This book is fantastic! It includes so many important topics for middle grades readers while being engaging and well written. The story focuses on an 8th grade girl who starts a podcast because of a dress code that targets and shames girls at their school. Her podcast is her way of standing up for her friends and herself. She ends up getting a lot of support for her actions and the students have a peaceful protest because no one will listen to their concerns. This book tackles issues of objectifying girls, puberty, changing friendships, bullying, body shaming, sexism. It also shows readers the power of using their own voices and standing up for their rights.

Loved it! So true to middle schoolers - at school, with friends, self-consciousness, and in family dynamics. Great example of finding your voice and using it! Highly recommended purchase for middle school libraries

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an absolute delight and a must-have for all middle school classroom libraries! The author touches on so many important issues in a way that kids will understand and appreciate. The topic of policing girls' bodies using an unfair school dress code is one that many students will identify with, and I loved the inclusion of the vaping subplot as well. The story is inspiring but never preachy, and the author does a great job of capturing an eighth grader's voice and all of the worries, drama, and fears that accompany that time in someone's life. Buy a copy for the middle school English teachers in your life!

Review posted on Goodreads on June 18, 2020.

I was really excited about the premise of this book, seeing the potential relevance and connections to students at our junior high and high school library. I couldn't get past the writing style. I expected a hair more maturity to
believe the characters and the plot. There were so many characters that it would be hard for my girls to keep up with who each person is, their relationships, and their general character/personality.
I had to give up about 50% through (which isn't like me, truly!).
Hopefully the final version will prove to be tighter, elevated, and achieve a fullness that this version didn't quite have for me.

3 stars

This is a wonderful concept, and it is truly charming to watch and listen to the main character, Molly, outline her grievances, make space for others, and find creative outlets (notably a podcast) for achieving these goals.

Molly notices the injustice surrounding dress coding early on, but it's a particular instance that proves the final straw: the targeting of a particular classmate who is more developed than some of her peers, who has an embarrassing moment that all people with periods can relate to (though I wish this were not embarrassing - that's a whole other deal), and who gets publicly shamed for baring her shoulders on campus. The entire scene really transports the reader back to middle school and provides some solid empathetic horror. After getting this classmate's story, the m.c. continues recording first hand experiences and becomes quite the activist.

While the premise is excellent and there are many strengths, there are a few aspects of this novel that did not work for me. Molly - a middle schooler - talks and writes like an established adult: a confident one at that. I'll avoid spoilers, but there are various interactions in which she is more poised and eloquent than most adults would be in her the same scenario. It is...weird. In general, her voice always felt like an adult was writing her, and that is tough in a middle grade novel (but possible to escape! For a recent example, see Julie Murphy's _Sweet Pea_). On the other hand, Molly's mom is unbearable. There is a true role reversal going on that I did not understand. The mother is weirdly obsessed with Molly's future prom date...in four years. However, she seems to have no clue what either of her kids is actually doing or how to provide guidance or support. Their dynamic was crazy making for me. I also found this novel to be way too long. The dress coding situation is a great frame, but other aspects - like the vaping and quick mentions of the kids' identities - were random and not well integrated. All of these components have promise, but I wish there had been some thorough reworking in the noted areas.

This concept is absolutely worthy of a read, but I did find myself really frustrated by some of what I felt I was wading through on the journey.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC. Molly Frost is my new heroine. Having had middle school daughters experience a similar dress-code, with similar purpose of not distracting boys, this book really hit home. Although they thankfully never encountered the bullying by staff, the scenes in this book were all too possible. I appreciated the subplot of the dangers of vaping and a family in turmoil, as well as middle school friend issues. Can’t wait to recommend this book to many of our patrons. 4.5 stars.

I have read Firestone’s previous books and loved every single one of them. When I heard about Dress Coded, I was intrigued. Although it is considered middle grade, older teens and adults can enjoy the strong friendships and girl power.

