About This Book
Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel, Drama, follows Callie, a passionate middle schooler who pours her heart into designing sets for her school's musical. As she tackles the challenges of a limited budget and a sometimes-uncooperative crew, Callie also navigates the tumultuous waters of middle school crushes and friendships. The story sensitively explores themes of self-discovery, teamwork, and acceptance, notably featuring positive and normalized portrayals of LGBTQ characters and their coming out journeys. It's a heartwarming and empowering read for children aged 10-14, offering relatable experiences of identity and belonging.
Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!
Concepts
Discussion Prompts
1
What challenges did Callie face as a set designer, and how did she overcome them?
2
How did Jesse's feelings about performing change throughout the story? What helped him find his bravery?
3
The book shows different kinds of crushes and relationships. How do the characters support each other through their feelings?
4
Why do you think teamwork was so important for the stage crew to put on a successful play?
5
What does this book teach us about accepting ourselves and others for who they are?
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