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Smile (Smile #1)

by Raina Telgemeier (Goodreads Author)

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 12,758 ratings · 1,851 reviews

From the artist of BSC Graphix comes this humorous coming-of-age true story about the dental drama that ensues after a trip-and-fall mishap.

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. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarras...more

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published February 1st 2010 by GRAPHIX (first published July 12th 2009)

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Feb 02, 2012 Mallika Sankaran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Smile by Raina Telgemeier is a realistic fiction graphic novel. It is a true story about the author herself. It was nominated for a Red Dot Award in 2011-2012.

It tells the story of Raina's life from middle school to high school. You might think that a book just about middle school and high school is boring but not when the unexpected happens. In this book, it's when Raina falls down one day as she is running back home when her two front teeth fall out as they smash against the ground. From brac...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Cate Levinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Poet Ogden Nash said, "Some tortures are physical/And some are mental,/But the one that is both/Is dental."

Graphic Novelist Raina Talgemeier knows this all too well; she is the Odysseus of modern dentistry. The author tells of her own particular journey of adolescent woe which came in the form of a seemingly endless tangle of dentists, endontists, periodontists, orthodonists, with their promises to perfect her not-so pearly whites.

In sixth grade Tanglemeier got braces to fix a run-of-the-mill ov...more Poet Ogden Nash said, "Some tortures are physical/And some are mental,/But the one that is both/Is dental."

Graphic Novelist Raina Talgemeier knows this all too well; she is the Odysseus of modern dentistry. The author tells of her own particular journey of adolescent woe which came in the form of a seemingly endless tangle of dentists, endontists, periodontists, orthodonists, with their promises to perfect her not-so pearly whites.

In sixth grade Tanglemeier got braces to fix a run-of-the-mill overbite. Then, while horsing around with her friends, she fell, and knocked out her two front teeth. This one misstep plunged her into a four-year ordeal of painful procedures, torturous surgeries, not-to-mention a perpetually changing appearance at a time when every kid is having a crisis of confidence. (As if puberty isn't traumatic enough!) Follow this lost heroine as she battles pimples, overcomes destructive friendships with hypercritical mean girls, endures painful oral surgeries, and finally finds her way to feeling at home in her own skin when she reaches high school.

In a particularly wonderful moment, Raina rebukes her long-time "friends" who do nothing but tear her down and tease her. She realizes no friends are better than those friends. Of course she adrift and lonely for a while, but Raina makes new friends soon enough.

The moment-of-truth comes when Raina is finally freed from her brace-faced prison. Despite all she has endured, the results are far from perfect. Dreading what she has come to expect as inevitable teasing in response to each dental iteration, she approaches her friends with trepidation. But these new friends are nothing like the petty old friends. They're like, "you look cute... let's go eat!" Phew! These new amigos are actually fun to be around. What's more they love and support her. And with that they wander off into a bright future. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever gone through puberty; you know who you are. Welcome home weary traveler!(less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Smile

Smile is a comic book by Raina Telgemeier that is funny, sad, touching and very moving. about a girl named Raina who just wants to fit in like everyone else and be a normal sixth grader. But one night, after her girl scout meeting, she trips an falls. This causes her two front teeth to be seriously injured. This only gets worse when it leads problems one after another. Raina is constantly getting her Braces taken on and off of her again, she get’s surgery, a retainer with fake teeth attache...more Smile

Smile is a comic book by Raina Telgemeier that is funny, sad, touching and very moving. about a girl named Raina who just wants to fit in like everyone else and be a normal sixth grader. But one night, after her girl scout meeting, she trips an falls. This causes her two front teeth to be seriously injured. This only gets worse when it leads problems one after another. Raina is constantly getting her Braces taken on and off of her again, she get’s surgery, a retainer with fake teeth attached, and just when you think that it couldn’t get any worse she is forced to wear extremely embarrassing headgear! While she has to deal with her dental problems, she has many more things to worry about, a major earthquake, boys, and friends who eventually turn out to be not so nice.

The thing that I liked the most about this book is that , it is a true story written by the author about the author’s teenage experiences from Middle School through High School. The book is also illustrated by the author. This means that it’s very original, because every teenager or child could relate tremendously. Raina Telgemeier has captured the highs and lows of being a teenager perfectly through her brilliantly illustrated comics. She has made the truth obvious that it’s not easy being a teenager, and that everybody at some point goes through something similar.

