I LOVED this book. I loved the light historicism. I loved the fashion. I loved the independent women. I loved the Miyazaki-esque art. I loved the glamour. But most of all, I loved the wonderful portrayal of a gender-fluid character and Sebastian's very real struggle with identity, family, and leadership. Everything about this is great. I read it in one sitting.

Lively, beautiful, warm art to bring to life a story about deciding who you are and how you want to live your life.

This was a really adorable graphic novel and I'm so glad that it exists. The art was very colourful and cute. It was slightly pixelated since it was sent to me as a PDF so if you're reading I'd definitely recommend buying a paperback or hardback. I can imagine the art looks a letter better in printed format!

The Prince and the Dressmaker is visually charming and makes a fun treat for all ages. The story glances at the possibility of a bad outcome, but nothing truly awful comes to pass. This keeps the story light and adorable, though given its historical setting rings a little false. I do think it may have served credulity a bit to set the story, or at least Sebastian and family, in a fictive kingdom. However, this may only be an issue with cynical or older readers.

The art is pleasing to look at and provides an additional layer of detail to the story - the two protagonists love clothes and believe in their transformative power. We can see this ourselves in Wang's vibrant brush work. If the reader isn't a regular reader of graphic novels, the flow of TPATD is smooth and simple.

Plot wise, TPATD has the potential to begin a discussion of gender identity for younger readers. It's never explicitly stated how Sebastian identifies, he almost seems closer to a modern drag queen - finding power through an alternate and fearless persona - rather than someone experiencing dysphoria. This opens Sebastian up as a character people from many backgrounds can identify with.

I really have only nit pick-y complaints about this book, and certainly not ones that would impact my recommending it freely and often. I wish there was a bit more humor - there is a general positivity that does the work of humor, but I always feel a few genuinely surprising and well placed jokes elevate anything. I also wished for a little more depth, or maybe even length. The journey from the beginning to the end flows very easily and even the bumps in the road are quickly smoothed. Again, I think for this book that's not strictly to its detriment - just a personal feeling. I think a few details not specifically related to the plot but that serve the purpose of fleshing out the world or the characters would have taken a solid 10 to an 11.

I'd recommend anyone with a even a passing interest in graphic novels, history, gender identity, drawing, fashion, or any combination of the above to check out this book! It's a truly pleasant experience.

This is an adorable graphic novel about the blossoming friendship between a seamstress and a prince who wants to wear dresses.

Through Prince Sebastian and his alternate identity (Lady Crystallia), the story explores themes of self acceptance and identity exploration. The friendship between Sebastian and Frances shows the importance of supporting your friends in their choices, their passions, and in being exactly who they are. They also show the relationship between Prince Sebastian and his father and what the bonds of family are when put to the test. And there is a immensely satisfying climax.

Loved this! Very important book for young readers to encounter.

Welp, I cried. This is a beautiful book about being yourself and acceptance even when it's hard to do so. Can First Second do no wrong? I always look forward to whatever they publish and this is no exception. This should be required reading.

This book was absolutely wonderful! The fashion was divine! I loved the character of Sebastian and I also loved how accepting his parents were. Even the fashion show allowed for the story to come full circle. I would recommend this as a read for most teens.

What a delight! Jen Wang is such a fabulous illustrator (her art was the main thing I liked about In Real Life by Cory Doctorow) and now I know she's a great writer, too. She really brings this story about an ambitious seamstress and a prince who moonlights as Lady Crystallia, the most talked about fashion maven in town, to life. Some might find it to be a bit twee, but I thought it was heartwarming and just all-around adorable.

A delightful stor.y, filled with whimsical imagery and a heartfelt plot. My only quibble was that I didn't want it to end, the characters were simply wonderful and felt like friends to me by the end!

This was absolutely stunning. The art was so cute and so was the story. It was all about being who you are but also standing up for yourself. A quick, but adorable read.

A wonderful book with a powerful premise of love and understanding. Inspiring for those who are hiding their true self.

An utterly charming and delightful graphic novel. The vivid and sparkling art brings to life the world of a dressmaker and a prince who likes to wear dresses, as they become friends. The characters are engaging and the story focuses on nuances of identity, gender, self-expression, and expectation and duty. I absolutely love seeing such a positive and optimistic portrayal of gender non-conformity.

This was an absolutely heart-lifting read. This adorable identity story revolves around Prince Sebastian's love of wearing dresses and fashion that are typically for women. This graphic novel is beautifully drawn in full color. The evolution of the characters is well done. We can understand both characters' struggles and highlights.

I definitely recommend this graphic novel. It is gorgeously illustrated and tells a wonderful story of acceptance.

