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Operatic
Somewhere in the universe, there is the perfect tune for you.
It’s almost the end of middle school, and Charlie has to find her perfect song for a music class assignment. The class learns about a different style of music each day, from hip-hop to metal to disco, but it’s hard for Charlie to concentrate when she can’t stop noticing her classmate Emile, or wondering about Luka, who hasn’t been to school in weeks. On top of everything, she has been talked into participating in an end-of-year performance with her best friends.
Then, the class learns about opera, and Charlie discovers the music of Maria Callas. The more she learns about Maria’s life, the more Charlie admires her passion for singing and her ability to express herself fully through her music. Can Charlie follow the example of the ultimate diva, Maria Callas, when it comes to her own life?
This evocatively illustrated graphic novel brilliantly captures the high drama of middle school by focusing on the desire of its finely drawn characters to sing and be heard.
It’s almost the end of middle school, and Charlie has to find her perfect song for a music class assignment. The class learns about a different style of music each day, from hip-hop to metal to disco, but it’s hard for Charlie to concentrate when she can’t stop noticing her classmate Emile, or wondering about Luka, who hasn’t been to school in weeks. On top of everything, she has been talked into participating in an end-of-year performance with her best friends.
Then, the class learns about opera, and Charlie discovers the music of Maria Callas. The more she learns about Maria’s life, the more Charlie admires her passion for singing and her ability to express herself fully through her music. Can Charlie follow the example of the ultimate diva, Maria Callas, when it comes to her own life?
This evocatively illustrated graphic novel brilliantly captures the high drama of middle school by focusing on the desire of its finely drawn characters to sing and be heard.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
20 people are currently reading
865 people want to read
About the author
Kyo Maclear
32 books497 followersKyo Maclear is an essayist, novelist and children’s author. She was born in London, England and moved to Toronto at the age of four with her British father (a foreign correspondent and documentary filmmaker) and Japanese mother (a painter and art dealer).
Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, published in over twenty-five countries, and garnered nominations from the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, the National Magazine Awards, among other honours.
Unearthing: a Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023) was a national bestseller and awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017) was a #1 National Bestseller and winner of the Trillium Book Award and the Nautilus Book Award for Lyrical Prose. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by The Globe and Mail, CBC, Now Magazine, the National Post, Forbes, the Chicago Review of Books, and Book Riot.
Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere. She has been a national arts reviewer for Canadian Art and a monthly arts columnist for Toronto Life.
Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities teaches creative writing with The Humber School for Writers and the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA.
She lives in Tkaronto/Toronto, on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Huron-Wendat.
Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, published in over twenty-five countries, and garnered nominations from the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, the National Magazine Awards, among other honours.
Unearthing: a Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023) was a national bestseller and awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017) was a #1 National Bestseller and winner of the Trillium Book Award and the Nautilus Book Award for Lyrical Prose. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by The Globe and Mail, CBC, Now Magazine, the National Post, Forbes, the Chicago Review of Books, and Book Riot.
Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere. She has been a national arts reviewer for Canadian Art and a monthly arts columnist for Toronto Life.
Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities teaches creative writing with The Humber School for Writers and the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA.
She lives in Tkaronto/Toronto, on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Huron-Wendat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
July 1, 2019
I appreciate this little novel. I was browsing the library and found this and snatched it up.
I do enjoy opera. I have seen a good number in person and I have a good collection of Opera. This story is about Maria Callas and I have to admit that just listening to her really was not my favorite thing. I know she was very popular, but there are other divas out there that I prefer more. I do like a big voice and Maria Callas has a big voice, but it isn't my cup of tea. Maybe I need to give another opera she sings a chance, who knows.
This takes place at a middle school in music class. I love the music teacher in this story. Each week or day, he introduces the kids to a different genre of music. He does punk, disco, pop, 80s, rap and hip hop. He stretches the kids and what they know of music. Plus, there isn't a whole lot of good music now-adays anymore. They knew how to write music in the past and now it's mostly music by committee. The teacher also does a Beatles and you have to have a Beatles. I am very eclectic in what I like musically.
The end of year assignment is to find a song that you deeply love and to talk about it or write about it. There is a lot going on in this story. I was a little disappointed at the end. I didn't feel like it was all pulled together all that well and the last assignment was glossed over. I was a little disappointed.
Still, I was so glad that there is a story out there about Opera and Maria Callas. It really made me happy. It was also about being brave enough to admit that you like Opera.
