Operatic

Volume XXVI / Issue 18 - January 17 / 2020
Operatic
Operatic
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Operatic

Author: 
Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by: 
Byron Eggenschwiler
Toronto, ON: Groundwood, 2019
160 pp., hardcover, epub & Kindle, $21.95 (hc.)
ISBN: 
9781554989720 (hc.)
9781554989737 (epub)
9781554989744 (Kindle)
Grades: 
6-9
Ages: 
11-14
Review by: 
Sarah Wethered
3
Excerpt: 

My name is Charlotte Noguchi (aka Charlie).

These are my friends: Addie O’Faolin, Rachel Wells and Mayin Lem. Addie and Mayin = the only other Asian girls in our middle school.

Addie = The quietest of the group. Mayin = the loudest.

Mr. K is different from most teachers at the school. He doesn’t act like it’s his job to shape us into considerate and well-behaved individuals who’ll fit harmoniously with the rest of society.
Mr. K believes that everyone has a song. He says that somewhere in the universe, there is a perfect tune for you.

Like that ’80s song by the band A-ha, the one where the singer starts really low but ends up singing so high you can practically hear the top of his head flipping open.

“Take on Me.”

That’s Mr. K’s song.

Operatic is graphic novel set in a middle school music class. Students in Mr. K’s class have been given a project to talk about their favourite song. Through the semester, Mr. K. introduces his students to many different genres, from 80s pop to glam rock to disco to opera. During the study of opera, Charlie learns more about the great diva, Maria Callas. She begins to identify with Maria and draws parallels to her own life. Charlie’s crush on Emile causes her a lot of distraction, and she is also wondering where her classmate Luka (who has a crush on Emile) has been. Charlie is also struggling with her commitment to perform with her friends in the end-of-year performance. Will Emile notice Charlie? Where has Luka been? Will Charlie get up the nerve to perform? Readers will be compelled to find out the answers to all these questions.

Operatic is recommended to readers who enjoy realistic graphic novels. The artwork is beautifully drawn, and the subplot of the life of Maria Callas is very interesting. Further, students struggling with bullying, especially homophobia, may identify with the characters of Emile, Luka, and Charlie. Lastly, the short nature of the book, as well its not being text rich, will encourage reluctant readers to learn more about music in general, and Maria Callas and opera in particular.

Recommended
Reviewer: 

Sarah Wethered, who has been a teacher-librarian at New Westminster Secondary School for 20 years, currently lives in New Westminster, British Columbia.

Subject Headings: 
Graphic novels