The Prince and the Dressmaker
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4.8 • 108 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
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? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.
This title has Common Core connections.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A talented seamstress and a prince with a secret will win readers' hearts in Wang's utterly charming graphic novel, which is set in a playfully tweaked version of 19th-century Paris and highlights identity, acceptance, and fashion. After creating a scandalous dress for an attendee of Prince Sebastian's 16th birthday party, Frances an overlooked seamstress with big dreams accepts a position as personal seamstress for a mystery client. She soon discovers that her employer is none other than Prince Sebastian, who wants her to create dazzling gowns for Lady Crystallia, Sebastian's alter ego, who quickly becomes a fashion icon. Despite Frances's connection with Sebastian, she worries that being part of the prince's secret is limiting her dreams of finding success as a designer. The relationship between Frances and Sebastian both as a conflicted prince and the glamorous Crystallia glows; Frances understands that Sebastian and Crystallia are two halves of a brilliant whole. "It's weird, I don't feel like Prince Sebastian could lead a nation into battle, but Lady Crystallia could," admits the prince, inspiring Frances to create an armor-themed dress for their next midnight escapade. Frances's daring designs shine in Wang's elegantly drafted and gorgeously colored illustrations, and the irreverently anachronistic approach to the setting provides a lovely and humorous counterbalance to the seriousness of the prince's situation ("Prepare to get your lady groove on," insists the burly, bearded king, who is eager for Sebastian to be betrothed). It's all but certain to deliver grins, gasps, and some happy tears. Ages 12 up.
Customer Reviews
Buy this book!!!8
Amazing story with earth shattering art! I highly recommend this book to my and everybody!!
Delightful Read
I stumbled upon this book while out with a friend and was hooked immediately. It's a fun and emotional story for everyone. I picked it up because I recently got a sewing machine as a present and the title caught my eye. The dresses inside made me want to go home and make them myself. The character arc of Frances' and Sebastian were heartwarming and sad at times, but the art and writing kept me fully engaged and shaking with excitement until the very end. I recommend this to anyone for no other reason than it was a great experience I love to read again and again.
So cute!
So I thought that this would be like a “normal” romance. Like she creates her own dress and falls in love with a prince, but omg this made my day!