Drama: A Graphic Novel

Although he is one of Callie’s love interests, Jesse also gets an arc of his own within Drama. He is first introduced as a bit of a wallflower—but quickly given development so that the readers can see more dimension in his character. Although he insists on yielding the spotlight to his more outwardly bombastic brother, Justin, it is clear that Jesse also wants his musical talents to shine. He is ultimately the character who literally steals and saves the show during the play’s final night, when Bonnie refuses to return to the stage for the play’s final act. Jesse is therefore an underdog, with his downplayed musical talents providing a deus ex machina that saves the play. He is ultimately an empowered and empowering character that also displays the tenderness and vulnerability of a young person coming into their LGTBQ+ identity.

Bonnie foils Callie in many ways, and therefore helps to ratchet up the emotional tension and stakes of the narrative. Firstly, she is pretty, popular, musically talented, and boys find her desirable. In this way, she foils Callie, who struggles with two unrequited crushes. This foiling helps Telgemeier to articulate the stress and pressure unique to adolescent girls’ lives—and the standards that they implicitly feel that they need to measure up to. Bonnie’s negative characteristics of flippancy about school, immorality in wanting to cheat, and general gossipy cruelty also provide a contrast against Callie—who is hard-working, passionate, and treats those around her with respect and thoughtfulness. Through this foiling, Telgemeier shapes Bonnie into a worthy antagonist whose negative characteristics emphasize Callie’s good ones. 

Justin is Jesse’s twin brother, and he’s the more outgoing of the pair. He tries out for the lead role in the school play but ultimately loses the role to another student. He tells Callie he’s gay one day at lunch, suggesting that sexual identity isn’t something he’s concerned with others knowing (as long as it’s not the entire school). Telgemeier’s addition of Justin’s confession also suggests that varying sexual identities are normal and everyday occurrences, and that they are something to embrace instead of rejecting. 

Greg is Matt’s older brother. Callie has a crush on Matt in the beginning of the graphic novel, and she wants more than anything for Greg to love her. Greg has issues with his girlfriend, Bonnie, and seeks advice from Callie, but he shows from the get-go that he doesn’t have the same potential for growth that Callie does. Though he and Bonnie break up, and though Greg realizes that he does in fact like Callie, she rejects his advances when he finally gets the courage to confess his feelings for her. 

Matt is one of Callie’s best friends, but he also has a secret crush on Callie. When he finds that all Callie can think of is his older brother, Matt turns cold towards Callie and reacts much like a bully, even going so far as to deride Jesse for wearing a dress during the play later on in the narrative. Matt is an example of tweens who don’t grow up and who ignore and or abuse others because they can’t accept rejection (like Greg).