Drama (review)

Seventh-grader Callie is having a grand old time designing complicated set pieces for her school's upcoming production of Moon over Mississippi, but soon the drama backstage threatens to overshadow the play and may even cause an early curtain call. Bickering stars, a tight budget, and too few helping hands amp up the tension as opening night looms closer, and Callie's anxiety is further complicated by her multiple love interests and their confusing signals. Does eighth-grader Greg only want to hang out with her when his friends are gone? Is the hot and talented new guy really gay? And why is Callie's best guy pal acting so darn weird? With the same warmth and keen eye for middle-school details that marked her memoir, Smile (BCCB 3/10), Telgemeier's new graphic novel offers up a standing ovation-worthy depiction of the theatrics of adolescence, both on and offstage. Drama geeks will zero in on Callie's insider references to stage terms and musicals, while even the most performance-averse kid will relate to her struggles to identify the true motivations of those around her and negotiate relationships with kids just starting to figure themselves and other humans out. The panels follow a conventional layout, and the cartoony, bouncy art, which features a multicultural cast, has an Archie-style sensibility with touches of manga. Color illustrations not seen.