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

Buy a Copy

Buy a copy of Drama by Raina Telgemeier from Amazon.

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.

I hope you find this book review helpful!

Happy talking!
❤️ Cath