Raina Telgemeier Special
Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier
Ah, yes. Two sisters, their mother, their little brother, and a creaky old van make a long road trip. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, everything, if you're Raina and Amara.
This autobiographical graphic novel is first of all apparently a sequel to Smile, which I have yet to read, but Smile doesn't seem necessary to read and enjoy this (since I didn't). Telgemeier uses the frame story of the road trip to chronicle her entire relationship with her sister up to that point. It's a pretty standard sibling relationship, as far as I can tell. There's ups and downs, cranky yelling and conflicts over room space, unexpected comforts and kindnesses. Telgemeier's short, sweet story is a fast read, with adorable graphics and a surprisingly tender ending. It does leave a few threads hanging, but what autobiography doesn't?
Anyway, it's a lovely book and I enjoyed it.
Drama, by Raina Telgemeier
Drama is the fictional but oh-so-real story of a girl named Callie, the set designer for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi. Her life contains drama on stage and off, as she tries to make the most epic cannon prop ever function correctly, while managing her crush on a friend, her burgeoning crush on a new friend, and the onstage drama that ensures once the actors are cast and the play goes into rehearsal.
Telgemeier explores the idea of drama in every sense in this adorable story. Callie is a fun and very believable middle-schooler, driven and confused and determined to make her life come out the way she wants it to. The story also has at least two queer characters, and an ending that I felt was very true to Callie's character, wrapping things up without tying them up in a bow. The artwork is, as always, adorable. I think my only problem with this story is that... well, what middle school has a drama department on this level? I think the story would have been much more believable if set in high school. Still, cute story, would recommend, and that's with the love triangle.
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