One of my favorite two scenes was when Raina was angry about the fact that the dentist was going to pull out her teeth, in order to move the rest of her top teeth toward the center. But when her mom invites her to come along with her sister to watch “The Little Mermaid” in the Cinemas. And since Raina was still grumpy about her teeth she acted as if she was reluctant to go. So when she’s inside the Cinema and waiting for the movie to begin, she thinks “Whatever. I’m too old for this Disney stuff. I’m totally gonna Hate this movie. I just know it. I’m totally gonna..........”. But the minute the movie and music starts , Raina becomes completely engrossed and enchanted with The little Mermaid. When the movie finally ends, she leaves the cinema still thinking about the movie. And way after the movie has ended, at least a week later, she is still obsessed about it. Because of the movie, Raina tells her friend “I finally know what I want to be when I grow up! And animator!”.

I like this scene because it was funny but interesting at the same time. Raina first comes into the cinema with the mindset that the movie is going to be completely uninteresting, but leaves the cinema completely spellbound with the movie and mermaids. These scene shows you that you shouldn’t always judge things before you know the full story.

The second of my favorite scenes was when Raina was waiting in line to get a snack, her two friends Nicole and Karin pulled her skirt down when she was’t looking.In a matter of seconds the eyes of the school were glued on her. Raina panics and runs into the girls bathroom sobbing. Eventually her friends come into the girl’s bathroom to get her to come back out. But Nicole and Karin couldn’t stop laughing when Raina comes out. It finnally reached to the boiling point where Raina couldn’t take it any more and stood up for herself. Here is a part of the scene where Raina stands up for herself.

Raina: You guys want a reaction from me? Fine: Karin, I am NOT a dog, Nicole I am NOT a vampire.
Nicole: Oh C’mon I haven’t called you that since--
Raina: And I am NOT going to let the rest of you disrespect me anymore! I’m done, GOOD-BYE!

I like this scene because, her friends have been teasing and putting her down for the past few years and Raina had to tolerate it. But when it had gone too far, she stood up for what was right. Every time her friends insulted her, it kind of made them feel better about themselves in some kind of twisted way. But just by standing up to her friends, it took away their “power” and pride of hurting her feelings. I really admire her for doing that. Because of what Raina did, she has inspired and taught me that, sometimes you have to be brave and let go of things in order to move forward.

Overall this book was amazing. It’s one of the best comic books that I’ve ever read, Raina Telgemeier has really captured the true feelings and emotions that every teenager goes experiences, through engaging illustrations. This book is extremely inspirational, has a lot of lessons to be learnt from it and I highly recommend it 5 stars out of 5. Remember, you don’t have to wear braces to enjoy this book!(less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, nonfiction, ya-kids

I saw this book in the orthodontist's office while I was awaiting my appointment to be fitted with braces. It's ostensibly aimed at adolescent/teenage girls--which as an adult male, I am not--but in my vulnerable state of anxiety and meek submissiveness I thought the book still might be a source of comfort. Good news: it was! I got a library copy later to give it a more thorough reading, and really enjoyed it.

Raina goes through a whole lot more than I should ever have to. After an accident, she...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Jessica Griggs rated it 5 of 5 stars

At first, I didn't know what to expect from this book. When I got it, I opened it up and immediately saw pictures. Like the little kid that I am (a 13 yr old girl in a 21 yr old woman's body), I was immediately excited and ready to start. One of my favorite comic book/series is Calvin and Hobbes, so I was very eager to see what this book held between its pages. I was still curious, because I knew Smile held a different weight and focus than Calvin and Hobbes. I was not sure how a book full of pi...more At first, I didn't know what to expect from this book. When I got it, I opened it up and immediately saw pictures. Like the little kid that I am (a 13 yr old girl in a 21 yr old woman's body), I was immediately excited and ready to start. One of my favorite comic book/series is Calvin and Hobbes, so I was very eager to see what this book held between its pages. I was still curious, because I knew Smile held a different weight and focus than Calvin and Hobbes. I was not sure how a book full of pictures that make up one long comic strip could hold somewhat of the same ground as a non-graphic novel; until I realized that I had just finished possibly the funniest and touching book in about an hour and a half. I couldn't put it down, nor did I want to. What made it even better is the fact that this book is actually based off a true story and it actually happened.

