My Own Drama with Telgemeier's Drama

After finally overcoming my excessive middle school superiority complex of avoiding reading graphic novels, I’ve had the pleasant experience of reading Drama. I can’t say I was particularly wowed or left floored by the plot and context. However, it was a simple read filled with a plot line that is relatable for the younger audiences that it has been written for. This novel was created for a purpose and serves it well. 

To be completely honest, I’m struggling to figure out what I want to write in this essay, and frankly I could understand my aversion to graphic novels. I feel like there is not much discussion that could come from this novel though. I believe the plot exists to solidify the turbulent identities of middle schoolers whose entire existence – for the duration of middle school – is essentially a giant struggle of figuring out who you are. It’s an entertaining work and visually appealing, I don’t think it holds much merit for a lengthy discussion. However, the more tangible conversations that are sparked by this novel happen to be the reasons why the book is banned and results in the characters of Justin and Jesse. The arguments that do arise because of the LGBTQ+ content of the novel feel as juvenile as the audiences that the novel is made for. 

After being in this class for long enough, I’ve started to be on the hunt for what makes a book banned and what sort of twisted thinking might bring a piece of literary work to come under scrutiny. Usually it’s quite clear right away what is being challenged, but really this book took me a while. I originally thought that perhaps there was some area of the United States that was so backwards that they banned a book simply because it was a graphic novel; then I realized it was because there were two things that brought it under fire: Justin saying that he’s gay and Jesse kissing a boy in the play in order to save the production. 

There will never be a time where I understand why someone decides to ban a book. Frankly, whenever I look at the ALA’s list of banned literary works, I feel sorry for the people that will live ignorantly of the creations that they will never read. By removing these books, there is a limit on the freedom of middle school. The (relatively) consequence free years of figuring out what identity you possess is limited just a bit further. How many young students will now feel a little less represented; have less vocabulary to explain themselves and their identity? 

I can’t say there’s much else on this topic that I can discuss. I feel as though I wanted more from this book and perhaps it falls short because of the avenue that Telgemeier decided to use to write her novel. The graphic novel, while a simple read and great for younger audiences, limits the ability to fully explore the entire story. We discussed in class the stereotyping that exists – both in the sense of gay men being in the theater and the interests and hobbies of Asian people. Perhaps there could have been further exploration and explanation into the importance of all of that or perhaps there would have just been the hope that it would have gone over the heads of young readers even if it wasn’t in a graphic novel format. 

I really can’t tell if I like or dislike this book. Frankly, I think it’s easily forgettable and almost makes me want to readopt my superiority complex about graphic novels. Regardless, the book exists and has evidently caused enough big feelings to end it up on the list of banned books. If this was GoodReads, I’d probably give it a max of 3 stars simply because I wasn’t particularly amazed.