Smile

A middle-school girl faces years of dental work and orthodontic treatment after a serious accident damages her front teeth. Through her graphic novel memoir, Raina Telgemeier chronicles her journey from sixth grade through high school as she deals with this ongoing medical situation. The story takes place in San Francisco during the late 1980s and early 1990s, following the main character through routine teenage experiences at school and with friends. The narrative is presented in full-color comic panels that capture both everyday moments and significant milestones in her dental journey. The memoir uses a dental transformation as a lens to explore universal themes of self-image, resilience, and growing up. Through accessible artwork and straightforward storytelling, the book resonates with readers who face their own struggles with appearance and identity during adolescence.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of middle school experiences, dental drama, and friendship challenges. Many reviewers mention relating to Raina's insecurities and social anxiety during adolescence. Liked: - Art style conveys emotions effectively - Helps kids feel less alone about dental/orthodontic work - Accurate depiction of middle school social dynamics - Accessible for reluctant readers - Appeals to both children and adults Disliked: - Some parents note mild bullying content - A few readers wanted more depth to side characters - Several mention the story feels rushed in parts Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (256,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (7,800+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 5/5 (parent reviews) "Finally a book that captures what it really feels like to be insecure about your smile" - Goodreads reviewer "My 10-year-old daughter read it three times in one week" - Amazon parent review

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🦷 Based on a real accident from 1989, when 11-year-old Raina tripped and fell, seriously damaging her two front teeth 🎨 The book took five years to complete, with Raina working on it while also illustrating for The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels 📚 "Smile" has spent more than 400 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list since its publication in 2010 🌉 The San Francisco setting authentically reflects the author's childhood, including real locations and references to the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake 🏆 The book has won multiple awards, including the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens, and has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide