The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
Summary: Paris, at the dawn of the modern age: Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!
Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend?
I am not generally a huge fan of graphic novels. (I’m not snobbish about them, I swear! They just aren’t generally my thing.) But I tore through this sweet tale in one sitting. There’s so much to love about this story – two intensely likable characters making discoveries about their world and their place in it, a tender friendship/romance that blooms alongside conflict but never takes over the story, a historical setting that brings to life parts of the past that have been hidden for too long. There are no easy answers to either Sebastian’s or Frances’s dilemmas, but both find happiness anyway when they learn to be true to themselves. A compelling, unique, funny, and touching story.
THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER is out now.
Kathy MacMillan 