I do enjoy opera. I have seen a good number in person and I have a good collection of Opera. This story is about Maria Callas and I have to admit that just listening to her really was not my favorite thing. I know she was very popular, but there are other divas out there that I prefer more. I do like a big voice and Maria Callas has a big voice, but it isn't my cup of tea. Maybe I need to give another opera she sings a chance, who knows.
This takes place at a middle school in music class. I love the music teacher in this story. Each week or day, he introduces the kids to a different genre of music. He does punk, disco, pop, 80s, rap and hip hop. He stretches the kids and what they know of music. Plus, there isn't a whole lot of good music now-adays anymore. They knew how to write music in the past and now it's mostly music by committee. The teacher also does a Beatles and you have to have a Beatles. I am very eclectic in what I like musically.
The end of year assignment is to find a song that you deeply love and to talk about it or write about it. There is a lot going on in this story. I was a little disappointed at the end. I didn't feel like it was all pulled together all that well and the last assignment was glossed over. I was a little disappointed.
Still, I was so glad that there is a story out there about Opera and Maria Callas. It really made me happy. It was also about being brave enough to admit that you like Opera.
January 10, 2020
I don’t know what to say, too much stuff on fire.......a mix of conditions, situations, emotions that don’t get to anything.....
I believed in this graphic novel, and instead it goes to nowhere, the figure that comes out of Maria callas has nothing to do with the true history of the "La Divina".
I know it has been written for teenagers, but they need, deserve to know and taste the reality of the past, and not to be faked up to our desire. What an outrage!
Pity!
Non so che dire, il troppo stroppia...un mix di condizioni, situazioni emozioni che non arrivano a niente.....
ci credevo inquesta graphic novel, e invece è veramente con troppa carne al fuoco, la figura che ne esce di Maria Callas non ha nulla a che fare con la vera storia della "Divina". Povera Maria, che oltraggio!!
Pietà!!!
I believed in this graphic novel, and instead it goes to nowhere, the figure that comes out of Maria callas has nothing to do with the true history of the "La Divina".
I know it has been written for teenagers, but they need, deserve to know and taste the reality of the past, and not to be faked up to our desire. What an outrage!
Pity!
Non so che dire, il troppo stroppia...un mix di condizioni, situazioni emozioni che non arrivano a niente.....
ci credevo inquesta graphic novel, e invece è veramente con troppa carne al fuoco, la figura che ne esce di Maria Callas non ha nulla a che fare con la vera storia della "Divina". Povera Maria, che oltraggio!!
Pietà!!!
March 30, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and House of Anansi for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are taken from an ARC.
A graphic novel, Operatic features a young protagonist, Charlotte ( Charlie)Noguchi, a middle schooler who navigates the ups and downs of being a teenager while also trying to find her own place in the world.
Mr. K believes that everyone has a song, he says that somewhere in the universe there is the perfect tune for you.
Most of Charlie's narrative takes place in the music classroom and this shapes much of her story as she discusses the boy that once sat in the now empty desk, her crush on a fellow student, and her interest in opera singer, Maria Callas. The latter's story becomes a bit of a mini-biography within the contemporary storyline. I actually listened to Maria Callas'"Una Voce Poca Fa", the song that stirred Charlotte in this story. Wow, what a beautiful voice this woman possessed!
I felt that the images were good, the storyline a bit choppy, and the encouraging moral of the story a bit light for some of the situations presented.
Review Date: 30/03/19
Publication Date 02/04/19
A graphic novel, Operatic features a young protagonist, Charlotte ( Charlie)Noguchi, a middle schooler who navigates the ups and downs of being a teenager while also trying to find her own place in the world.
Mr. K believes that everyone has a song, he says that somewhere in the universe there is the perfect tune for you.
Most of Charlie's narrative takes place in the music classroom and this shapes much of her story as she discusses the boy that once sat in the now empty desk, her crush on a fellow student, and her interest in opera singer, Maria Callas. The latter's story becomes a bit of a mini-biography within the contemporary storyline. I actually listened to Maria Callas'"Una Voce Poca Fa", the song that stirred Charlotte in this story. Wow, what a beautiful voice this woman possessed!
I felt that the images were good, the storyline a bit choppy, and the encouraging moral of the story a bit light for some of the situations presented.
