Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier, award-winning author of Smile, has created another uplifting school story in full colour graphic novel format. Drama stars Grade 7 student Callie, who is part of the stage crew in a production of Moon over Mississippi. She is determined to make a cannon fire during the show, even though she has next to no budget for creating the set.

The real drama takes place in the friendships and crushes happening offstage. The cast and crew include an out gay character and one who has yet to come out, all handled in a very positive way.

Telgemeier slyly references her own unusual first name in one panel, where Callie introduces herself to a pair of cute twin boys. One of them says, "Callie! What a happy-sounding name. Very sunshiny."

Drama is a sunshiny kind of book, sweet-but-not-saccharine; perfect for girls in Grade 5 to 8.