California Dreamin' | Hardcover

California Dreamin': Cass Elliot Before The Mamas & the Papas by Pénélope Bagieu

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Date of Release: March 7, 2017

Literary awards : Harvey Awards for Best European Book (2018)

California Dreamin’ reimagines the life of the iconic Mama Cass in a deeply moving and visually stunning graphic novel. Long before she became the unforgettable voice behind The Mamas & the Papas, she was Ellen Cohen—a bold, talented teenage girl from Baltimore with an extraordinary voice and even bigger dreams.

At just nineteen, Ellen left home at the dawn of the 1960s to chase stardom, reinventing herself as Cass Elliot. In an industry obsessed with image, Cass never fit the mould record producers wanted—but she refused to be silenced. Instead, she found her people: a misfit group of musicians who would go on to create some of the most enduring songs of their generation.

Set against a backdrop of counterculture, war protests, love, heartbreak, and creative chaos, this graphic biography explores Cass’s struggle for artistic recognition, personal freedom, and self-worth. With empathy and honesty, Pénélope Bagieu captures the highs of fame and the quiet costs behind it, telling the story of a woman determined to be seen, heard, and remembered on her own terms.

Perfect for Readers Who Enjoy:
• Graphic novels based on real lives
• Music history and 1960s counterculture
• Biographies of iconic women
• Stories about ambition, identity, and resilience
• Non-fiction graphic novels for teens and adults

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