As a student, I felt every part of Raina's story. Since I went through the trial and error of braces, and even underwent the torturous and numerous variety of doctor visits, I completely sympathized with her. Other than her "vampire teeth", we pretty much had the same school life, which made her story completely relate-able. The only thing we didn't share was the earthquake experience. As I turned the pages, I found that I wasn't just reading a story about Raina, but about myself. I was watching me crush on two different boys, fighting with my sister, playing video games and being crushed by my "friends". I saw myself blossom from awkward middle schooler to high school/college student, through Raina. Honestly, I was laughing the whole time I read this book, between the exaggerated pictures and expressions to the language. I also laughed because I completely understood what she was going through, and as I made the journey with her, I was also laughing at a past me.

As a teacher, without a doubt, I would teach this book. It would be a great seg-way between middle and high school. Also, students would be more inclined to read this book and understand it since they can see the words and the pictures together, almost like a still movie and the remote to go to the next scene is just them turning the page. Like myself, this book is also extremely relate-able. Students will want to read this book and they will connect with it more since it will be a lot of what they are going through, particularly the girls. This will be a definite addition to my in-class library as well!

There is no doubt that I will be using this book in the future, and re-reading it in the near future as well. I also have a younger sister, and for a fact, she will be reading this book, especially if she goes into braces. I feel that this book helps make growing up a little less scary and a little more clear and realistic. (less)

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Feb 08, 2012 Casey Strauss rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, picture-books

Based on a true story, Smile is told from the perspective of middle school-aged Raina, who, after an accidental fall, then begins the long dentist office filled journey of recovery for the next several years. Initially, because of the fall, her front two teeth are then pushed up into her mouth, making the front two shorter than the rest. The reader then follows Raina as she has to return to school and suffer the teasing of her fellow classmates. As time goes on, her teeth are completely removed...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Shannon Mitchell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do not read a lot of graphic novels. When I think about it, college has been the most I have had a graphic novel assigned to me. Before college, the last time a book with pictures had been assigned to me was in elementary school. Through my recent reads, I have found that there are many graphic novels with great substance. I enjoyed Smile because it was relatable; it had substance; and it included a lot of funny graphics.
As a reader, I empathize with Raina’s middle school changes. I remembe...more I do not read a lot of graphic novels. When I think about it, college has been the most I have had a graphic novel assigned to me. Before college, the last time a book with pictures had been assigned to me was in elementary school. Through my recent reads, I have found that there are many graphic novels with great substance. I enjoyed Smile because it was relatable; it had substance; and it included a lot of funny graphics.
As a reader, I empathize with Raina’s middle school changes. I remember getting my braces in the seventh grade. Braces were popular. I begged my mom to let me get them. When she finally let me have them, everyone had already got his or her braces taken off. I felt like I was the only “brace face” left and the rest of the seventh grade class made sure I knew it. The novel reminded me of how mean students could be. I remember when I stop wearing pigtails in middle school. The other girls who sat at my lunch table with me made it clear it was not cool anymore. I also remember learning how to flirt, liking guys who were older than me, and being nervous about starting high school. The book painted a vivid picture of what middle school feels and looks like for many students.
As a teacher, I think this book would be a light read that many students could relate to. Smile does a great job of presenting the funny aspects while still painting the pivotal moments in a middle school girl’s life. Although the book is full of pictures and funny scenes, I think the students will still find the substance and deeper meaning in the context of the text. Many students have, have had, or know someone who has had braces. This book presents opportunities for discussion about bullying and the want to fit in. I would also recommend this book to students who are having trouble adjusting or has trouble reading. It’s an intimidating read and easy to relate to.
Because this novel is based off of the author’s true story, I think that is what makes this novel more relatable. You figure out that these things truly happened to other people and you were not alone in your middle school misery. I enjoyed the novel and I am sure students will enjoy too.
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Jan 27, 2012 Marykcecil rated it 4 of 5 stars

Smile is a wonderful book. I deeply enjoyed it, most likely because I had to get braces in middle school. The book is definitely very relatable, which is why I enjoyed it so much. It is funny. I also liked the fact that it was a graphic novel. The pictures gave all the description the author needed so there wasn't extra text to delay the reader on what was going to happen next.