Review Date: 30/03/19
Publication Date 02/04/19
July 8, 2019
I don't know what to make of this one. I almost feel like I was dropped into a blender with a couple of different books, and I only caught glimpses of pages as they whizzed by. As a graphic novel, this lacks focus. The narrative jumps around too much. And, unless I missed it, we don't even get to find out what song Charlie picks for her project (which was supposedly the whole point of the assignment).
This book tries to cover the life of Maria Callas, friendship, bullying, sexuality, nostalgia, music, growing up, beekeeping... well, you get the idea. It's a lot to try to smoosh into 160 pages. There are some threads of story that I think could've worked better had they been developed more (such as Charlie's relationships with her friends), and ones that took up too much space (the biography of Maria Callas that's basically sneaked in like broccoli in a kid's macaroni and cheese).
Those who are passionate about music might get more out of this one, but even so, I think it lacks enough focus to make it a truly engaging read. (Older readers will likely be able to relate to the music teacher and his love for 1980s music, but I'm afraid younger readers might feel even less enthused by the "old" music.)
This book tries to cover the life of Maria Callas, friendship, bullying, sexuality, nostalgia, music, growing up, beekeeping... well, you get the idea. It's a lot to try to smoosh into 160 pages. There are some threads of story that I think could've worked better had they been developed more (such as Charlie's relationships with her friends), and ones that took up too much space (the biography of Maria Callas that's basically sneaked in like broccoli in a kid's macaroni and cheese).
Those who are passionate about music might get more out of this one, but even so, I think it lacks enough focus to make it a truly engaging read. (Older readers will likely be able to relate to the music teacher and his love for 1980s music, but I'm afraid younger readers might feel even less enthused by the "old" music.)
November 25, 2019
Kind of soft and dreamy, this graphic novel follows a middle school girl who's discovering opera - specifically Maria Callas - as she's worrying about a classmate who's stopped showing up to school. It could maybe have used a bit more focus, but I enjoyed the feeling that I'd stepped out of my world and into the main character's. It feels like a slice of life indie film. Really liked it. Queer secondary character, happy ending.
September 26, 2020
Eh... There were so many ways Operatic could have been good. Just felt like no part of the story got the attention it deserved and kinda just fell away. I couldn’t really figure out exactly what the point was- what exactly was I supposed to take away from it? So many aspects, if developed, could have made this into something much better.
March 17, 2019
Interesting, if overstuffed. The author throws in a lot of elements into her middle school drama, like beekeeping, opera, '80s nostalgia, musical genres, bullying, and LGBTQ issues. And there are a lot of pages devoted to the life of opera singer Maria Callas. I don't think all these ingredients come together as well as they should, and the writing seems a little too subtle and obtuse for the younger audience it is trying to reach, but I did enjoy the story. The art is a little rough in places, but really succeeds in the moments when the artist tackles the difficult task of illustrating the swirl and lift of music.
December 8, 2018
This is one gorgeous graphic novel.
Charlie is taking a class about music, and one of the assignments is to find your song. Not quite your theme song, but the song that speaks to you. The teacher goes over all sorts of song, over the years but none of them speak to Charlie.
And then she hears Maria Callas, and realizes that she is her singer, and she listens to everything she sings. Her friends accept her for what they think is a weird obsession. And she uses Maria's music to draw out Luka, who has stopping coming to school because he showed to much of himself in class, and feels he can not sing any more.
It has all the middle school feels. Luka is a closeted gay, until he outs himself with his love song. Charlie is one of only a few Asians at the school. There are mean kids, and sympathetic kids, and as Charlie says, you just have to find your tribe.
There is a lot going on here, and is a quick, delightful read. Highly recommended for libraries and home. I wish there were more books about Charlie.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Charlie is taking a class about music, and one of the assignments is to find your song. Not quite your theme song, but the song that speaks to you. The teacher goes over all sorts of song, over the years but none of them speak to Charlie.
And then she hears Maria Callas, and realizes that she is her singer, and she listens to everything she sings. Her friends accept her for what they think is a weird obsession. And she uses Maria's music to draw out Luka, who has stopping coming to school because he showed to much of himself in class, and feels he can not sing any more.
It has all the middle school feels. Luka is a closeted gay, until he outs himself with his love song. Charlie is one of only a few Asians at the school. There are mean kids, and sympathetic kids, and as Charlie says, you just have to find your tribe.
