Writing 

“[Morrison] honestly examines disordered eating resulting from peer and familial pressures in graphic detail, pulling from her own relationships with her mother and body image. She also thoughtfully develops Yasmin’s and Carmen’s backgrounds, cultivating an understanding of each girl’s immigration experiences. A raw and vulnerable exploration of widely relevant and resonant themes.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Honest first-person prose lucidly centers Yasmin’s anxieties as she struggles to accept the impact of her mindset on her relationships and herself. Throughout, Morrison smartly and bravely explores inherited trauma by revealing the roots of Maman’s anti-fat rhetoric, crystallizing in an uplifting, recovery-focused novel that empowers readers to be themselves.”

"Morrison’s writing style keeps readers engaged and ­wondering what will ­happen next. A timely and powerful story of immigration, puberty, and healthy food and body habits for tweens. Highly ­recommended for ­purchase."

“Morrison provides a delicate depiction of the disordered eating habits Yasmin develops as a coping mechanism . . . Yasmin’s internal dialogue reflects the tumult of a vicious cycle that has Yasmin hoping for acceptance from others and then being met with a rejection that only makes her more desperate . . . The ending prioritizes Yasmin’s health and happiness, as hard conversations and a friend’s bravery allow what truly matters about Yasmin, who she is within, to shine on the outside.”

"The Blue Dress, written by IranianAmerican author Rebecca K. Morrison, is drawing on her own life to tell a powerful coming of age story. Morrison’s narrative follows a young girl named Yasmin, who is navigating the challenges of adolescence, cultural expectations and the pressures of fitting in both at school and within her family."

"For local author Rebecca Morrison, that was life. The Iranian-American writer weaves aspects of her own personal story into her debut young adult novel, The Blue Dress, which releases on March 24 from Macmillan Publishers."

“A successful intervention helps Yasmin break more than one unhealthy cycle and begin loving herself for exactly who she is.”

"We chat with author Rebecca Morrison about The Blue Dress, which follows an Iranian American girl who navigates complicated relationships with her mother, her best friend, and her body image in this unflinching and ultimately uplifting middle-grade debut."