Smile

Smile – Raina Telgemeier

Julie:  At the beginning of the summer, my younger daughter (who is now 9) asked if we could buy Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel SMILE because a friend of hers had loved it.  I quickly obliged, in part because I'd seen good reviews.  My daughter read it right away--then read it again, and again, and again, and again.  Five times.  She read that book cover-to-cover, five times straight.  I could barely get her to take a break to eat.  Do either Mia or I need to say more?  Probably not.  We will, though, because this would be an awfully short post otherwise.  Mia, do you want to say a little about what SMILE is about and what you like about it?

Mia: SMILE is the story of Raina - a typical pre-teen girl whose time has come for braces. It's not something Raina is happy about, but things could be worse, right? And that's exactly what happens. While running back to her apartment Raina trips and falls, knocking her two front teeth out (she actually knocks one straight up into her dental cavity - ouch). What follows are several years of dental trials, including false teeth, dental surgery and, of course, braces. Through all this Raina finds that often so-called friends can be the cruelest.

Julie, let me take you back. Back to when I was...17, I think. And I had to get braces. As a teenager with a knack for exaggerating and over-dramatizing the stupidest things, I knew my life was over. My life as Queen Bee of high school was dead.

Just kidding. Me, Queen Bee? Not unless there was a zombie apocalypse. Point is, SMILE did manage to take me back - a bit to high school and the drama of friendships, but mostly to the pain. The pain of sitting in an orthodontist chair and having him tighten those braces. The pain of trying to sleep on your side when it feels like someone just punched you in the teeth. The pain of braces rubbing against the inside of your mouth until it's raw.

SMILE brought me back to all of that, and I was surprised I even remembered! Which sounds like I should hate SMILE because it made me remember the pain.  But I felt a strange kingship with Raina and her misfortunes.

J:  Oh, Mia. I'm so sorry about that pain!  I want to hurry over to you with Motrin and cold compresses!  And now I find myself reminiscing about pulled teeth, broken stitches, waking up with a face covered with blood, and that medieval device known as a palate expander, which involved turning a key to spread the bones at the top of my mouth.  Argh!  Why do we do this to ourselves (or, really, to our children)?  What I think SMILE captured even more brilliantly than dental tribulations, though, are the ways that seemingly well-meaning adults and family members can say exactly the wrong thing, and how we can realize over time that friends we've had for years and years are in fact simply wrong for us.  I love the depiction of the promise (and limitations) of a new school and of Raina's growth.  And, yes (I can't believe I'm saying this), the ending made me smile.  What do you think about the art, Mia?    

 

(Image by Raina Telgemeier)

M: I love your comments, Julie. They are so true. I'm fond of the art style. I think it complements the story very well without taking anything away. I think it's accessible to the particular age group, but I don't want that to sound like a backhanded compliment.  I think Telgemeier is a wonderful artist, and the story and artwork go hand in hand.  Does that make sense? 

J:  It does make sense.  I agree that the style of the art perfectly suits the target audience and the story.  And now I have to go return my daughter's book!  I'm under strict orders not to damage a single page.

M: A girl after my own heart.

 

Comments

[Carla Erhardt]

It seems like your daughter liked the story! How old is she? She must've read everything between the lines! You should tell her what other moral lessons this book has. ;)