There is a lot going on here, and is a quick, delightful read. Highly recommended for libraries and home. I wish there were more books about Charlie.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 9, 2019
Beautiful book and good storyline, though it did jump around in parts that were somewhat confusing and the timeline wasn’t overly clear at points. Good diverse voices. 3 solid stars.
December 31, 2019
The art in this is stunning. 5 stars for the art.
Unfortunately, it is the story that really lets it down. It's non-linear and extremely disjointed. It felt like it was trying to tell too many stories concurrently, and didn't manage to tell any of them very successfully. It would have benefitted from some restructuring and fleshing out of each part. Still enjoyable, but unnecessarily confusing and lacking ultimate emotional resonance in plot and character.
Unfortunately, it is the story that really lets it down. It's non-linear and extremely disjointed. It felt like it was trying to tell too many stories concurrently, and didn't manage to tell any of them very successfully. It would have benefitted from some restructuring and fleshing out of each part. Still enjoyable, but unnecessarily confusing and lacking ultimate emotional resonance in plot and character.
June 1, 2021
Magnifique bande dessinée sur la musique, la place qu'elle occupe en nous, dans nos vies. C'est en même temps une belle BD sur l'entrée dans l'adolescence, la découverte de soi. Les illustrations sont magnifiques!
Mon seul bemol est que j'ai parfois trouvé que l'enchainement des actions/journées était rapide.
Mon seul bemol est que j'ai parfois trouvé que l'enchainement des actions/journées était rapide.
November 18, 2019
This graphic novel takes place at a middle school in music class. story. The music teacher, Mr. K believes that everyone has a song to describe them. He introduces the kids to a different genres of music, such as punk, 80's music, rap and opera. The end of year assignment is to find their song and to talk about it or write about it. The main character, Charlotte (Charlie) becomes interested in opera and decides to research Maria Callas for her final project. Mixed in with her story is the biography of Maria's life. I enjoyed this part of the story very much.
I felt that the rest of the book was choppy. The author alternated between a few other stories that in my opinion just weren't as interesting. And mixed in with all of the stories was the biography of Maria Callas. I just didn't think the book had a good flow to it. I think the author would have done a better job if the story just focused on Charlie and her research in opera. The scenes in music class with the teacher were very well done. I loved how the music teacher introduced them to a wide variety of music.
There was another story about a boy who is no longer in class. He was different and as a result made fun of. He stops coming to school, but she keeps thinking of him. She also has a crush on Emile, a boy in her class. I felt these stories were not really needed. I was disappointed at the ending. I didn't feel like it all the stories pulled together. I also felt the last assignment was just glossed over, which surprised me because that is what I thought the main focus of the book was about. I did like the artwork though. I thought it was very well done and added to the story. I loved how the color scheme changed throughout the book. Visually the book was very appealing.
I felt that the rest of the book was choppy. The author alternated between a few other stories that in my opinion just weren't as interesting. And mixed in with all of the stories was the biography of Maria Callas. I just didn't think the book had a good flow to it. I think the author would have done a better job if the story just focused on Charlie and her research in opera. The scenes in music class with the teacher were very well done. I loved how the music teacher introduced them to a wide variety of music.
There was another story about a boy who is no longer in class. He was different and as a result made fun of. He stops coming to school, but she keeps thinking of him. She also has a crush on Emile, a boy in her class. I felt these stories were not really needed. I was disappointed at the ending. I didn't feel like it all the stories pulled together. I also felt the last assignment was just glossed over, which surprised me because that is what I thought the main focus of the book was about. I did like the artwork though. I thought it was very well done and added to the story. I loved how the color scheme changed throughout the book. Visually the book was very appealing.
July 1, 2019
this book was super duper fab and i loved every second of it!! my only complaints were that a) it was honestly too short (not much of a gripe but i just mean it was that good & life affirming that i wanted to stay in the world longer) and b) it felt a little bit too much like jane, the fox & me. which is great because i love that book too, but it had a very similar vibe and the author of this book has worked w the illustrator of jtfam so theres a connection there, and the illustration style was also similar...i don't know. i loved the illustrations in this one too, especially the use of colour, and the actual physical book is just SO PRETTY that i couldn't stop squealing when i got my hands on a copy. i won't say much more because it isn't out yet but i can't WAIT to sell this one and talk about it w everyone in the new year!
May 7, 2019
A story about kids in junior high/middle school. And what music means to people and the effect that it has on them. And about crushes.
