sebastian, a prince looking for a bride and a boy who simply likes wearing dresses, and his best friend Frances, a girl who happens to be a talented dressmaker and dreams of being known as one of the greats – and the secret that is the central conflict of their story (and relationship). I was smiling a lot as I read this one, bolstered by the light tone, lovable characters and the simple yet compelling plot. I genuinely found it to be a gripping read! Plus, I thought it was a clever exploration into identity, and a fun look at fashion. I adored the way Jen Wang illustrated the tale. It’s definitely a graphic novel I would highly recommend that everyone pick up a copy of when it comes out next year!

Adorable artwork, plus a short and sweet story about being yourself. Frances and Sebastian's relationship was just perfection and I loved how the two of them learned so much about themselves over the course of the story. Plus the dresses Frances designed were gorgeous. Definitely one to check out!

This was a beautiful read. Lovely illustrations. Very meaningful story.

A beautiful coming of age story, which really highlights the challenges of expressing individuality when societal and family pressures dictate the way in which you should look/ act. The desire to fit in while also being true to yourself, as well as the process of learning where you’d draw the line to reach your dreams, are universal experiences which is why I’d recommend this book to any young teen struggling with who they are. Also, the illustrations were gorgeous and really bought the story to life. Absolutely loved it!

Completely adorable! I have been waiting for this title for a year now and was thrilled to get an advance copy. Full disclosure: I have been a fan of this author/illustrator since she was doing webcomics nearly 15 years ago. It's great to see her come into her own.
She treats her characters with respect; no tokenism here. The each have full internal lives and motivations, and colourful personalities. I would recommend for grade 7 and younger.

A gorgeous and surprising tale - charmingly illustrated, and heartwarmingly told.

Super sweet all-ages graphic novel! Jen Wang's illustrations are gorgeous.

A darling graphic novel set in the late 19th century as the first grand department stores rose in Paris, about a seamstress with dreams and dreamy designs who meets a prince who secretly likes wearing dresses. The seamstress becomes his personal tailor for his masculine and feminine clothes, bringing a new spin to the concept of being in the closet about one's identity. Beautiful artwork as always, and a sweet story. The moment that involved antlers was a delightful surprise (trying to not be spoilery, you have to read this for yourself to figure out what I'm talking about).

Let me start by telling you right off the bat just how much I adored this story. I didn’t know what to expect going into it and when I dove right in, I was beyond pleasantly surprised by what I found.

The Prince and the Dressmaker is the story of a young woman named Frances who longs to be a designer of beautiful dresses. One fateful day, she makes a dress for a young woman to wear to a ball— something that makes a statement. That dress changes Frances’ life forever and brings her to Prince Sebastian.

The Prince loves beautiful dresses and loves wearing them but as someone in the spotlight, doesn’t know how to show people who he truly is. Frances helps make unique designs for him so they can go out in secret and live a double life where Sebastian can be who he wants to be.

It was so wonderfully told and the emotional journey for Prince Sebastian made me cry. I couldn’t help but think about how many people this book will help if they get their hands on it. It is such a relatable story even if you’re not going through the exact same thing as Sebastian, or even Frances. In the case of Sebastian, many have gone through a phase where they didn’t feel as though they could or would be accepted for who they are. We all feel that way sometimes— would someone love us still if they knew who we truly are? Sebastian’s tale, however, is one that is extra relatable as the conversation regarding our sexualities becomes something more regularly discussed day to day. More and more amazing people are coming out in the LGBQT community and stories like The Prince and the Dressmaker may help some of those people come forward sooner if they realize that they’re not alone in how they feel about their bodies and how they choose to identify. It’s a beautiful book that celebrates diversity and throws gender norms out the window in the best possible way.

Jen Wang worked with Cory Doctorow on the fabulous book In Real Life which came out a few years ago and I’m so happy to see her work again in this story that tells such a heartwarming story. Her art is stunning and Wang is such a gifted illustrator that truly shines here as she tells a story that she clearly feels passionate about.

