Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (middle school talk about breasts and periods, also teen vaping); Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When the end of year camping trip is cancelled when a student was dress coded, 8th grader Molly starts DressCoded:A Podcast giving girls at her school the opportunity to tell their stories. This is an on going problem at Fisher Middle School, ever since the new principal Dr. Couchman came, it seems that what certain girls are wearing is more important than the students' education. Soon, high school girls are contacting Molly to tell their stories as well. Molly and her friends try to petition the interim superintendent as well as the school board to review/remove the dress code but nothing happens. Now, standing up for what's right at FMS has turned from a movement into a revolution!
Firestone tells a great story about the problems of unevenly enforced dress code, targeting the more mature looking girls and ignoring the less developed who are wearing the same thing. The boys are getting away with vaping in the restrooms while girls get dress coded for showing a sliver of belly. I loved that Molly and her friends were leading a peaceful resistance; the supportive teachers and parents were great - letting the kids take the lead to try to change an unfair practice. The subplots about friendships, inclusion and growing up rounded out this well written middle grade novel.
Lisa Librarian
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment