DRAMA (TEAM BLIND · REVIEW B)
Lively theater storytelling, but a sexual worldview your family should weigh.
The Worldview
DRAMA values useful work, cooperation and friendship. Callie's desire to contribute without being the star is a welcome counterweight to stories that make popularity everything. Those goods agree with Scripture's teaching that people should use their abilities to serve others.
The departure comes in its treatment of sexuality. Same-sex attraction is presented affirmatively as part of discovering who a young person is. Friends' acceptance includes approval of that identity, not simply kindness toward the person. That differs from biblical teaching about marriage and sexual relationships.
Christian parents need not confuse disagreement with permission to mock, exclude or mistreat anyone. Every child deserves patient care. But love does not require affirming every desire or treating attraction as the authority that defines a person.
The book's central longing is to find friends who welcome you and recognize your gifts. Scripture calls Christians to offer genuine love while keeping moral discernment: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9, ESV).
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSeventh-grader Callie loves theater, but singing is not her strength. Working backstage on her school's production of MOON OVER MISSISSIPPI gives her another way to shine.
She wants impressive scenery on a decidedly unimpressive budget. Limited skills and a crew that struggles to cooperate make that difficult enough. Then two appealing brothers join the production, and Callie's feelings become another complication. Can she keep her attention on the show when school relationships keep getting in the way?
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own reader.
- Act I Greg discusses his breakup with Callie; their encounter includes an impulsive kiss. The opening dialogue also refers to an earlier spotlight accident.
- Conversations about gay identity, uncertainty about bisexuality and concern about telling parents. Exact act and page locations require checking the complete book.
- A student falls onstage and is hurt; blood is mentioned but not illustrated. Exact act and page location requires checking.
- Children enter a dark costume cellar; another incident involves hands stuck together with Super Glue. Exact act and page locations require checking.
- During the school performance, Jesse substitutes in a female role and kisses another male performer. Exact act and page location requires checking.
- School-dance scenes include romantic disappointment and close dancing. Exact act and page locations require checking.
A locator so a parent can pre-read the scenes that matter instead of the whole book.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong affirmation of gay identity and same-sex attraction within a secular coming-of-age story, alongside positive lessons about diligence, cooperation and caring friendship. No witchcraft or explicit attack on Christianity.
Foul Language
Several insults and rude commands; examples include "d" and "l" name-calling and commands to be quiet. No obscenities, profanities or crude body-word vulgarities.
Violence
Light accidental injury and slapstick, such as a character falling onstage and getting hurt; blood is mentioned but not drawn. Dialogue mentions a possible concussion and the possibility of a prop shooting someone's eye out. Siblings play-fight, hands become stuck together with Super Glue, and children enter a dark costume cellar. No character deaths.
Sex
No sexual acts or explicit sexual descriptions. Middle-school crushes, dating, breakups, kisses on the cheek and lips, invitations to a school dance and close dancing. Two boys identify as gay, and another questions whether he is bisexual or gay; friends respond approvingly. Jesse replaces a female performer, wears the character's dress and kisses another boy onstage. This is theatrical costuming, not an identified transgender character. Characters also express concern about telling parents about their sexuality.
Nudity
No nudity.
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use.
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs.
Miscellaneous Immorality
Jealousy, dismissive treatment of others, name-calling and relationship misunderstandings. Greg gives Callie romantic encouragement and then returns to his girlfriend. Cooperation and communication are valued more than selfish behavior; the story does not make rebellion against teachers its heroic theme.
Is the Writing Any Good?
Four stars for craft. Telgemeier makes a busy cast easy to follow through clear cartooning, expressive faces and dialogue that captures adolescent uncertainty without sounding like an adult lecture.
The full-color artwork gives the school and stage a welcoming atmosphere. Callie's enthusiasm makes the technical side of theater matter: the scenery is not merely a backdrop for crushes, but work she wants to do well.
The title's two meanings hold the story together. Problems with a production and problems between friends keep interrupting each other, giving the book movement and humor. Its emotional misunderstandings are recognizable, and its heroine has interests beyond being noticed by boys. These are substantial artistic strengths, separate from the family-content judgment.
Talk About It
Four questions for the dinner table, the car, or a parent and teen reading it together.
Callie contributes backstage rather than starring in the musical. What makes work valuable when the audience may never notice the person doing it?
Colossians 3:23 · 1 Peter 4:10The crew needs people with different abilities. How can you encourage someone whose strengths are different from yours without comparing yourself to them?
Romans 12:4–6 · Philippians 2:3–4Callie's romantic hopes sometimes distract her from her work and friendships. How can you recognize when wanting someone's attention is beginning to govern your choices?
Proverbs 4:23 · Galatians 5:22–23The friends treat agreement about sexual identity as part of acceptance. What would it look like to care faithfully for someone while disagreeing about what Scripture teaches?
Ephesians 4:15 · Matthew 19:4–6The Final Word
DRAMA is skillfully made, and its enthusiasm for shared creative work is appealing. Its central sexual message, however, works against the biblical framework many Christian parents are teaching their children. Our answer: Skip it. For a theater-loving child, consider an age-appropriate stagecraft book and a supervised production project instead. If your child has already read this one, make room for an honest, gracious conversation.