As a reader, this book was very relatable, interesting, and entertaining. I enjoyed sitting down and reading this book....more Smile is a wonderful book. I deeply enjoyed it, most likely because I had to get braces in middle school. The book is definitely very relatable, which is why I enjoyed it so much. It is funny. I also liked the fact that it was a graphic novel. The pictures gave all the description the author needed so there wasn't extra text to delay the reader on what was going to happen next.

As a reader, this book was very relatable, interesting, and entertaining. I enjoyed sitting down and reading this book. While it is a book I could have put down, I'm glad I didn't need to. The variety of themes allowed me to relate to Raina's middle school troubles, whether it be braces, acne, boys, or your very own friends. I personally experienced many of these things in middle school, as I'm sure everyone else did too. The story made it seem as if Raina was the only one struggling, and yet allowed the reader to know she/he isn't/wasn't the only one struggling. Smile was almost disappointing because of how quick the read was. I was able to read it in one sitting. The story felt short and undeveloped. When I finished, I felt ‘jipped.’

As a teacher, this text could definitely be used in the classroom as an introductory text or supplementary text. I doubt I would ever use it as a main text. Frankly, the story, while good, isn't as rich as many other texts. The graphic novel does have themes that we might discuss in the classroom, but the themes are not built throughout the story. Rather, the themes are blocked onto each other. Smile could definitely be used though. The story explores many themes and by using this simple text, students could relate to a good story while learning from a quick read text.

So in a nutshell, Smile is a great book. It is wonderfully interesting and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone to do some leisurely reading. It is a quick read which can be viewed as either good or bad. Smile, while it has little use in the classroom, could definitely be used as an entertaining introductory or supplementary text. All in all, go read it!
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Jan 09, 2013 Robin J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

12/14 I am currently reading the book Smile. In this book there is a girl named Raina and she is coming home from a Girl Scout meeting. Her and her friends are racing each other to Raina’s front porch and Raina falls. Her two front teeth came out. Once my cousin was swimming in her pool and went diving in the shallow end, she hit her teeth at the bottom of the pool and her front two teeth came out. Also the first time I lost a tooth it was at Chili’s and I cried because I thought that I looked w...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Erica Almerico added it · review of another edition

My Review: Although I am not usually a fan of graphic novels, I enjoyed Smile because it took my story is very similar to Raina’s. Being in and out of braces is a very relatable situation for many adolescent readers and though I am no longer in braces, there was a time that it seemed my mouth would be made of metal forever.

As a reader, I was pretty bored with the story because the context was a bit young for me. When I read a book I like being drawn in to the story. I wanted to feel like I was r...more My Review: Although I am not usually a fan of graphic novels, I enjoyed Smile because it took my story is very similar to Raina’s. Being in and out of braces is a very relatable situation for many adolescent readers and though I am no longer in braces, there was a time that it seemed my mouth would be made of metal forever.

As a reader, I was pretty bored with the story because the context was a bit young for me. When I read a book I like being drawn in to the story. I wanted to feel like I was right next to her when her friends were taunting her or when she was having trouble being noticed by boys, but, this never happened.

As a teacher, I would probably teach this to a seventh grade class for a pre-winter break assignment. Smile is a very easy read but not a novel that should be taught in a very serious setting with tests, papers, or other assignments. I think seventh grade students will be able to relate to the character very well and this book should help to give them hope that the awkward pre-teen years go away quicker than they think.

