Dress Coded

Molly’s treehouse is a recurring symbol in Dress Coded. It is where Molly records her podcast, but before this, it was used for pretend play (i.e., a fairy house, a keep, the Gryffindor common room). The treehouse was where Molly, Will, and Mary Kate spent many hours making different kinds of slime, even starting an Instagram account called @TreehouseSlimeFactory.

The treehouse is where Molly continues to experience The Transition From Childhood to Adolescence. The space was initially used for pretend play, but is now a place where creative, tangible things are made (i.e., slime and a podcast). This transition from slime to a podcast symbolizes Molly’s growth into a young woman who cares about real-life social issues. The treehouse frames her as having always been creative and collaborative. She used to make slime with Will and Mary Kate, and now she records podcast episodes with friends and newcomers.

Letters are a recurring motif in the novel, with official communication being sent by Fisher Middle School or board chair Mae Dunn, and imaginary letters (and one physical one) being written by Molly—the latter of which offer a glimpse into her inner world. As a storytelling technique, the letters convey important information succinctly, such as Danny having always been a “sad” child, or why other students don’t interact with Tom anymore.