I liked this, but it felt like it took a while to get to explaining what had happened with one of Charlie's classmates, and because of this, I kept imagining horrible things, that it turned out didn't happen. I did like Charlie's burgeoning interest in opera, and specifically in Maria Callas.
I liked this, but it felt like it took a while to get to explaining what had happened with one of Charlie's classmates, and because of this, I kept imagining horrible things, that it turned out didn't happen. I did like Charlie's burgeoning interest in opera, and specifically in Maria Callas.
December 10, 2019
Wow. I'm kind of amazed at all the negative reviews for this one. It's overstuffed, too dramatic and yet too trite - am I the only person who remembers being in junior high? That's pretty much the point. EVERYTHING is a huge deal when you are twelve. Kids are mean, and thoughtless, and amazing, and caring. This captured that. I hate the books that are all "Rah Rah! Be Yourself! Everything will be peachy if you are just true to who you are!" Of course kids she be themselves. But that doesn't mean that it isn;t damn hard sometimes. Gorgeous art, a true to life cast, an ode to the importance of music, and a real capturing of that feeling of being on the cusp of figuring out who you are.
February 1, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy.
I gave this a 3.5/5 stars.
I liked the art style of Operatic. I liked the storyline of the Opera singers life. The main characters storyline confused me it jumped around. I still did enjoy it though and would still recommend it. I liked that the main plot was about music. There was lgbt characters but we don't get pov they're side characters.
I gave this a 3.5/5 stars.
I liked the art style of Operatic. I liked the storyline of the Opera singers life. The main characters storyline confused me it jumped around. I still did enjoy it though and would still recommend it. I liked that the main plot was about music. There was lgbt characters but we don't get pov they're side characters.
April 29, 2019
The cover of this graphic novel caught my eye and looking inside, I knew I had to read it. There is something about the feel of these heavy pages and the artist’s style that makes me love these types of graphic novels. With a concentration of color on each page and the way that the illustrator captures the story, appeals to me. I think these qualities give me the feeling of significance and comfort.
This graphic novel is about Charlie and she’s in middle school. When I think of middle school, I think of chaos. To me, it’s that in-between stage where you’re trying to figure things out and your body is trying to figure things out and you want to try new things but you’re not sure and ………, it’s chaos, if you think about it. So, welcome to Charlie’s world.
It’s the end of her school year and she’s noticing things around her and trying to make sense of it. Which is hard for her to do. She also needs to find a song which describes her for where she is at, in her life right now, for an assignment. This is an assignment that Charlie takes very seriously. There is also an end-of-the-year school talent show which Charlie has promised that she will perform in with her best friends. There seems to be a lot of activities occurring in Charlie’s life right now.
I felt a bit confused reading this novel at times as the flow felt jumbled and I wasn’t quite sure what was happening. It felt as if, the novel jumped from one thing to another and I was left hanging trying to figure out exactly where I was.
I did like the parts where Charlie was researching her song. Good information and investigating on Charlie’s part. I enjoyed Charlie’s teacher and how he covered his topics. The illustrations were fantastic. I think you need to really look at the illustrations in this novel, they were fun to look at and the details in some of them made me laugh. There were a lot of great topics that the author tried to cover but I think too many topics was the issue. I think by trying to include too many topics, a few of them didn’t get the space in the novel that they deserved. I give it 3 stars based on the confusion and the topics that I felt needed more space. I enjoyed the music aspect of this graphic novel, Charlie’s investigative work, the excellent illustrations, and the quality of the book.
This graphic novel is about Charlie and she’s in middle school. When I think of middle school, I think of chaos. To me, it’s that in-between stage where you’re trying to figure things out and your body is trying to figure things out and you want to try new things but you’re not sure and ………, it’s chaos, if you think about it. So, welcome to Charlie’s world.
It’s the end of her school year and she’s noticing things around her and trying to make sense of it. Which is hard for her to do. She also needs to find a song which describes her for where she is at, in her life right now, for an assignment. This is an assignment that Charlie takes very seriously. There is also an end-of-the-year school talent show which Charlie has promised that she will perform in with her best friends. There seems to be a lot of activities occurring in Charlie’s life right now.
I felt a bit confused reading this novel at times as the flow felt jumbled and I wasn’t quite sure what was happening. It felt as if, the novel jumped from one thing to another and I was left hanging trying to figure out exactly where I was.
