Smile

Smile: Telgemeier, Raina, Telgemeier, Raina: 8601300314594: Amazon.com: Books

Bibliography

Telgemeier, Raina. 2010. SMILE. New York: Graphix/Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545132060

Plot Summary

Based on the author’s childhood, Smile follows Raina as she navigates through middle school, friendships, crushes, and a very long dental journey after an accident. Her experiences with braces, retainers, headgear, and insecurity shape the story while she learns how to trust herself and chose healthier relationships.

Critical Analysis

Telgemeier’s strength is her honesty. She breaks down universal feelings about embarrassment, confidence, and friendship into visuals that make the emotions feel real for young readers. Her illustrations carry as much weight as the text. Currently in my 5th grade classroom, Smile is consistently one of the most popular books read by my students. They love the humor, the drama, and the feeling that someone finally understands what growing up actually feels like. The graphic novel formal also supports readers who need visual scaffolding but still crave a full story with emotional depth.

Review Excerpts

Starred Review from Kirkus: “Irresistible, funny and touching—a must read for all teenage girls, whether en-braced or not.”

Connections

Smile connects easily to what fifth graders are already drawn to, since Raina’s books stay in the hands of my students nonstop. This graphic novel works well for conversations about confidence, friendship dynamics, and the anxiety kids feel about fitting in. It pairs nicely with Telgemeier’s others books. Readers can create short comics about a moment when they felt embarrassed, proud, or caught in a tough decision, which can help them unpack emotions visually as Raina does.


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