Drama by Raina Telgemeier

For complete transparency, I have to be honest and put it out in the open that I have had Drama, by Raina Telgemeier, in my classroom library for a LONG time, but this was my first time reading it. I also heard it was on some banned books lists. It wasn’t the best move on my part as a teacher (or librarian). Still, like many in those positions out there, it is impossible to read every book in your classroom library. This is especially true when you work to constantly weed and update the collection to meet students’ interests and reading levels, keeping the library fresh and engaging.

Raina Telgemeier is an author I have seen many of my fourth-grade students in fourth grade fall in love with! Does this have to do with the fact that the majority of her works are graphic novels? Sure! In fact, when Smile came out, I noticed the graphic novel genre really took the reading world by storm. While many students seek her stories for the visual aspect, they stay because of the real-life and relatable topics she discusses. Raina does not give kids the ultimate answer on how to solve something, or give children the idea that life is easy… but she does use humor, memorable main characters, and helps children discover that having a hard time growing up is normal.

I enjoyed reading Drama. Just because it is a graphic novel with a lot of visuals does not mean it is an easy read or that it lacks depth and requires strong reading skills. I often hear parents complain about graphic novels, and having a child who exclusively wants to read that genre can be an issue (especially if some of those novels are more for straight entertainment and lack a more profound meaning). Drama is NOT a book in this genre that follows those parents’ thoughts/opinions.

The book follows the story of a middle school girl named Callie, who loves theater and is navigating the world of crushes and young love. Through Callie, the message of finding your own way and making peace with certain aspects of your life is shared. For example, Callie loves the theater, but discovers singing and acting are NOT her strengths. Instead of being defeated or upset, Callie falls in love with set design and creating worlds on stage for actors to shine. She never gives readers the indication that she is upset by her role behind the scenes in the theater. Instead, she is all in and ecstatic to design, create, and challenge herself to do things that others think she cannot. A diverse and supportive group of friends also surround her, including boys with whom she may or may not have feelings beyond friendship. The honesty of Callie’s feelings, confused about whether a boy is a “friend” or possibly a “boyfriend,” is relatable and shows that navigating love is never easy.

Lastly, what is the drama surrounding Drama? Why is it on some banned book lists? Well… I found out it was because the book features characters from the LGBTQ+ community. It includes a scene where two boy characters kiss on stage during the musical in their roles as actors. Later in the book, we do find out that one of the boy characters is gay and may be a bit interested in the other. While reading the book, I wasn’t surprised to encounter this inclusion, as the book’s primary purpose was to depict the challenges of navigating life as you grow up. Which, honestly, makes me sad and frustrated that this book is being censored for some children/teens. How many readers have similar stories or feelings as some of the characters? How many readers do not have much knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community or their experiences? I want to make sure these readers in my classroom get to have the opportunity to do so.