Drama, by Raina Telgemeier is a graphic novel dealing with both the on- and off-stage drama that takes place during a middle school production of a school play. Several things about the book are quite well-done. First, the characters are pretty representative of many personalities one might see in a true middle school, and they are dealing with many of the same issues that middle schoolers deal with: changing friendships, the desire for more freedom amid the continued reliance on parents for transportation and money, crushes, academic difficulty, and quickly changing emotions,...you get the picture. The book's main character, Callie, is a protagonist that students can look up to. She isn't perfect-- but she tries to make good decisions, builds on her strengths, and is a kind and caring friend. She is accepting and open-minded-- a good model of tolerance for those who are different from oneself. Finally, Telgemeier does a great job at promoting student theatre. She uses technical terms that those who have been around the stage will understand and relate to, and she also makes it quite clear that you don't have to be a singer or actor to get involved-- Callie knows that she isn't a great singer, but she shines at set design and production, and this is where she is a "star". Students who read this book may learn that they can get involved in a school activity like drama in many different ways. I think this is the first time I've written a review for a graphic novel, and while it isn't my number 1 favorite genre, I know my students often gravitate to these books. Drama has been a favorite in my classroom library ever since I bought it. I didn't realize the maturity level of some of the content until one of my students read the book and wrote about it in her book journal. When she mentioned that one of the boys in the book is gay, I was mildly shocked--partly because of the nonchalant way in which this fourth grader dealt with the topic (she is the youngest in her family and has teenaged siblings), but mostly because I hadn't realized that I had a book dealing with the situation of sexual preferences in my 3rd-5th grade classroom library. I do try to read as many of the books that I put into my classroom as possible, but with more than 1000 titles, I obviously don't read them all. I rely a lot on reading reviews and checking the suggested age levels when selecting books to add, and none of those things alerted me to what could be controversial content. When a parent questioned me about it, I decided I had better read the book to decide how to best use it in my room. Don't get me wrong--I think there is definitely a need and a place for books that deal with difficult issues in our classrooms. Reading a book dealing with a particular situation or issue can help readers dealing with similar issues to cope and not feel so alone, and can help those who have not experienced the issue to have greater insight and empathy for those who do or have in the past. That's one great reason to read fiction! I also think it is important for students to have characters in books that they can relate to--characters who are like them. For a preteen or teenager who is struggling with his/her sexual identity, it can be helpful to read about characters who are experiencing the same things. This particular issue is becoming more prevalent at younger ages, and Drama addresses the issue tastefully and with very little detail. Callie is very accepting of the boy who shares his feelings regarding other boys with her, and still considers him a good friend. STILL, there are parents who are not going to be comfortable with their 10 year-old reading this book, no matter what the suggested age-range is on the back. I've decided to keep Drama in my classroom library, but in the "5th grade" section. I will likely begin my school year with a general letter to parents explaining my stance on books and how I select them for my classroom. It is always the parents' prerogative to tell their child they would prefer they don't read a particular book. In the case of Drama, my 5th graders can choose the book, and if their parents take issue, they can decide to "ban" their own child from reading it without my having to ban it from my classroom.