Missed this from the San Diego Comic Con, but Heidi picked it up – Raina Telgemeier has announced her new book, the follow up to her massively successful Smile. It’s called Drama, and will be out in Fall 2012 (that’s Autumn to us Brits). There’s a quick post over at her website:
“It’s about middle school theater geeks, stage crew, putting on a play, love and hate and friendship, and that’s all I can talk about for now. Here’s some non-spoilery process art:”
This is great news, as Smile was a brilliant book, perfect for teens and pre-teens (it recently won the Eisner award for best teen publication). But sadly, it’s not something we see in either book shops or comic shops here in the UK. Sure you can get it at that Amazon place, but wouldn’t it be nice if the rest of us could have a crack at selling it?
Unfortunately Scholastic just don’t seem interested in releasing it in the UK properly. I had to go to ebay to get our copy for the primary school library. In fact, I had to go three times. First copy got into Molly’s hands and she wouldn’t let it go. Second copy made it to the school library. And then practically disappeared – in the best way possible – it’s never been on the shelves longer than a couple of hours and is absolutely beloved by the children who read it. The third copy is needed because the second copy has been practically read to destruction!
But why isn’t it available in the UK? Why? It may be a US based thing, but it’s themes of growing up and dealing with the typical problems with self-image are absolutely universal. Likewise Drama, with it’s themes of theatre and drama, is practically bound to be huge. Just not in the UK. Unless Scholastic listen to reason.
And whilst they’re at it, could we get hold of the Scholastic colour versions of Bone here as well. Please?
July 31st, 2011 at 5:37 pm
I’m truly stumped as to why Smile hasn’t been given a proper UK release…I saw copies of the French edition for sale in Belgium only last month. Looking through my copy I can’t any major issues that would require a re-edit to the current US edition. As you say it’s a universal story and any of the really american concepts in it are things most kids here would be pretty familiar enough with as to not cause major confusion. Do they think the old joke about the British teeth would stop it from being popular here?