I did like the parts where Charlie was researching her song. Good information and investigating on Charlie’s part. I enjoyed Charlie’s teacher and how he covered his topics. The illustrations were fantastic. I think you need to really look at the illustrations in this novel, they were fun to look at and the details in some of them made me laugh. There were a lot of great topics that the author tried to cover but I think too many topics was the issue. I think by trying to include too many topics, a few of them didn’t get the space in the novel that they deserved. I give it 3 stars based on the confusion and the topics that I felt needed more space. I enjoyed the music aspect of this graphic novel, Charlie’s investigative work, the excellent illustrations, and the quality of the book.
July 1, 2019
This book drew my eye at the library and so I picked it up.
The story follows Mr. K's music class in a middle school. Our narrator, Charlie, is tasked with the assignment of picking a song that is meaningful to her and explain her connection to it. We get a small study of some genres Mr. K likes (he grew up in the 80's, so I like his music choices) and we get Charlie's growing interesting in Opera, specifically Maria Callas.
The book seems to want to tackle a lot of concerns at this age: identity, fitting in, sexuality. But, none are explored in depth and while I had a lot to look with beautiful sketches, I wanted to know these characters better.
The story follows Mr. K's music class in a middle school. Our narrator, Charlie, is tasked with the assignment of picking a song that is meaningful to her and explain her connection to it. We get a small study of some genres Mr. K likes (he grew up in the 80's, so I like his music choices) and we get Charlie's growing interesting in Opera, specifically Maria Callas.
The book seems to want to tackle a lot of concerns at this age: identity, fitting in, sexuality. But, none are explored in depth and while I had a lot to look with beautiful sketches, I wanted to know these characters better.
October 15, 2025
As someone who has fallen in love with opera, and who grew up in a small, closed-minded town, this really resonated with me. Our detached, post-ironic generation scoffs at feeling, and opera is all about feeling. I'm not a big fan of irony. I say let music overwhelm and destroy and (perhaps) remake you, because at the end of the day it's one of the only worthwhile contributions our species has made to the universe.
August 1, 2019
Really good graphic novel! I picked it up because the cover art was so beautiful and compelling and I'm glad I did! The artwork throughout was gorgeous and really conveyed different emotions well. The main character is Asian-American and she sticks up for and befriends the new kid who is LGBTQ. A touching and beautiful story about friendship and music and the ability of music to bring us together and if we are outcasts, the ability to feel connected to other outcasts.
April 14, 2019
Such a great book! Reminded me of Jillian and Mariko Tamaki. Middle grade drama. Beautifully illustrated, can’t get enough of it! And Opera! And music! And personal struggles, friendships, identity. So so good!
April 13, 2019
“Today a song snakes inside me.
It moves like a plant.
Wild leaf
Bursting blooms
It is enough to make me forget everything around me.”
It moves like a plant.
Wild leaf
Bursting blooms
It is enough to make me forget everything around me.”
July 23, 2023
Charlie is a girl who is exploring what music truly means to her. As her class at school put together a list of their favorite songs, their music teacher introduces many styles and genres of music and encourages the students to listen and feel the emotions within the music. One boy, Luka, expresses himself through singing with courage and strong feeling, but the other students make fun of him to the extent that he doesn't return to school. Can the class find a way to use music to repair what has been broken?
I'm not sure if Luka's character was homosexual or trans or what. It is purposefully left unknown. It is hinted that he might be homosexual, because some other kids ask him if he is in love with another boy in class, and he responds, "I don't know. Maybe." All we know is that Luka is teased and people whisper behind his back because he is a little bit different.
I love that this book teaches that all people deserve to be treated with respect and kindness!
Charlie is enchanted when she hears the unique voice of a famous opera singer. Although her classmates dislike opera, Charlie wants to learn everything she can about it, and tries to emulate the famous singer. It opens up new horizons for Charlie and she learns some history about opera.
I love the way this graphic novel talks about music and how it can impact people! Charlie's life is changed and her friendships are made stronger as they connect over music.
The artwork is really beautiful, and I love the fanciful designs that depict the way music can swirl around the character and inspire them with new ideas and feelings. The art is very emotional and vibrant!
I'm not sure if Luka's character was homosexual or trans or what. It is purposefully left unknown. It is hinted that he might be homosexual, because some other kids ask him if he is in love with another boy in class, and he responds, "I don't know. Maybe." All we know is that Luka is teased and people whisper behind his back because he is a little bit different.
I love that this book teaches that all people deserve to be treated with respect and kindness!
