The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

This month’s Saturday Spotlight theme is graphic novels. Last week’s post was about Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier and you can find that post here.

This week’s post is about Smile by Raina Telgemeier.

Smile was my very first graphic novel, to my recollection, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Smile is based on the author’s personal experiences, so it reads a little like a memoir.

I actually had braces when I was reading this book, which was a nice coincidence. Though, the author’s experience was quite different from most people’s experience.

There are some themes of bullying, not being true to yourself, and finding who you really are were wonderfully conveyed. The story itself was really nice, and it is a quick read.

The story follows a young Raina, who through a random accident, loses her front two adult teeth. This causes a lot of dental problems that we follow Raina through as she gets it fixed. Meanwhile, Raina is finishing middle school and going through high school. She is learning who her true friends are and what her interests are as well.

I am currently reading a manga series, which I will post the review for soon, and the art is a little confusing for me to follow. Smile, and other Raina Telgemeier books, have art that is clear and easy to follow. I am not someone who reads graphic novels a lot, so having art that is nice, but also a little easier to follow, earns a lot of points in my book.

This is a lovely coming-of-age graphic novel, in the form of a memoir. It has themes of bullying and finding yourself, that is conveyed in beautiful art. There is also the, sometimes harrowing, dental journey we follow.

Summary:

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.