Customer Reviews

Smile

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Smile starts with Raina as a typical pre-teen...until she falls and her two front teeth fall out. She's not only in major pain, but scared, and her trip to the dentist doesn't yield the greatest news; they can put the one tooth they found back in but the other is stuck up in her gums, but she'll have to wear braces. Turns out, there was bone damage, and she endures the braces only to find that her teeth wind up embedded in her gums, leaving her feeling like she's a freak.

Her so-called friends don't help, with their perpetual teasing, but Raina adjusts to being a "brace-face" and weathers typical teenage crushes. As she moves on to a new high school, her friends keep on teasing her and playing pranks, until she finally decides she can seek out new friends who accept as she is.

It's hard not to wince at some of the tooth trials, but Raina is a trooper as she toughs out numerous orthodontist and endodondist and other "dontist" appointments, all rendered in Telgemeier's wonderful drawing style, which complements her story perfectly.

The book ends happily, with a big, toothy smile, and Raina learning that she can find friends who stick by her and don't make fun of her.

My 12-year-old daughter is a big (read: BIG) fan of Raina Telgemeier's graphic-novel adaptations of 'The Babysitter's Club' books. I pre-ordered 'Smile' with the anticipation of giving this to her as a gift. The book fell out of the shipping box, and I couldn't help but peruse its pages. It made me recall the days when I was subjected to the torments of wearing braces as a teenager. Upon skimming through the book, it was clear that this graphic novel was special. It beautifully captures that period in a teen's life when social-awkwardness and orthodontic-care collide, causing emotional and physical trauma.

Telgemeier is a true talent, and confidently displays a skill with her artistic tools that I haven't seen since the heyday of "For Better or for Worse". In fact, the author credits Lynn Johnston as an influence...

It shows.

There is a deft power to Telgemeier's narrative -- there are times when it's a little heartbreaking to read -- going to junior-high school can (at times) be hard. The author does not sugarcoat, and creates a satisfying world for her characters to exist in.
I can't recommend 'Smile' enough. It's heartfelt and funny and perfect for anyone, whether they wear braces or not.

I got this book at a Scholastic book fair last month and thought that the comic-book style would be great for my students. I wanted to read the book beforehand and fell in love with the art work and the storyline. It brought back so many memories from my middle school days. Raina is amazing! I've decided to purchase her Babysitters Club books as well!

Length:: 1:03 Mins

The inability to review on Amazon unless you've purchased something makes it difficult for my little cousins to have their say, what with them not having credit cards or bank accounts and all. Instead, they recorded their reviews because when you make books for kids doesn't it just make sense to wanting to listen to what kids have to say. That's what I feel anyway :D

Our cousin, Kayla, Grade 3, Age 9, reviews Smile SMILE by Raina Telgemeier for Amazon. You can find out more at GoRaina! [[...]]

Raina is struggling with one specific aspect of her life... her smile. Having to get braces, she's dreading having to be a brace face, metal mouth - anything you want to label it. However, it's her smile, especially her teeth, that will haunt her all the way through middle school and up into high school.

From having them knocked out, to wearing head gear, to even having to get a retainer with two fake front teeth. To get that perfect smile it's going to be a long journey... and a very painful one, at that.

Along the way, social problems continue to follow Raina. From crushing on a younger guy, to getting that athlete to notice her, to even standing up for herself after she's had enough of the humiliation, Raina discovers who she is, how she shouldn't change anything about herself, and that true friends would never make or put you in awkward situations.

Accompanied by colorful pictures, a cute and realistic storyline, and a main character that any person will be able to identify with, SMILE by Raina Telgemeier does one thing especially well... it makes the reader smile!

Many of us have experienced getting braces, feeling the intense pain when we want that bite of the burger we can't have just yet. Almost all of us can understand what it's like when you want to break apart from the not-so-great friends we've had. Telgemeier does a fantastic job in capturing the true essence and emotions of a person going through changes.

SMILE is one book you'll want your kids to read... and the one you'll want to read yourself!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

This is the story of Raina who just wants to be an ordinary sixth grader. She is going to get braces to fix an overbite but before they get affixed she falls and knocks out her two front teeth. This begins a long ordeal for her, of on-again off-again braces, headgear, surgery and that is just her teeth. There is also an earthquake, boys, and finding real friends. It chronicles over 4 years of treatment and adolescence.