The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang
💃💃💃1/2 (out of 5)
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-This is an arc from netgalley-
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Seamstress Frances accepts a job from a mysterious stranger and finds she's to be the personal dressmaker to a member of the royal family--TWIST--it's Crown Prince Sebastian.
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The two strike a bargain: Frances gets to design loud, ostentatious gowns, and Sebastian gets to secretly indulge his own love for fashion by disguising himself as a well-dressed woman and hitting the town.
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The artwork in this graphic novel is so fitting and adorable. I love the depictions of the characters and their joy in discovering beauty in clothing. I thought their faces were very expressive; Wang is a talented artist.
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However, possibly as a result of my own cynicism, maybe because I've got too much knowledge of history, I could not buy into the story, which takes place in the early 20th century. Even given the relative open-mindedness of Paris, Sebastian would have met with much more hostility and resistance than is shown here. And sure, the book seems intended for younger readers, and it's more or less a fairy tale, but I couldn't help but think that Sebastian was in real danger.
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I suppose the fact that I was genuinely worried about the characters shows that they are well-developed, and I appreciate what Wang is doing with this book.
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I would recommend it for middle grades without hesitation; I think it is best read before the world becomes too real for kids.
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Graphic novels are still a fairly new genre to me, but with each one I read I fall in love a little bit more and The Prince and the Dressmaker has got to be the sweetest one I’ve read yet! Jen Wang’s illustrations were fantastic, the characters lovely, and the dresses absolutely divine. I loved watching Prince Sebastian’s confidence grow as he transformed into Lady Crystallia and I adored Frances’ friendship and easy acceptance. This story is about two characters going after their dreams and my heart warmed as I watched them come true. The ending was my favorite part as love conquered the day and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can read it all over again.

I normally don't read graphic novels, but because of the beautiful artwork in this book, I will definitely seek out more. The artwork made this a wonderful experience. The characters were unique and the dresses, with their long flowing skirts made me want to twirl.

I enjoyed this story about two teens finding the courage to stand up for who they are and what they want and learning the importance of friendship and its role in providing unconditional support, even when that means opening yourself up to scrutiny.

As for the main story line, Sebastian's secret of wearing dresses, I would have liked to know more about his feelings and inner thoughts. Understanding Sebastian's inner self more would give readers a better understanding of peers who are similar to the character.

The first thing I can say is that the illustrations were absolutely lovely. They colouring wasn't too bright and loud but neither was it too dark and dull, it was simply perfect.
I also really did adore the story, it was different and unique and did hit on an issue that has become much more prominent in recent years. The way it has been approached in this delightful graphic novel is ideal for sharing with children. As I teacher I know there are times when gender stereotyping comes into play and the big debate about boys wearing girls clothes becomes a big issue. This book is a lovely way to explore that while still being sensitive to the topic. I did love the ending though! That was just fantastic!
Overall I would recommend this book to other educators and those who have children. Actually, even if you don't have children you should still read this book.

Frances is a lowly seamstress, who is hidden in the background with several others. Frances is given an opportunity to shine, when she is tasked with creating a ball gown for a local young woman, who hopes to land the prince's hand in marriage. Surprisingly, Frances gains the attentions of Prince Sebastian, who has a secret life as Lady Crystallia. Frances begins creating dresses for Lady Crystallia and gaining the notice of all other well to-do ladies. As Frances's popularity grows, Prince Sebastian begins worrying about the kingdom finding out about his secret. Is there a way for both Prince Sebastian and Frances to remain true to themselves without hurting the other?

I love that the main character is gender fluid. There are not many gender fluid characters found in graphic novels, who are accepted instead of being the butt of a farce. I loved the illustrations. I totally want to own a Frances creation. I would even enjoy spending more time in this world.

The illustrator of the Cory Doctorow graphic novel "In Real Life" shines with this debut. Sure to appeal to fans of "Nimona," this graphic novel tackles the subject of cross-dressing in an overwhelmingly positive but realistic tone. It acknowledges the nuance of identity, gender roles, societal expectations, and fear of coming out to family. Intense stuff, but handled in such a way that younger readers can comprehend. A magnificent achievement that deserves to be included in readers advisory.
Sebastian is a dynamic and sympathetic character, dealing with his fierce desire for dresses and the huge demands on him as prince and sole royal heir of Belgium. Francis is strong and fearless in her pursuit of what is right for the achievement of her own dreams. I doubt I could be as stalwart as her, given her position as a seamstress who wants to become a designer (but on her own terms). She's also a tremendously hard worker.
The smooth storytelling and wonderful artwork disguise a surprisingly nuanced situation. The conclusion may be far-fetched, but leaves the reader satisfied.
This title is slated to be published in February 2018, just in time for Valentine's Day. I predict it will be one of the hottest middle-grade titles of 2018.
Note: I was provided an advance reading copy by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.