Casey's review: When I first picked up Smile, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had actually never read a graphic novel before (well, other than the Captain Underpants series back in grade school, if those count). I was pleasantly surprised though, because I found this book very entertaining. I really felt like it transported me back to my own middle school days – a time when braces and major teeth issues were real and pressing problems.
As a reader, I connected with this text on a personal level. I was also missing two of my adult teeth as an adolescent (not the front two, the ones next to them), so it was very easy for me to relate to the plight of the main character as I reminisced about my own dental horror stories. I actually wish I had known about this book as a teenager. It definitely would’ve made me feel less alone as I sat in class with my two fake teeth on my retainer feeling like what was going on inside my mouth was the biggest deal in the world. Then again, I’m sure I wasn’t the only person in middle and high school worrying about my appearance or whether or not my body was “normal.”
As a teacher, I think that aspect of the text is one to particularly focus on with students. Obviously, all adolescents will deal with body image and self-confidence issues at some point, and this book is a light-hearted and interesting way to highlight the major truth that they are not the only ones dealing with these problems. This book is also a great way to deviate from the usual type of novel assigned in a classroom setting, so students would likely be more inclined to show interest in the illustrated, funny, relatable tale of Raina’s struggles with her orthodontia, friends, and teenage love life.
Overall, I think this book would be excellent to use as part of a curriculum. It definitely takes some getting used to for those of us accustomed to the regular old “words and no pictures” type of novel, but I think that difference can be a positive factor. Smile stands out as a book that is particularly well-suited for younger teens trying to accept their own self-image, and it offers great opportunities for class discussions about the power of visual images, personal connections to a text, and the overarching themes of the trials that all teens face.(less)

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Jan 27, 2012 Erika rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was very… cute. I had braces for seven years so could I relate to the protagonist’s dental woes? Yes. Was I necessarily engaged while reading? No. I give this book credit where credit is due, I’m sure to a younger audience, perhaps going through what Raina was (to one extent or another) would enjoy the book more than I did. I expect more from the books I read, especially graphic novels, than what was presented here. I found it very basic.

As a reader, I wasn’t hugely impressed. There w...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Rowlak5 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, graphic-novels

A graphic novel I picked up for my 6th grader who just got braces. She read it this afternoon from cover to cover, finished, then walked over to our computer to search for more books written by Telgemeier. I quickly read it myself and am glad I did! A relevant, fun, comic novel that touches on many of the awkward themes facing pre-teens. Hey, if reading it actually made my daughter SMILE, I guess you really CAN judge a book by its cover :-)

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Aug 17, 2011 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

After vociferous recommendations from Colby Sharp, I finally got my copy from the library. Let it be known that if dental work and teeth stuff freak you out, this book will probably make you physically ill. But you should read it. The emotions and girl relationships are spot on. Read it alongside David Small's Stitches.

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Dec 28, 2011 Jen Kilpatrick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Loved that it was a true story. Personal connection almost made me give it a 4. The author and I are close to the same age...so the details in the drawings and even some of the text included things from my own adolescence-New Kids on the Block, Little Mermaid, Guess, B.U.M., Nintendo, Hello Kitty, Y.M., Caboodles, scrunchies, Baby Sitters Club, Esprit, Ex'cla-ma'tion, and fashion trends-making it especially fun to read. And then of course their are timeless treasures being a teen-braces, headgea...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books, caudills, caudill-winners

See my full review here: http://misstiffreads.blogspot.com/201...

Raina tells the tale of her adolescence mostly through her dental work. In 7th grade, Raina found out that she would have to have braces to correct an overbite, then she fell and knocked out her front teeth, leading to years of painful braces and headgear and procedures. And while that is an important part of the story, that's not really star of the show. Raina is also growing up, losing old friends, making new friends, developing...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Lorena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great story about middle school and braces! Of course there is more to the story, but that is a quick summary. I loved the artwork and the story.

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Dec 20, 2011 Muffintop rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Some books begin with the main charater falling in love this book begins with actually falling and having her front teeth knocked out, things only can get worse from there. With pressure from her friends, earings, and high school this graphic novel is one of my favorite books.

(2011)
I still love this book. I read it before I got braces and I distinctly remember one picture where the orthodontist is standing up yanking on her braces's wires. and I remember thinking "Wow! that is so over exaggerate...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Vaidehi rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is about Raina's crucial stage of life, from middle school to high school. She goes through a tough time while her front teeth are knocked out, getting retainers and braces and facing the other challenges of life. As she goes on to high school, she stands up to people who make her life miserable and realizes who her true friends are. I could relate to Raina in several parts. I liked this book because it was easy to read and the pictures made it a lot more interesting.

