This article demonstrates how Streatfeild's acclaimed novel breaks new ground in its portrayal of children's clothing. Placing the work within a long tradition of representations of dress in children's literature, I argue that what marks Ballet Shoes out is the importance Streatfeild accords to dress and her non-moralizing stance.
In the face of rising censorship, young adult literature remains a vital source of comprehensive sex education. Building from afoundation established byJudy Blume's Forever . . . (1975),Jason Reynolds advocates for a different approach in a digital age when explicit sexual material is widely available, but models of healthy communication about sex are elusive.
