Camp Prodigy and the Viola of Gender, a guest post by Caroline ...

I know you’ve heard of the violin, but have you ever heard of the viola? Probably not! You may have seen one, however.

The viola is a string instrument that looks identical to the violin from afar. The most notable difference is its size. Violin bodies can’t get any longer than 14 inches, but some rare violas can even reach 18 inches long! It doesn’t sound that impressive, but if you compare the two in real life, you’d be shocked. Some consider them the bridge between violins and cellos, and I may be biased–seeing as the viola is my instrument of choice–but I find it sounds better than both.

What am I getting at here? For such an interesting instrument, it’s completely unknown to most people outside of orchestra. In a way, I feel a kinship to it, and you might too.

I’m a nonbinary person who arguably doesn’t “pass.” When strangers see me on the street, I know they’ve instantly jumped to the same conclusion about my gender. When I order food, visit a store, go to the dentist, I prepare to hear “ma’am” from anyone who still uses “ma’am” and “sir” in everyday conversation. It chafes a little, but there’s nothing I can do about it unless I cut my hair or wear a lot of concealing shirt layers. I’m like the viola of gender!

Aside from it being the instrument I love to play, that is the reason I decided to make the main characters of my graphic novel into violists. Camp Prodigy stars Tate and Eli as nonbinary violists, like me, and both are frequently misgendered by those who don’t know them, like me! But they connect with each other, and with the friends who understand and accept them. It’s a sort of comfort that sometimes mirrors the way it feels to play in an orchestra with the rest of the viola section, where everyone knows your instrument for what it really is–not just the “big violin” or “small cello.” A world where playing music loudly and clearly is a source of pride. It’s not always easy to find that in the real world when the thing you’re announcing loud and clear is your identity.

It can be difficult to write a kid’s book about being queer. The happy endings where your characters find acceptance and embrace their true selves are never so cut and dry in the real world. Many people are still wired to automatically put you in a box when they see you. Sometimes, your “true self” isn’t androgynous enough. Sometimes, it’s “too much.” Sometimes, the style and self-expression and name you find most comfortable are the same as they always were. It would be nice to be able to magically project the right pronouns into the brains of those you pass on the street. Sadly, that’s not possible.

But that doesn’t mean the happy endings don’t exist. And maybe they aren’t even endings, but moments throughout your life. You may not change your style, but it can be worth it to come out to the people who care about you anyway, to joke and laugh with them and to have deeper conversations than ever before about what gender is to you. It can be scary to be queer in public, but the times I’ve gone to a pride parade had me smiling the entire day. There’s nothing better than playing your heart out in an orchestra, surrounded by music that you’ve helped to create. Being “true to yourself” may be a cheesy concept, but it really does feel great.

And for those of you reading this who’ve never heard of the viola, or who don’t understand being nonbinary, go ahead and look it up! Don’t worry so much about memorizing everything you read perfectly, that’s impossible. Just embrace the chance to learn with curiosity. Who knows, you might come to realize something new and wonderful about yourself.

Or at least, you might find yourself wanting to visit a string instrument shop.

Meet the author

Caroline Palmer (they/them) is a nonbinary comic creator. Their work has been published in the comics anthology, A Taste of Home (2020) by Level Ground Comics, and they’ve been consistently updating their Webtoon Talent de Lune since 2016.

Purchase the book here.

About Camp Prodigy

Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson and Raina Telgemeier, this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel follows two nonbinary kids who navigate anxiety and identity while having fun and forming friendships at their summer orchestra camp.

After attending an incredible concert, Tate Seong is inspired to become a professional violist. There’s just one problem: they’re the worst musician at their school.

Tate doesn’t even have enough confidence to assert themself with their friends or come out as nonbinary to their family, let alone attempt a solo anytime soon. Things start to look up when Tate attends a summer orchestra camp—Camp Prodigy—and runs into Eli, the remarkable violist who inspired Tate to play in the first place.

But Eli has been hiding their skills ever since their time in the spotlight gave them a nervous breakdown. Together, can they figure out how to turn Tate into a star and have Eli overcome their performance anxieties? Or will the pressure take them both down?

ISBN-13: 9781665930383Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young ReadersPublication date: 06/11/2024Age Range: 8 – 12 Years

Filed under: Guest Post