Drama: A Book Review

Hi!

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Summary: Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi, she’s a terrible singer. Instead she’s the set designer for the 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! Following the success of Smile, Raina Telgemeier brings us another graphic novel featuring a diverse set of characters that humorously explores friendship, crushes, and all-around drama!

{kindly taken from Amazon}

My Thoughts: If you haven’t read Smile yet, go find the nearest copy and read it. It’s really quick, so I’ll wait :) Alright, now that we have started on the same page, we all know that Raina Telgemeier is an AMAZING graphic novelist. {is that the right term?} Her pictures are stunning, with simple and clean lines, yet you can always find the hidden gems in the background. The stories are cute, and I found that even the most reluctant readers devour her books.

Anyhoo, this past September Raina Telgemeier decided to release Drama without notifying me. Thankfully, due to some very lovely bloggers who informed me on the release, I was able to get it at my local library. I read it in one sitting {about an hour} and it was very good. I wouldn’t say it was up to Smile standards, but it was still really good.

First off, the story was so very relatable. Callie had so much enthusiasm for her backstage crew job, and, coming fresh off my show weekend, it was so nice to see a story focused on the behind-the-scenes people. I loved that she was a theater geek, yet she didn’t try to hide her love for the stage. Uh, yay! :) Middle school is tough enough already, so I love finding characters who aren’t afraid to be themselves.

I kind of want to just give the author a big hug for depicting middle school in such a realistic way. Yes, there is plenty of drama, whether it be sibling rivalry, friendship problems, boys, or, for one character in particular, finding out who you really are. I adored the way the book was set  up, with different “acts” and an intermission. Overall, this was a delight to read, and I would most definitely recommend it.

Pros: Stunning illustrations and a relatable story.

Cons: Nothing!

Heads Up: I know some people are not comfortable handing  a story to their tween with a gay character in it, so I thought I would just let you all know!

Overall: I give this 5 stars {*****} and I recommend it for ages 12 and up.

some links of note… {which by the way, I do occasionally, just for fun!}

• a book exchange for the holidays
• glee is back tomorrow!
• ebook for gift-giving {it’s never too early!}
• a little message for a happy wednesday

That’s all for today!

B

Psst. The blog got a happy Thanksgiving update and I tried to space out the “My Thoughts” section to make it easier to read. Don’t you like it? Me too.

The Popularity Papers: The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang: A Book Review

Hi!

That was a very long title :)

The Popularity Papers: The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow

Summary: School’s out! Julie and Lydia have successfully made their way through sixth grade, but they are thankful it’s finally summer. When their parents have a “Double Family Meeting,” Julie and Lydia learn that they will be taking a road trip! Julie’s dads are helping Papa Dad’s grandparents move, and the girls are tagging along. On the way back, they’ll stop at a few places, see a few sights, and continue to gather information for their quest for popularity. However, families are never perfect. Lydia’s dad could care less about his daughters. Julie’s other set of grandparents don’t want to accept Daddy. Camping was NOT a good idea. Will Julie and Lydia be able to work through all of the tension and still enjoy their vacation?

My Thoughts: Julie and Lydia make me laugh. And smile :) The entire Popularity Papers series is hilarious, and it deals with heavy themes in a funny and entertaining way. I feel that these are much better than Dork Diaries, and, yes, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. GASP. I know. But, to tell you the truth, the writing and illustrations are much better, and the books don’t make constant middle school boy jokes. Yay! Now, the writing wasn’t outstanding, but I think it’s hard to have an award-winning story when it is mostly told in snippets of writing in between drawings and emails. On the other hand, the pictures were gorgeous, and I’m so jealous of Amy Ignatow’s artistic skill! The pictures really completed the book, and they helped to pace the story along. Julie and Lydia are two cuties, and the author made sure their bond was evident to the reader. I felt that their dialogue and actions were realistic, especially when Lydia was swooning over Julie’s cousin :) Lydia had a bit more development than Julie, but that’s mostly because we met Lydia’s dad. He’s a jerk, and I’m glad that Lydia is close with Julie’s dads. Julie’s second set if grandparents weren’t that nice either. Oh, and I was heartbroken when Papa Dad shaved his beard off! It was like he was an entirely different person. He’s my favorite character, by the way. I laughed out loud when Lydia dyed her hair blue! I don’t think it was meant to be funny, but come on, it was just a little bit, right? The actual road trip was easy to follow, and the added picture of how a certain city looks helped me to follow the route of Julie and Lydia. I enjoyed the tidbits of each city, although the girls didn’t, and I could tell Ignatow did her research. I think I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but road trips seem to be a recurring theme in middle school and young adult books. Not that I mind, but it’s something I’ve noticed…

Pros: A funny story, fairly good character development, and terrific pictures!

Cons: The writing wasn’t out of this world, but it’s a good choice for reluctant readers.

Heads Up: Eh, nothing too concerning.

Overall: I give it 4 stars {****} and I recommend it for ages 10 and up.

Bella :)

* Just wanted to add that I got a glimpse of the 2012 fall Vera Bradley bags in person today! They are so pretty, and I can’t wait for the release. More to come!