These girls banded together to fight for what they believed in, fighting the injustice of school dress codes that are not always fair and targets girls in particular. United against the cause and with Molly’s podcast the girls have a platform to express themselves which is very clever and apt for our modern times.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I absolutely loved Dress Coded! It covered so much ground in terms of the middle school experience. I think this would be a perfect title for a middle school book club, or even as a family read. It’s empowering! (especially for girls, but for everyone really!) The methods of getting things accomplished could be translated into other causes that people believe in and want to stand up for. The dress code concept and the ways it harms and dehumanizes were demonstrated in so many different ways via the podcast and the stories each guest bravely shared. There is so much worth talking about in this book in addition to the dress code focus. For example, vaping, being yourself, dealing with bullying, finding people to believe in you, support you, and fight alongside you when necessary, how the things you say and do impact others, how policies and systems can harm people when the enforcers aren’t showing any empathy/compassion/understanding. Even if read individually, without a discussion group, this book is so worth it because it’s compelling and it flows. The podcast and letter formats fit in to the story smoothly! I loved the letters for their openness and honesty. There were some LOL moments in this book, in addition to some cheer worthy moments! I’ll be finding hands and hearts to share it with as soon as this one gets released!

Before reading this book, students in one of my classes was grumbling about the school dress code. How I wish this had be available for them to read as it dealt with many of the issues the female students were complaining about.

Molly Frost is about to graduate from middle school. The school has promised a camping trip if there are no dress code infractions until the end of the school year. But when there is an infraction due to a personal reason by one of Molly's friends, the trip is cancelled. Upset by the unfairness of the school dress code at the middle school, Molly decides to start a podcast where she interviews people that have been dress coded. These girls share their embarrassing and sometimes traumatizing experiences involved with being dress coded.

Since I had a early copy of this on my Kindle, some of the formatting was off. I assume the chapters to be short. One of my favorite parts of this book was the podcast. It's the first time I've really seen this format used for a book, and I hope to see more like it in the future.

On a personal level, I felt for Molly's relationship with her brother. I appreciated the problem of vaping being addressed in this book as it was a problem last school year with our sixth graders. Honestly, this book addressed a lot from vaping, dress coding, speaking up for what is right, podcasts, figuring out your sexuality, and a trans girl shares her experience being dress coded near the end of the book. While I would like to incorporate this into a read aloud or book club, the beginning does mention budding breasts and whatnot, and I'm not sure that this would be appropriate? That's not to say I won't have this in my personal classroom library. I will for sure.

Molly Frost is an eighth grader in Connecticut. Her older brother, Danny, is quite frankly awful. Not only does he vape, but he’s actively introducing middle schoolers to vaping by selling them pods. And he’s mean to his sister and parents. So Molly concentrates on her friends, other girls on her lacrosse team. Until she sees a friend from elementary school be humiliated by the school principal over a dress code violation - wearing a tank top. This sets Molly on a quest for change. Not just for her and her friends but for future middle school girls.

This was a good book for young activists. I love how Molly and her classmates recognized inequality and unfairness in a policy and took steps to change the policy. I enjoyed the podcast sections of the book and found the guests' stories to be compelling and relatable. However, there were a large number of characters in this book and, at times, I had difficulty remembering all of them and their individual stories. There was a secondary plot occurring that focused on vaping, which I think is a really important topic to examine. I especially liked that, in this book, the effects of vaping on the user's entire family was a focus. I liked the different styles applied to various chapters- podcasts, lists, letters, etc. I do wish there was a bit more "showing" and less "telling." But, overall, this was an enjoyable book and a great example of how children (and really, anyone) can speak out about issues that are important to them and find ways to effect change.