1 like · like · see review

Feb 18, 2013 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: want-to-reread

Really good book! I can totally relate to all that dental stuff!

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Jan 29, 2012 Jennifer Brewer added it · review of another edition

When I first picked up Smile, I was hesitant to jump right into it. Young Adult novels are just not my favorite genre, nor are graphic novels. As I started reading, however, I found myself instantly immersed; only a few minutes had passed and I was already well into a good story—and hooked. I ended up finishing the novel that same night because I found it extremely readable and I was genuinely interested in the outcome of the story. I wanted to keep reading.
Another thing I enjoyed as a reader w...more When I first picked up Smile, I was hesitant to jump right into it. Young Adult novels are just not my favorite genre, nor are graphic novels. As I started reading, however, I found myself instantly immersed; only a few minutes had passed and I was already well into a good story—and hooked. I ended up finishing the novel that same night because I found it extremely readable and I was genuinely interested in the outcome of the story. I wanted to keep reading.
Another thing I enjoyed as a reader was the fact that I could relate to several of the illustrations because the story was set in the early 1990s. Growing up in the ‘90s myself, it was cool being able to recognize things in some of Telgemeier’s illustrations from my own childhood such as Nintendo, Teen Spirit, and Caboodles cosmetic organizers.
I think this novel would be great for younger readers because it effortlessly draws the reader in with the rich imagery and story line, without giving the feeling that one is investing too much mentally. This novel dealt with many of the same issues that almost everybody experiences in middle and high school and recounted the author’s personal story in a light-hearted, sometimes humorous manner that makes one feel a personal connection to the protagonist. We’ve all felt like an outcast at some point in our lives, whether it was the classic middle school metal-mouth, four-eyes, or pepperoni-face, this novel really found a way to hit home.
I would definitely recommend Smile to teachers because I feel like students could really get a lot out of it. This book does a great job of addressing the theme of self-identity and touches on issues that almost all adolescents experience. In addition, I feel that a reader friendly graphic novel such as Smile is a great break from the monotony of challenging canonical works that students will truly enjoy reading. I also feel that it is important for teachers to address the fact that students have very different reading styles and preferences; teaching a variety of texts—including graphic novels-- is highly beneficial for students.
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Nov 17, 2011 deejah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I may have misspoke earlier in this book project when I declared my dislike of memoirs. Generally - I still am not a big fan, but I find that if the memoir is in the form of a graphic novel, I can be engaged and really like what is being said. SMILE is just the kind of memoir that I can get into!

Set in 1989 in San Francisco, author and illustrator Raina Telegmeier tells the tale of the awkward time in a tween's life when they have to get braces. She wants so badly to be a normal teenager, but af...more

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May 02, 2013 Anthony rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 11, 2013 Giak added it

I recommend this book, Smile by Raina Telgemeier, because of all you can never get tired of reading a comic book because this book right here, is a comic book. the thing about this book is that it has pictures with speech bubbles and thought bubbles but it doesn't really feel like reading an actual comic book because of the fact that it has a pretty neat storyline. This book is about a girl who loses her front two teeth because of an accident and she is going through a lot of teeth surgeries, br...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Melissa K. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Imagine falling on the ground. It wouldn't be so pleasant especially if you break your two front teeth. Raina Telgemeier just wants to be a normal sixth grader but she probably will never be. She has to go through frequent trips to the dentist, braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached! Then things get even harder, her friends decide she isn't cool enough to hang out with them and ditches her, earthquakes, and much more horrible things. Raina is being h...more Imagine falling on the ground. It wouldn't be so pleasant especially if you break your two front teeth. Raina Telgemeier just wants to be a normal sixth grader but she probably will never be. She has to go through frequent trips to the dentist, braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached! Then things get even harder, her friends decide she isn't cool enough to hang out with them and ditches her, earthquakes, and much more horrible things. Raina is being humiliated everyday because she dresses like an 6 year old and her back pack is filled with dental stuff. Her mom finally lets her get her ears pierced as a reward at age 13. things start to get better for her once she makes some new friends. When she is done with braces, she starts to smile!

