The Boy in the Dress
Illustrator
Quentin Blake
Publisher
HarperCollins Children's
Publication Year
2008
ISBN
9780007279036
Pages
231 pages
Genre
realism
Format
novel
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
Dennis' life is boring and lonely. His mother left two years ago, his truck driver father is depressed, his brother is a bully and, worst of all, "no hugging" is one of their household rules. But one thing Dennis does have is soccer--he's the leading scorer on his team. Oh, and did we mention his secret passion for fashion?
Grade Level
6-8, 9-12
Lexile Measure
650L
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Single parent; Divorce; Gender nonconformity; single father; divorced parents; boys who dress like girls
Main Character
male child
Race/Ethnicities
White
Family Formation
single father
Awards
Children's and Young Adult Literature Award, 2011, Honor Book, Children's (Young Adult Literature)
New Horizons Book Award, 2010, Short List
Roald Dahl Funny Prize, 2009, Short List, Funniest Book for Children Aged 7-14
Choices, 2010 Children's Fiction
Gay and Lesbian Themes and Topics in Selected Children's and Young Adult Books, 2009 Sex and Gender Identity
Rainbow List, 2010 Fiction
Thickskinned, Thinskinned, The Skin I'm In: Books about Bullying, Teasing, Relational Aggression and School Violence, 2013 Being Different (Grades 4 - 8)
Keywords
dressing up; fashion; friendship; soccer; absent mother
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Walliams, David, "The Boy in the Dress" (2008). Diverse Families. 392.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/392