For anyone who's ever had problems feeling comfortable in their own skin (and who hasn't?), connecting with Dress Coded will be easy. Even as a public middle school librarian, I found myself cheering for the girls in this book, ostracized because the clothing they are wearing to school puts a target on their back. I don't mean that they are wearing low cut, too short, too tight clothes to get attention. These are students who feel ashamed of their body every day because of staff looking to criticize them, drawing attention to the details that already make a middle school girl self-conscious. These girls take a stand, and I was taking a stand with them while I read. There is a definite standard we hold some students to more than others, and some students are equally invisible. Why should body type make a student feel singled-out? As an educator, this book made me stop and think about dress codes a little differently. It also made me think about the way we criticize students, our inner prejudices that we don't even realize exist, and how a few kind adults in their lives can bring about security and self-esteem. This is one I am happy to recommend!

An excellent read about female friendships and the power of speaking up. I loved Molly finding herself while fighting against a real injustice and dealing with serious family troubles. She's an excellent heroine. the other characters were just as wonderful and nuanced. It's also an incredibly inclusive story with characters of different races, abilities, and orientations. Most importantly, it's a story about standing up for yourself and your friends with integrity.

I will be recommending this to a lot of my middle school readers. Molly has the heart of an activist that really shows through in this story. Everyone knows the trials and tribulations of middle school dress codes. Certain girls are called out for every little thing, especially the more developed ones, while others wear the same clothes with no problems. And of course the boys never get called out for their clothes. Molly has reached the end of her rope with her school's dress code. It starts out with a podcast "Dress Coded" and turns into petitions and sit ins to get the administration to change the dress code. I think a lot of students will feel inspired by Molly's tenacity, and maybe be compelled to spark change in their own schools.

A very charming and realistic look at middle school life. While I don't think dress codes will ever fade from public schools, this story shows mature and wise protests of injustices.

For the future feminists and for supportive girl culture, Dress Coded shines a much-needed light on the tough topics that can't be ignored. We need to fix each other's crowns! Molly Frost is a middle school role model who tackles the tough topics like changing bodies, fading friendships, peer pressure, and speaking up for what you believe in, even if it talking about things like tampon fails. If there was ever a book that represents what it is like to be in middle school in 2020, I'd nominate this title. There's vaping and coming out to your friends and telling the truth and the ethics of bear hunts and kindness rocks, because what is more 'right now' than ridiculous kindness rocks. Get the conversations going . . . Dress Coded should be on your back to school list. Let's talk about this!

Dress Coded addresses body image, misogyny, and gender inequality keeping in mind a middle grade audience. It addresses these charged topics in an approachable and interesting way, where the information is mainly presented coming from the young characters themselves, rather than from older mentors or teachers. The author does a great job in folding the informational aspects of the work, addressing these topics, into a relatable and engaging story about this group of kids and their relationships, struggles and hopes. I'd highly recommend this book to 4 - 6th grade students of all gender identities.

A delightfully sharp protagonist tackles a very real issue: sexist school dress codes. This is perfect for early middle schoolers with a bent towards social justice.

Overshadowed at home by her brother's vaping addiction, and seen as small, young-looking and average at school, Molly Frost is used to being overlooked and invisible. But when she witnesses the humiliation of a classmate due to a unfairly enforced dress code, Molly decides to step into the spotlight and speak up. With the help of a podcast and an ever growing circle of friends, Molly finds the courage to be a voice for change in her middle school.

Molly Frost is an incredibly likeable and realistic character. The use of letters she wishes to write to others show her growing maturity and empathy for others. Carrie Firestone takes the time to describe each of Molly's friends, their interests, their struggles, and the way they support each other, making them fully fleshed out characters. The adults in the book are also well portrayed. It would be easy to make them into "bad guy" caricatures, but as time goes on, you witness the quiet support of many adults throughout the community. A moving and inspiring story.

Just finished #DressCoded and LOVED it! This book really made me rethink about the dress code where I currently work. There are so many positive messages in this story and Firestone captures the trials of middle school beautifully. The characters are diverse and relatable, both students and faculty! Thank you @NetGalley and author @CLLFirestone! Highly recommend!