Banned Book 2020 Spotlight: Drama

By: Raina Telgemeier

3/5 Cannons

Reasons: "Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and for concerns that it goes against 'family values/morals'" per the OIF.

I'll be honest, I thought this book was going to have strong LGBTQ themes, but it just seemed like a normal middle school theater story, so I'm having trouble comprehending why there's so much hatred towards this book. This graphic novel follows Callie, a seventh grade girl who works backstage at her school's theater. While most of the storyline revolves around the play, some of it is spent on Callie's multiple crushes, and a teeny tiny portion is spent on boys liking boys. It's really not that dramatic...

The story itself was fast paced and relatable; however, I'm just not a Telgemeier fan. I've read almost all her books because my students love them so much, but I can't seem to get into them. Regardless, I would never take them out of my students' hands. I mean the LGBTQ content in this book is so innocent and age appropriate that I honestly don't see any students batting an eye at it. In this day and age, is it really that taboo when a boy likes another boy? That's not even the main point of the story! As far as banned books go, I'd have to say this is one of the more ridiculous reasons for me.