This sparkling debut novel, illustrated by the legendary Quentin Blake, is a timeless and important fable about courage, friendship, and challenging expectations. It introduces Dennis, a completely ordinary twelve-year-old boy who lives a completely ordinary life in a very ordinary house, except for one thing: Dennis misses his mother, who left the family, and finds a strange, unexpected comfort in fashion. His world changes forever when he meets Lisa, the coolest, most fashionable girl in school. Lisa, who is not ordinary at all, encourages Dennis to explore his unusual interest by trying on a slinky, shimmering orange dress. The two form an unlikely but instant friendship. On a whim, Lisa convinces Dennis to pretend to be a French exchange student girl named Denise for a day at school. What starts as a hilarious joke soon turns into a lesson in tolerance, acceptance, and the surprisingly cruel reactions of others, particularly his headmaster and his conservative father. Dennis must decide if he has the courage to be truly himself and challenge the small-mindedness of the world around him, proving that clothes are just clothes, and everyone deserves to be free to be who they want to be.