Charlie is enchanted when she hears the unique voice of a famous opera singer. Although her classmates dislike opera, Charlie wants to learn everything she can about it, and tries to emulate the famous singer. It opens up new horizons for Charlie and she learns some history about opera.
I love the way this graphic novel talks about music and how it can impact people! Charlie's life is changed and her friendships are made stronger as they connect over music.
The artwork is really beautiful, and I love the fanciful designs that depict the way music can swirl around the character and inspire them with new ideas and feelings. The art is very emotional and vibrant!
October 10, 2021
First off, some random information on how/why I read this book: Basically I was at an after school activity today, waiting for it to start, and didn't have a book. Luckily for me, people are decent and someone offered me a book (Operatic), they had checked out that morning to read. So yeah there you go. What I was trying to get at with that long and probably useless background information is that this book is a very quick read. I read it in less then 15 minutes. And if it's a quick read, it's probably a good read*.
Conclusion: I liked it the art is really good look at some of the other reviews they have photos.
*Uh pun not intended I just realized saying a book is a 'good read' on goodreads is a little cliche but whatever
Oh yeah when I shelve a book as graphic i mean graphic novel not the other kind of graphic
Conclusion: I liked it the art is really good look at some of the other reviews they have photos.
*Uh pun not intended I just realized saying a book is a 'good read' on goodreads is a little cliche but whatever
Oh yeah when I shelve a book as graphic i mean graphic novel not the other kind of graphic
April 8, 2019
I really enjoyed reading Operatic. Not only is this graphic novel filled with stunning illustrations, it's also a story with a ton of heart. If you've ever felt inspired by music at all, even a little bit, this story will resonate with you. All of the other messages that were wrapped up in this story were simply icing on an already beautifully created cake.
I thought that this graphic novel perfectly captured the tumultuous feelings that come along with transitioning from middle school to high school. Poor Charlie isn't sure where she fits into the world and so, when her teacher tells them to find their own perfect song, she's equally confused about what would really describe her. Watching her mull over her choices, and ultimately find someone who inspired her, made my heart happy. It's hard not to feel emotional while reading this, partially because of the content and partially because the illustrations just have so much movement and atmosphere wrapped up in them.
If I had one complaint, it would be that this story does jump around a lot. There are a lot of items to fit into one girl's story, including crushes, lost friends, and feeling unsure of oneself. Still, I kind of felt like this also fit with the content. After all, a middle school brain is definitely exactly like that. Lots of emotions, lot of skipping around, essentially a torrent of new and processing information. So, I gave that a pass. As I said above, the illustrations are honestly too beautiful to ignore either way. I never felt all that lost during Charlie's story. In fact, I saw a bit of myself.
Lovely story, stellar illustrations, and an all around beautiful read.
I thought that this graphic novel perfectly captured the tumultuous feelings that come along with transitioning from middle school to high school. Poor Charlie isn't sure where she fits into the world and so, when her teacher tells them to find their own perfect song, she's equally confused about what would really describe her. Watching her mull over her choices, and ultimately find someone who inspired her, made my heart happy. It's hard not to feel emotional while reading this, partially because of the content and partially because the illustrations just have so much movement and atmosphere wrapped up in them.
If I had one complaint, it would be that this story does jump around a lot. There are a lot of items to fit into one girl's story, including crushes, lost friends, and feeling unsure of oneself. Still, I kind of felt like this also fit with the content. After all, a middle school brain is definitely exactly like that. Lots of emotions, lot of skipping around, essentially a torrent of new and processing information. So, I gave that a pass. As I said above, the illustrations are honestly too beautiful to ignore either way. I never felt all that lost during Charlie's story. In fact, I saw a bit of myself.
Lovely story, stellar illustrations, and an all around beautiful read.
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March 24, 2019This is one of my favorite graphic novels. It centers around a middle school girl who's learning more about music. She develops this huge fondness for Maria Callas and it makes her brave.
I love the idea of little kids (and I'm sorry, middle schoolers count as little!) learning about opera. It makes me feel really happy, like maybe they're not just listening to uptempo nonsense I haven't even heard of. (This is probably the grumpiest thing I've ever typed.)
This also discusses Maria Callas a little, and basically all I knew was "legendary diva" so that was good, too.
This is all about music and I feel like I always think about how books and movies impact me but I don't really think about that in terms of music. Part of that is because my personal pop culture choices skew heavily toward books and movies, then TV and my music choices tend to be the same artists I've loved for years and there are so many songs that can instantly change my mood (for better or worse) and I love that this book talks about that. Music is so powerful and this honors that.
