Drama by Raina Telgemeier Summary

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a graphic novel that follows Callie, a seventh-grader who loves theater but can't sing, so she becomes the set designer for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi. As Callie navigates building a Broadway-worthy set on a middle school budget, she deals with friendship drama, confusing crushes, and the challenges of working with a diverse crew. The story explores coming-of-age themes while normalizing LGBTQ+ relationships through characters discovering their identities during the theater production.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is ideal for middle school readers ages 10-14 (grades 5-8), though it appeals to anyone who has been involved in teenage theater. The graphic novel is perfect for young readers navigating friendships, crushes, and self-discovery, particularly those interested in performing arts or creative expression. It's also valuable for children seeking LGBTQ+ representation, as it normalizes diverse identities without sensationalism. Younger children with advanced reading skills can enjoy it too, while older teens and adults appreciate its authentic portrayal of adolescence.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is absolutely worth reading as a #1 New York Times bestseller and multiple Eisner Award-winning graphic novel. The book stands out for its authentic portrayal of middle school life, combining humor with meaningful exploration of friendship, inclusion, and determination. Raina Telgemeier's signature technique of blending verbal narrative with pictorial storytelling creates an engaging, fast-paced read that captures the "horrifically wonderful time of adolescence". Its groundbreaking normalization of LGBTQ+ characters has earned widespread praise, though it's also sparked controversy and challenges.

Raina Telgemeier is an acclaimed American cartoonist and #1 New York Times bestselling author known for graphic novels like Smile, Sisters, Guts, and Ghosts. Drama draws directly from Telgemeier's high school experiences in choir and singing in ensemble for school plays. Although Drama is fiction, several characters are based on real people from her life—the twin brothers Jesse and Justin mirror two of her actual friends and their real-life personalities. Originally conceived as a high school story, Scholastic suggested the middle school setting to better fit the target audience.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier explores friendship, teamwork, inclusion, and determination through Callie's relationships with her peers during the theater production. The graphic novel tackles coming-of-age themes including navigating crushes, discovering sexuality, and learning about oneself while working toward a common goal. It addresses hegemonic masculinity through characters like Matt and Jesse who struggle with societal expectations of "real men" and ultimately resist toxic masculine norms. The book normalizes LGBTQ+ identities without making them controversial, showing characters discovering themselves naturally through their shared passion for theater.

Callie Marin is the seventh-grade protagonist of Drama by Raina Telgemeier, a purple-haired girl who loves theater but can't sing well enough to audition for the school play. Instead, she becomes the set designer for Eucalyptus Middle School's production of Moon Over Mississippi, determined to create a Broadway-worthy set on a middle school budget. Callie's vivacious energy, single-minded devotion to theater, and bold personality make her an inspiring and realistic teenage character. Throughout the story, she navigates confusing crushes, budding friendships with twin brothers Justin and Jesse, and various behind-the-scenes challenges.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier normalizes LGBTQ+ identities by featuring characters who discover their sexuality naturally without sensationalized coming-out stories or rejection. The character Jesse is openly gay, and West questions whether he's bisexual while navigating relationships throughout the book. In the climactic scene, Jesse saves the play by wearing a dress to replace an actress, ultimately leading to him and West kissing onstage to audience applause. What makes Drama groundbreaking is that "it does not make a big deal that a character is gay"—it simply shows young people discovering themselves through theater.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier became the seventh-most banned book between 2010 and 2019, appearing on the American Library Association's list of top ten most challenged books for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. The graphic novel is currently being reviewed for potential removal from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District's shelves. Despite winning multiple awards for normalizing the LGBTQ+ community, conservative groups have challenged the book due to its portrayal of gay and questioning characters, including scenes where Jesse dresses as a female character and kisses West.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is appropriate for ages 10-14, targeting middle school readers in grades 5-8. The target audience includes anyone in middle school and up who can relate to the authentic portrayal of tween hardships, crushes, and friendships. Younger children with advanced reading skills can enjoy the graphic novel as well. The book's content includes LGBTQ+ themes and realistic middle school drama, making it a valuable discussion starter for age-appropriate conversations about identity, inclusion, and acceptance.

Moon Over Mississippi is the fictional school musical that Eucalyptus Middle School produces in Drama by Raina Telgemeier, serving as the backdrop for the entire story. Literary scholar Michelle Ann Abate criticizes the play's title as representing a "whitewashing and idealization of Southern plantation life" that ignores the realities of slavery and the antebellum South. The production becomes the stage for both literal and figurative drama, as characters navigate technical challenges, romantic entanglements, and identity discovery while bringing the show to life.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier faces criticism from scholar Michelle Ann Abate for its "romanticization of the antebellum South and lack of meaningful discussion of race," particularly through the school play Moon Over Mississippi. Abate argues that despite featuring a multicultural cast, the characters' failure to engage in dialogue about race and power undermines the novel's progressive intentions. The absence of discussion about racial tensions reflects many millennials' discomfort with addressing race issues despite embracing tolerance and diversity. This troubling treatment of both historical and contemporary racial issues compromises Drama's status as a fully progressive novel.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier shares thematic similarities with her other acclaimed graphic novels Smile, Sisters, Guts, and Ghosts, all exploring coming-of-age themes with her signature blend of manga and comic forms. Like her other works, Drama draws from Telgemeier's personal experiences to create authentic, relatable content for middle school readers. While Smile and Sisters are autobiographical memoirs, Drama is fiction inspired by her high school theater experiences. All her graphic novels feature diverse characters and explore adolescent challenges, but Drama uniquely focuses on theater production and stands out for its groundbreaking normalization of LGBTQ+ identities.