Smile

by Raina Telgemeier

"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." (-from the publisher)

I just finished this very cute, very honest graphic novel about a girl growing up in her teens, entering high school, leaving old friends behind and making new ones. I loved the graphics- they were very fresh and wholesome. And Raina's character was cute. The whole process of Raina's visits to the dentist is easy to relate too- even if most people's situation isn't as severe as knocking out your permanent two front teeth. There were a couple of key moments in the book that I really liked- I loved it when Raina's mom yelled at one of the dentists for not asking her about a course of treatment first and Raina's response of awe and pride in her mother; when Raina stood up to her old friends about their treatment of her; and when Raina made her new friends. Pretty typical rites of passage for any kid growing up- and that's why they were so great. The author didn't shy away from showing the hurt and humiliation that can go along with 'friendly' teasing or the natural progression of becoming distant with childhood friends in new environments. Definitely a good book to have for any middle school or juvenile fiction collection!