Rapid Review: The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

The Prince and the Dressmaker 

by Jen Wang

Finished reading: 27/12/2020

5/5 stars.

The Prince and the Dressmaker is a graphic novel fairy-tale set in Paris in the dawn of the modern age. Prince Sebastian is turning 16-years-old and his parents believe it is time he finds a bride. However, Sebastian has a secret life, by night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia.

This graphic novel truly made me feel so happy and so emotional. The story is a charming take on the fairy-tale genre, it’s simple and beautiful. But more importantly, it explores the theme of identity and discovering oneself so wonderfully. Jen Wang handled the theme and subject matter so well and reflected a really raw and honest portrayal of being confused about one’s expression of gender. It’s about time we had more stories about princes who are secretly drag queens! The tale is so heart-warming and appeals to all ages. The ending really had me laughing through the happy tears.

I also absolutely loved the relationship between Frances and Sebastian. We are presented with such a healthy and accepting friendship, one that we should all strive to achieve with those who need our support most of all. Although Sebastian isn’t necessarily accepted by all, we also see that even those who love him most take time to come to terms with Sebastian’s individuality. It provided such an important message and made me a little more hopeful about the world.

The artwork was so stunning, it definitely had a story book feel and yet also felt so alive and animated. I really liked how Jen Wang included her writing and illustrating process at the back of the book as it was really fascinating and I’m sure will inspire other creatives. I would absolutely love to see this story adapted into a full feature-length animated movie as I think voices and movement could have the potential to create an even more powerful piece of art. I think this story is such a great teaching tool for both younger and older readers alike.

Overall, this was such a gorgeous graphic novel! More stories like this please!!