Wang’s characters are so perfect and each dress design that Frances designs for Sebastian makes a unique statement and embodies what’s going on around him in so many ways. There’s a stunning butterfly dress near the end of the book that demonstrates Sebastian’s full transformation into his true self and into realizing that he doesn’t have to pick between loving himself and being loved by others.

Verdict:
Must buy! The Prince and the Dressmaker is a story about loving who you are, no matter what form that comes in. The story also shows how hard it can be to be yourself when you’re unsure of how those around you will react but those who truly love you for you will always be there by your side, accepting you as is.

Prince and the Dressmaker
Oh my gosh, this is the cutest story ever!
First off, the cover encompasses the story, and the colours are appealing and blend well to make the cover stunning. Look at how cute the Prince, Sebastian, and Frances, his dressmaker are.
Secondly, the graphics! Being a reader and reviewer, you don’t realize the tedious work that goes into creating graphic novels. Included at the end of the story, Jen Wang shows her entire process of how this story came to be. From sketching (and re-sketching), to changing the characters as she went, even showing how each detail is fine tuned in order to get the perfect story.
Thirdly, THE STORYLINE! It was set up perfectly, and flowed from one chapter to another. I was able to see as the character developed, and start to see when the characters realized that this is what they are meant to do in their lives. It was such a cute read, I can’t believe it’s over! I NEED MORE! This book is perfect for people of all ages, because it tells the tale of accepting someone for who they are, and it does not depend on their gender or their social status.

*Side Note*: I absolutely ADORED how each chapter had a picture of a different sewing pattern piece. Being a crafter myself, I thought it was such a cute touch and really added to the whole story.

Now, I am not saying that you should go out right now and buy this book, wait, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING TO DO! G out and indulge a little, experience a graphic novel (which I haven’t read in quite some time before I read this one). It is nice to change up routine, and this book is the perfect quick read.

Sweet, poignant, and beautifully written and drawn. A story about friendship, coming of age, and professional risks.

In a Parisian town, during what looks like a Renaissance period, Frances is a brilliant dressmaker who slaves away in drudgery until she's hired to work for the crown prince, Sebastian. It's only when Frances arrives at the palace does she realize that Sebastian has a secret: he loves to wear extravagant, lavish dresses and go out on the town! Together, he and Frances craft a persona, Lady Crystallia, and hit the streets of Paris together; Lady Crystallia makes a splash on the Paris fashion scene, and Frances finds her talents in demand. But to go public with her talents puts Sebastian's secret at risk.

This is a great modern fairy tale. It challenges gender identity, it's got great characters, the art is soft realistic with a touch of the fantastic, and a touch of sweet romance that will make you just sigh, "Aww!" Frances is a lovable character who I felt for, and Sebastian put my emotions through the ringer as he went through his own stress. Each chapter is set off with a dress pattern, keeping readers in the overall story. Give this one to your readers who loved Princess Princess Ever After, your Lumberjanes fans, and anyone who appreciates a good, modern fairy tale.

The Prince and the Dressmaker won't be out until February, but you can pre-order now (and check out more amazing art).

I was unfortunately unable to download this book to my kindle to review.

This was unexpectedly charming and moving. And relateable on so many levels.

For me I understood where both Sebastian and Frances were coming from; obligation vs. self is a common struggle (if not always so dramatically and prettily done).

At some point we're all faced with the question of what our dreams mean to us and how we can incorporate them into our lives. For Sebastian his dream was the harder of the two - even now it would be a harder dream to see fulfilled, even though the world has progressed in some ways.

I greatly enjoyed the kinetic feeling of the drawings as well. I read a (very) early advanced reader copy of this book (digitally no less), so I can't speak to how the images will look in print, but just from what I've seen they will pop. The colors are softer, with bright colors really coming off the page and catching you with the detail work.

In the end I found this book to be the perfect way to pass a couple hours and look forward to sharing it with my niece.

This graphic novel was a cute and quick read. Totally different plot direction than I was expecting but good themes of friendship and acceptance.

THIS WAS AWESOME! I read In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and really enjoyed the art, so reading an original work by Jen Wang was perfect. I will absolutely be recommending this to friends and buying it for loved ones.