I really like this book because it is a true story. I can relate to Raina because I have braces and an expander, even though my teeth are less serious, it still hurts a lot. One of my favorite scene is when Nicole and Karen pulled Raina's pants down when every body was watching. Raina ran to the bathroom and started crying. When she came out, Karen and Nicole started laughing at her like crazy. I guess when somebody keeps on bullying you, you start to reach the boiling point and you are sick of it.
Raina: You guys want a reaction from me? Fine: Karin, I am NOT a dog, Nicole I am NOT a vampire.
Nicole: Oh C’mon I haven’t called you that since--
Raina: And I am NOT going to let the rest of you disrespect me anymore! I’m done, GOOD-BYE!
I really like this scene because Raina finally learns to sick up for herself. It must have taken a really long time to build up that courage. When somebody teases you, it makes them feel better about themselves so I guess Raina always tried to ignore them and she moved on to a whole new group of friends.
I would recommend this book to you if you have an accident or if you love a good fiction book. I would rate it 5 stars because it certainly was the best book ever! (less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Hannah L. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Smile
by Raina Telgemeier
224 pages

Smile is an autobiography about Raina's long journey through adolescence and mostly dental drama. It all started in sixth grade, when she needed braces to fix her overbite. However, before she got them, her two front teeth were knocked out. Actually one got pushed up far into her gum. When the dentist, Dr. Golden, put them back in, a week later those two front teeth moved up halfway through the gum from previous damage. After four long years, many treatments, an...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Raina needs to correct her overbite, but her orthodontic adventure becomes more complicated when she falls and knocks her two front teeth out. The dentist puts them back in, but the damage done to her jawbone makes them sit higher than her others. Thus begins Raina's dental journey.

Meanwhile, Raina is going through 6th-10th grades and dealing with a whole slew of issues. She’s living in San Francisco and experiences the 1989 earthquake. She feels weird because she looks different. Her friends ar...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-lit

Audience: This book is hilarious in an “oh-my-goodness-is-that-really-happening?!” sort of way and students in the intermediate through middle school grade levels (4-8) will enjoy reading about and relating to the awkward experiences Raina shares with her audience, regardless of their dental work status-or lack thereof! This book will pique the interest of both boys and girls in the aforementioned grade levels, since that really is an awkward time of life for both genders!

Appeal: Beautifully ill...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Emily M rated it 3 of 5 stars

Smile ~ by: Raina Telgemeier 213 pages ~ Realistic Fiction/ Fiction

Smile is about a teenaged girl who already worried about getting braces, because she has a overbite, but things get worse. As she is coming home from girl scouts a few of her friends decide to have a race, Raina trips and falls and ends up pushing one tooth up and having another one fall out. In order for her teeth to look better she has to go through a frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing h...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Esther K. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Smile
by Raina Telgemeier
213 pages
Realistic Fiction(Graphic Novel)

I have recently finished the graphic novel Smile by Raina Telgemeier. This book is the author's own story made into a graphic novel. The story begins when Raina is in sixth grade. She trips and falls after her friend Kelli's mom drops Raina off and she tries to race to her house with her friends. She knocks out her two front teeth. She emidiately goes to a dentist who puts a cast on her teeth after he puts them back in place. Howev...more

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Feb 06, 2013 ClaireP rated it 1 of 5 stars

The book SMILE by Raina Telgemeier tells a story about a middle school girl who is dealing with some major oral problems, while trying to balance middle school. Raina, the main character is returning from a Girl Scouts meeting, when she trips and falls, losing her two front teeth. Raina is extremely embarrassed because of her awkward looking mouth, and is tired of being looked at as the girl with missing teeth and the strange smile. On top of all that, she feels like everyone is growing up, whil...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
smile vs. diary of wimpy kid	105	129	May 20, 2013 07:09am
A summary about this book smile	24	75	May 17, 2013 03:16am
Bad,Good, Great,	39	45	Apr 10, 2013 04:07pm
Word game~*^.^	184	88	Mar 27, 2013 08:01pm
Would you choose to be like raina and have braces?	6	32	Nov 10, 2012 05:05pm
What do you think of the book Smile???	28	53	Jul 02, 2012 12:28pm
reading log #11	2	10	Feb 23, 2012 05:08am

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Young Adult > Coming Of Age

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