Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Short Summary

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a colourful and engaging graphic novel for tweens and early teens that explores friendship, crushes, and first love. With relatable characters and a school-theatre backdrop, it helps kids navigate the ups and downs of growing up, fitting in, and discovering who they are – all without diving into sexual content.

Age Group

Suitable for children aged 10 to 14 years.

Topics Discussed

Graphic Novels | Growing Up

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Buy a copy of Drama by Raina Telgemeier from Amazon.

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What this book is about

  • Drama follows Callie, a middle-school student who loves theatre and joins her school’s stage crew for the upcoming musical.
  • Along the way, she experiences friendship struggles, her first crush, and the excitement (and awkwardness) of a first kiss.
  • One of the boys she likes confides that he’s gay, and she helps him keep that private while learning more about what it means to be a supportive friend.
  • The story explores themes like liking someone, wondering if they like you back, handling rejection, and understanding emotions – all through a gentle, age-appropriate lens.
  • The graphic-novel format makes it easy and fun to read, especially for reluctant readers.
  • It’s also a wonderful resource for parents to use as a conversation starter about friendship dynamics, emotional intelligence, and early relationships.
  • While the story includes same-sex attraction, it focuses more on self-acceptance and kindness than sexuality, making it accessible for a wide range of families.
  • Drama is a great pick for tweens who are starting to explore friendships, feelings, and identity – and for parents who want to talk about these topics in a relaxed, natural way.
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I hope you find this book review helpful!

Happy talking!
❤️ Cath

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Cath Hakanson is a qualified family sex educator, sexual health nurse and author with 30+ years of clinical and education experience. As an AuDHD parent of two neurodivergent children, she creates clear, practical sex ed resources that help parents talk about bodies, puberty, consent, porn, relationships and sex without shame or judgement.