If you aren't into graphic novels, this may be a fun way to start. Recommended.
I love the idea of little kids (and I'm sorry, middle schoolers count as little!) learning about opera. It makes me feel really happy, like maybe they're not just listening to uptempo nonsense I haven't even heard of. (This is probably the grumpiest thing I've ever typed.)
This also discusses Maria Callas a little, and basically all I knew was "legendary diva" so that was good, too.
This is all about music and I feel like I always think about how books and movies impact me but I don't really think about that in terms of music. Part of that is because my personal pop culture choices skew heavily toward books and movies, then TV and my music choices tend to be the same artists I've loved for years and there are so many songs that can instantly change my mood (for better or worse) and I love that this book talks about that. Music is so powerful and this honors that.
If you aren't into graphic novels, this may be a fun way to start. Recommended.
May 10, 2019
I never know what to expect with these YA graphic novels. Sometimes they're bland, artless drivel about fRiEnDsHiP and sometimes they're thoughtful dissections of the teenage mind. Operatic, mercifully, falls in the latter category.
Charlie is a quiet middle-schooler who finds unexpected inspiration in her school's music class. Specifically: she discovers opera and Maria Callas. Operatic is about far more than Charlie's love of opera, though. It's about self-discovery, openness to new ideas, and the acceptance of others. To a large degree, it's about capital-F Feelings, those indescribable teenage emotions that rattle around a young person's brain (much like music!).
Kyo Maclear's spare dialogue and voiceovers effortlessly evoke Charlie's world, while Bryon Eggenschweiler's art magically realizes music in yellow-tone waves. I suppose the many disparate pieces of the story can feel a bit like Maclear throwing all her best ideas at the page, but Operatic's greater arc is eminently encouraging. This is a book about all the feels, and a very good one at that.
Charlie is a quiet middle-schooler who finds unexpected inspiration in her school's music class. Specifically: she discovers opera and Maria Callas. Operatic is about far more than Charlie's love of opera, though. It's about self-discovery, openness to new ideas, and the acceptance of others. To a large degree, it's about capital-F Feelings, those indescribable teenage emotions that rattle around a young person's brain (much like music!).
Kyo Maclear's spare dialogue and voiceovers effortlessly evoke Charlie's world, while Bryon Eggenschweiler's art magically realizes music in yellow-tone waves. I suppose the many disparate pieces of the story can feel a bit like Maclear throwing all her best ideas at the page, but Operatic's greater arc is eminently encouraging. This is a book about all the feels, and a very good one at that.
May 15, 2019
This book is about a group of kids in 8C, a music class in middle school. They are tasked with doing a project on a genre of music that defines them. Charlie is having a hard time figuring out what type of music defines her. They are learning about a different genre of music each day and Charlie doesn't know which one she relates to the most. Until they come to opera. She discovers Maria Callas, an amazing opera singer. She finally finds something that she connects to.
This is a fantastic book. I loved the story and the artwork. This is one of those books that I would recommend to someone if they are just starting out reading comics/graphic novels. I think that this is a fantastic addition to any library - personal or public.
This is a fantastic book. I loved the story and the artwork. This is one of those books that I would recommend to someone if they are just starting out reading comics/graphic novels. I think that this is a fantastic addition to any library - personal or public.
August 16, 2019
Encore une fois, La Pastèque publie un roman graphique d’une grande beauté, tant dans le texte que dans les illustrations. Ce sont ces dernières qui frappent d’abord, avec les différentes teintes de couleurs primaires associées aux lieux et aux personnages ou encore à des éléments importants du récit, comme le bureau vide en bleu ou le rouge qui fait son apparition sur les lèvres de Charlie à la toute fin.
Lien vers la critique complète : http://sophielit.ca/critique.php?id=2208
Lien vers la critique complète : http://sophielit.ca/critique.php?id=2208
November 14, 2019
Operatic by Kyo Maclear and Bryon Eggenschwiler is a graphic novel that uses a middle school music class as a framing device to dive into the life and career of opera diva Maria Callas.
Charlie has to find her perfect song for an end of the year assignment. The music class is putting together an album of perfect songs: each song representing a student in the class.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comm...
Charlie has to find her perfect song for an end of the year assignment. The music class is putting together an album of perfect songs: each song representing a student in the class.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comm...
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