Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/15/2012 *Starred Review* Callie loves the theater, even if she can’t sing well enough to perform in her beloved musicals. But when drama and romance—both onstage and off—cause problems, Callie finds that set design may be the easiest part of putting on a play. Telgemeier is prodigiously talented at telling cheerful stories with realistic portrayals of middle-school characters. Callie is likable, hardworking, and enthusiastic, but she is as confused about relationships and love as any young teen, and she flits from crush to crush in a believable fashion. Nonactors will love having a spotlight shine on the backstage action, but even those who shun the stage will identify with this roller-coaster ride through young teen emotions. In addressing issues such as homosexuality, Drama is more teen oriented than Telgemeier’s elementary-school-friendly Smile (2010). Her deceptively simple art may seem cartoonish, but it is grounded in a firm sense of style and washed in warm colors to give the story an open, welcoming feel. In this realistic and sympathetic story, feelings and thoughts leap off the page, revealing Telgemeier’s keen eye for young teen life. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 11/01/2012 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. KQG - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2012 Gr 5–8—Callie has ambitious plans for her school's production of Moon Over Mississippi. She has more to contend with than the logistics of building a working stage cannon, though, including the tension between stage crew and actors and her confusion about her new friend, Jesse. Does he like her, or is he gay like his twin brother? Telgemeier deftly portrays the ambiguity of sexual identity in the middle-school years in a story that simultaneously appeals to that audience. Callie is a strong character, confident in her ability as an artist and warm and friendly to her peers. She and her fellow students grin frequently, to the point of seeming unrealistically well adjusted. More often, however, Telgemeier is just showing the best side of teens. "Keep it professional," the stage crew head tells the group, and they do. The full-color cartoon-style illustrations are graceful, assured, and, along with the twists and turns of the plot, guarantee an entertaining and enlightening read.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.