Published: 2021
Series: N/A
Author: Carrie Firestone
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Feminism, Audiobook, Friendship, Social Justice, School
Audience (Grade Levels): Upper Elementary & Pre-Teen / Grades 5-6
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: Dress Coded
Triggers: Sexism, unfair school discipline, conversations about drugs, vaping, and adolescent substance use/addiction
Review By: Diana Cashman
Publisher’s Summary:
In this debut middle-grade girl-power friendship story, perfect for fans of Moxie, an eighth grader starts a podcast to protest the unfair dress code enforcement at her middle school and sparks a rebellion.
Molly Frost is FED UP…
- Because Olivia was yelled at for wearing a tank top.
- Because Liza got dress coded and Molly didn’t, even though they were wearing the exact same outfit.
- Because when Jessica was pulled over by the principal and missed a math quiz, her teacher gave her an F.
- Because it’s impossible to find shorts that are longer than her fingertips.
- Because girls’ bodies are not a distraction.
- Because middle school is hard enough.
And so Molly starts a podcast where girls can tell their stories, and before long, her small rebellion swells into a revolution. Because now the girls are standing up for what’s right, and they’re not backing down.
Review:
I thought that the author did a really great job showing how young girls are unfairly singled out for the clothes they wear. The main character in this book took an issue that was causing all of the girls in school to be uncomfortable and took action. She made such an impact in her community, and I loved to see how all of the kids worked together for a common goal. Sadly, the lack of support by the teachers and administrators was awful, and made teachers and administrators look really bad. It felt like the one teacher who did support the kids had to almost be sneaky to show her support. The subplot with Molly’s brother’s addiction to vaping and selling vapes sometimes overshadowed the main plot line, and in addition, it felt like the family was in crisis and they didn’t get much help which they clearly needed. I did really enjoy how this book sounded in the audio version, especially given the fact that Molly Frost had a podcast which many people listen to. It was a quick read, and I would recommend it, but to older students than I teach.
Firestone demonstrates a sharp writing style, structured around an empowering premise that moves with snappy, urgent pacing perfect for middle-school audiences. By utilizing a podcast framework, the narrative gives an immediate, authentic voice to multiple girls, creating a memorable cast of characters who demonstrate incredible community solidarity. However, a slight weakness in the structural organization lies in the family crisis subplot; the heavy focus on the brother’s vaping addiction occasionally pulls focus away from the central social justice arc. Despite this, the book’s jacket art is remarkably vibrant and eye-catching, featuring bold, youthful typography that functions as an instant visual hook to attract pre-teens browsing the shelves.
I give this novel a full 5-star rating, scoring it at the highest tier for its unique creativity, emotional resonance, and timely focus on representation. It is an exceptional recommendation for middle-grade school librarians, language arts teachers, and public library collections looking for high-interest social justice literature. This book carries significant overall value for building confidence, civil awareness, and empathy among older students navigating the complicated boundaries of middle school.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA / Media Literacy: An outstanding mentor text for exploring how audio format, audiobooks, and podcasting structures can shape modern narrative voice, tone, and character development.
- Social Studies / Civics: Connects seamlessly to junior high lessons surrounding grassroots activism, public protest, community organizing, and evaluating institutional rules.
- Health / SEL: Serves as a vital tool for discussing systemic sexism, school-wide equity, body image, and navigating peer pressure or family addiction crises.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: This title is an excellent pick for middle school book clubs, independent reading circles, or a classroom choiceboard selection. Students can outline a short pitch or record a 2-minute mock podcast script detailing an issue within their own school or local community that they believe requires positive collective action.
- Diversity & Representation: Dress Coded supports equity, diversity, and inclusion by focusing heavily on gender equity and intersectional female experiences within public school systems. It presents meaningful representation of body positivity, challenging the objectification of young girls’ bodies, and models how student activists can establish safe, equitable spaces to process administrative bias.
Readalikes:
- Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
- The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean
- Starfish by Lisa Fipps
