The Power of Style

ISBN

9781773214900

Publisher & Publication Year

Annick Press, 2021

Publisher's Book Page

Author

Christian Allaire (Nipissing First Nation Ojibwe)

Author's Website

Illustrator

Illustrator's Website

Synopsis

Summary

Style is not just the clothes on our backs—it is self-expression, representation, and transformation. As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he sought out for inspiration. Now, as the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is working to change that—because clothes are never just clothes. Men’s heels are a statement of pride in the face of LGTBQ+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honor Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. In this book, Allaire discusses topics like cosplay, makeup, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice.

Notable Achievements

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; Joint winner, Top 10 Arts Books for Youth, Booklist 2021; Commended, Eureka Nonfiction Award Honoree, California Reading Association 2021; Nominated, Yellow Cedar Award 2021; Joint winner, Booklist Editors’ Choice 2021; Joint winner, Best of 2021 List, Canadian Children’s Book Centre 2021; Joint winner, Texas Topaz Reading List 2022; Joint winner, Best Bets Book List, OLA 2021; Joint winner, Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, YALSA 2022; Joint winner, Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices List 2022; Short-listed, Cybils Awards 2021; Joint winner, Bank Street College of Education’s Book of the Year List 2022; Short-listed, Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist 2022; Nominated, Rocky Mountain Book Award 2022; Winner, Norma Fleck Award, Canadian Children 2022

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews: "A vibrant read about the connections between fashion, culture, and social justice."

Link to Review

Educator Guide

This guide, created by educator Jonelle St Aubyn, includes pre-reading activities, discussion questions, supplementary videos, and extension activities.

Link to Guide