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SMILE by Raina Telgemeier


copyright date: February 2010
primarily marketed for: intermediate and middle school readers (5th-8th)

A Mrs. Rush-Levine confession:  I had to wear headgear when I was in middle school (thankfully, not to school, but I did have to wear it overnight). 

I am wondering if the fact that I feel like this is a book about my own youth might not be the reason I am madly in love with RainaTelgemeier’s graphic text Smile.  Somehow, Smile made me see the humor in my own humiliating past. 

Smile is an autobiographical story of the author as a young girl.  It is drawn in full-color comic strip style illustrations and tells the story of Raina’s dental woes, beginning when she knocks out a tooth in a nasty spill.  The initial damage causes a large gap in the front of her mouth and leads to multiple dental procedures. 

The rest of the book continues to follow the story of perfecting her now imperfect smile at the same time as it tells the story of Raina growing up, fitting in, making friends, and liking boys. 

Although I am sure all of you haven’t had to wear headgear (ugh!) or even braces (ow!), I am sure you will find Raina’s take on her experiences somehow connects with something you’ve been through as a teen or pre-teen. 

I am already looking forward to Raina’s next graphic text, Drama, which is being released September 1st!

Reading Threads:
Chiggers by Hope Larson
Shug by Jenny Han
The Secret Language ofGirls by Frances O’Roark Dowell

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