I read this book because a friend who wrote a Graphic Novel column said it was one of the best of the year. I have also found a new fondness for the media over the last year. The specific story intrigued me because of my own experience with braces.

Telgemeir, in her story in this graphic novel, does an amazing job of capturing the experience of wearing braces. It chronicles the frustrations, the pain, the discomfort - all wrapped around the story of a girl growing through adolescence, and finding her true self. Wonderfully illustrated and inked, it was great fun to read. I had my braces from grade 4 to grade 8. I had 21 breaks while wearing them. I also remember my mouth feeling funny when they came off, and feeling weird without them. Raina Telgemeir truly has captured the essence of having braces and living with them day in and day out for year. But this book also captures the experience of growing up, and discovering what you love to do, and finding out what real friendship is about and like.

Reason for Reading: This is a Cybils '10 nominee and required reading for me as a graphic novels panelist.

This is a graphic memoir that follows the author from grade six through her sophomore year of high school specifically focusing on her dental problems. In the 6th grade, just shortly before she is scheduled for braces for an overbite Raina trips and knocks out her 2 front teeth. A host of other problems follow as we watch Raina's dental nightmare over the next several years. During this time Raina is going through adolescence, her normal self-esteem issues at this age are multiplied by the extensive work she has done which includes a retainer with two false front teeth attached to it.

I loved this book. First the artwork is wonderful. Cartoony but so very expressive. The characters facial expressions almost tell the story by themselves. Set in the late eighties, there are lots of fun retro moments for adult readers in the background as one notices her watching 'Silver Spoons' on TV and they play an original 8-bit Nintendo system. The dental story is transfixing. I didn't wear braces myself, so that and all the extra problems of missing teeth and loss of bone, etc. was fascinating. Raina goes through this experience with pain and complaints but she is a happy child and can always see the bright side of things, eventually. Children going through/or about to will identify with Raina and feel for her while at the same time being thankful they only have to wear braces. This is also a story about growing up and it very nicely shows how Raina slowly notices over the years how she has become the butt of jokes in her group of friends and while no one is mean to her (on purpose) she's not exactly in healthy relationships friend-wise. As she grows older she finds new interests, meets new friends, become boy conscious and starts to feel good about herself on the outside but more importantly ... on the inside.

One notices all the issues being dealt with within this story without an issue being made out of them and the story is a very enjoyable read. Both funny and emotional. It isn't until the end that the author spends a mere two pages waxing eloquently about how in hindsight she realized she'd moved beyond the child stage and grown-up a bit by the time her braces were removed. A story that really grabs you from the beginning, un-put-downable, with a main character who is a joy to meet and get to know.

I got this book for my little sister as a gift when she got her braces off! She loved it! And whats more...since its a TRUE story...she felt like she could relate to Raina (the main character) quite often.

The drawings are exquisite, and the story line is like that of a comic book that's G-rated.

I'd recommend it for young girls 5-9th grade, though, i quite enjoyed it myself being an adult. It's a great little jewel in our library. :)

Raina Telgemeier taps right into the most amusing and painful memories of being a teenager with her graphic novel about her experience of getting braces, having crushes on boys and being traumatised by rude siblings and catty girlfriends. And an earthquake.

Readers may recognise her artwork from her adaptations of Ann M. Martin's Baby-Siters Club series and will admire her clean, expressive linework and beautiful page layouts. I also admired the striking scenes of San Francisco landscapes and Californian architecture at the beginnings of chapters, where Stephanie Yue's colouring looked its best.
I had fun spotting subtle cultural references from my own childhood, such as Super Mario Brothers, Guess Jeans, New Kids on the Block, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate from Walgreen Drug with the price tag accidentally left on. And I share with the author a childhood love of some of the same comics, including Calvin & Hobbes and For Better of For Worse.

I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager in braces, I would have curled up with it instantly. And when I was finished, I would have wanted to meet Raina and geek out together about drawing stories. Don't be surprised if kids read this and want to try their own hand at drawing and writing about their own most embarrassing moments, crushes and dental indignities.

I got this book for two tween girls in my life. It's fantastic! Raina Telgemeier really captures what it is like to be a teenage girl, in a friendly, easy to read graphic novel format. Highly recommended!