Smile

Braces were going to be bad enough, but when Raina trips and knocks out her two front teeth she's in for an even longer journey full of pain and trips to various -dontists. It will take years to get her mouth looking normal again. While she waits she has to deal with friends who are acting less and less friendly, decide who she wants to be, and cope with all the other usual pains of growing up. Sometimes it seems like nothing will ever be right again and it's becoming more and more difficult to find reasons to smile.

I went through braces, an expander, retainers, and headgear when I was growing up, but that was all nothing compared to Raina. It was cathartic to read about experiences that were similar to and even worse than my own. I love the artwork and way Raina illustrates concepts as well. I'd give this to anyone who has had any major dental or orthodontic work done or who soon will. Of course anyone looking for a good comic about middle school will enjoy it as well.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier



Erica's Picks
4th-8th Grade
Tags: Character Driven, Comics, Contemporary Fiction, Friendship, School Stories

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