This is peak Raina Telgemeier: warm, funny, visually engaging, and emotionally real. Drama nails the middle school experience—the friend chaos, the unrequited crushes, the trying-to-make-something-great-with-duct-tape-and-hope energy.
What sets it apart is how it normalizes LGBTQ+ relationships without making them the plot. Two boys kiss. Some characters are surprised, some aren't. Life goes on. It's exactly how representation should work.
The theater setting is genuinely fun—kids see that creating a show involves carpentry, ticket sales, teamwork, and problem-solving, not just memorizing lines. Callie's determination to build a Broadway-worthy set on a shoestring budget is inspiring without being preachy.
Some parents clutched pearls about the same-sex kiss, but honestly, if your 10-year-old can handle kids having crushes (which is... middle school), they can handle this. It's sweet, not scandalous.
The only real knock: if your kid isn't into theater or school social stuff, they might bounce off it. But for the right reader—especially reluctant ones who need pictures to stay engaged—this is gold.






