Molly is fed up with the way her middle school's administration unfairly uses the school dress code to harass girls, so she creates a podcast for girls to share their experiences getting "dress coded" that eventually spirals into a community-wide movement. Anyone who has ever been to middle school will relate to this story about young adolescents feeling self-conscious in their new bodies. The story is engaging and fast-paced, and Molly and her friends are all depicted sympathetically. The narrative tries to do too much, though; the second major storyline is about Molly's teenage brother Danny, who is addicted to vaping and sells supplies to middle schoolers, and how how his disfunction hurts the whole family, but this storyline feels a little disjointed and at times completely overshadows the dress code storyline. There are also a lot of details about Molly's friend troubles and their unrequited crushes that, while these experiences ring true to middle-school life, muddy the narrative. There are so many characters that it's hard to keep them all straight, let alone who is in love with whom.

While the book depicts a compelling argument for why a middle-school dress code should be overturned, it does so in a lopsided fashion. All characters who don't agree with the girls' argument are villainized and depicted as sexist, racist, and/or hateful toward children. The author assumes readers will be on board with her (radical, by many schools' standards) dismissal of dress codes and thus alienates readers who might not agree with the full extent of her argument by painting them as intolerant bigots. A timely, important, and discussion-provoking story, although likely to be controversial in some circles.

Dress coded is a book that will bring the reader back to those care free days before high school. The empowering way the main character found a way to bring together several years worth of students, their families, and the town over an issue is extraordinary. If a podcast can bring people together like that in real life, I’d be surprised, but this is one book that should be made into a movie for sure since it deals with the hardest time in a girls life.

Dress Coded is a body image positive book for today's young reader. Despite issues going on in her own home, Molly Frost decides to take matters into her own hand when her middle school's dress code enforcers take things too far. There are a lot of forces trying to get her to stop her fight including one of her best frinds, but in the end she has to decide... does she just move on to high school and forget about it, or fight for what is right for her last few weeks of middle school and the girls that will come after her?

Carrie Firestone taps into the dress code plague that infects many school systems - touching on the legality of it all while opening the wounds of how such rules affect a student's emotional and physical well-being. She also spotlights the vaping epidemic and how it has spread to even our youngest students. The style of the book will appeal to young readers, as will the diverse group of students working together to address their rights. Definitly a book I will recomend to my library patrons as well as my Girl Scout troop.

Molly is a relatable and likable 8th grader with an annoying older brother and a problem with her school's dress code. When her old friend is set up to take the fall for the entire 8th grade losing their class trip, Molly finds her voice to speak out against the unfair dress code.

This book is timely since many schools are struggling to find a dress code that does not target young women unfairly. It also echoes the #metoo movement on a relatable scale in that these young women speak out about how they felt scrutinized and harassed based on the clothes they wore to school. I enjoyed Molly's use of social media - a podcast - to gain traction for her cause as she interviews girls who were victims of the harsh implementation of the dress code. Firestone made each experience personal and unique which added authenticity to the characters. While there are two educators that are the stereotypical, close-minded, strict rule followers, Firestone also includes teachers and administrators that rally behind Molly and her friends. I enjoyed reading a book where the parents, while imperfect, were sensitive and understanding.

The only reason I gave it four stars, not five, is the storyline of Danny - Molly's brother. While I appreciate Firestone wanting to tackle the issue of teen vaping, I felt like some of his experience was exaggerated and distracted from the overall plot of the book while not adding anything to it. I don't know that kids will find this realistic which may cause them to dismiss the warnings that come with Danny's storyline.

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

When Molly Frost is the secret witness to what really happened the day Olivia Bonaventura is dress coded and becomes the most hated girl in eighth grade at Fisher Middle School she knows she can't stay silent. It's not just that Olivia was treated unfairly, it's that many female students, over many years, have been unfairly dress coded by their principal Dr. Couchman and his administrative henchman; Mr. Dern and a woman known by the students as "Fingertip." When a girl gets dress coded, it means they have been caught in violation of the school's dress code. A dress code that makes it seem like girls' bodies (especially those that are more developed, large, or just a little different) are a distraction. Depending on the girl, what they are wearing, and who catches them, it can mean anything from getting a warning, to having to call your parents and have them bring you different clothes, or having to wear Fingertip's disgusting old burgundy sweater that's covered in cat hair, but it ALWAYS includes humiliation.

Olivia's dress code violation includes being verbally shammed and humiliated by Dr. Couchman and Mr. Dern. It's worse than that though as not only is she not allowed to explain why she was wearing a tank top, but the eighth grade camping trip is also cancelled as a result of her breaking the code. In order to get out Olivia's real story, Molly starts Dress Coded: A Podcast. The unreasonable and unfair enforcement of the dress code policy is commonly known by current and former students, but as more and more girls come forward to share their story a movement begins.

VERDICT is this is a great book that is a must have for any library. I can see a young me in Molly's shoes and wanting to change an injustice but not knowing the best way to proceed. Molly jumps in and finds a creative way to help spread Olivia's story through a podcast. This book shows that you can instigate change no matter how old you are and even if it seems like you don't have a lot of power.

Dress Coded is about an eighth grader named Molly who decides to start a podcast after witnessing the unfair way girls are punished for dress code violations at her school. The interview style drew the reader to the different perspectives of the girls who had been dress coded. The story was a great take on positive action young people can take to make a difference even if the subject matter may make some readers uncomfortable.

I was a bit bothered by idea of Molly carrying off a podcast. The story didn't really go into how the podcast was produced or distributed. It was a little unbelievable that she created a podcast rather than usied another form of social media that is more popular with kids.

Putting that aside, it was a feel good read that might inspire more social activism.

Molly has had it with the dress code at her school after watching her friend Olivia get humiliated by the principal for a tank top, she knows she has to do something, and so the Dress Coded podcast is born. Soon it becomes clear that this problem of body shaming girls has been going on way too long at Fisher Middle School, and Molly is determined to put an end to it.

When I started the book, I wasn't sure about it. Would it be too preachy? After I read a few chapters I began to enjoy the author's style and the flow of the story. As someone who was dress coded in middle school and experienced that form of humiliation, I was rooting for these girls. The idea of a podcast used for activism in middle school is a great way to show young people that their voices can be heard. I thought the family relationships were relevant and the issues of vaping were handled well. These are problems that middle school kids face every day. Carrie Firestone was not heavy handed with her treatment of the issues. It was done in a way that would appeal to middle school kids.

I definitely recommend this book for middle school libraries.