Smile

Product Information

In SMILE, through incidents both meaningful and trivial that span the course of several years, we watch author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier grow up. Reasons given for challenges and bans have included having LGBTQIA+ content and characters, sexually explicit content, an "offensive political viewpoint", being "confusing", and for concerns that it goes against “family values/morals”.

Smile Quiz | SuperSummary Smile Quiz | SuperSummary

She realizes that focusing on her passions matters more for her self-esteem than her outward appearance. Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: Raina knocks out her two front teeth, rediscovers her love for drawing, realizes her friends are not so friendly, and lives through a giant earthquake. Hypocritical Humor: Early in the book, Raina expresses insecurities about her appearance to Jane (who, coincidentally, is the only one of her friends who is consistently nice to her). 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.Lots of friends tease each other playfully, but sometimes they can go too far, as Raina's friends did. According to Telgemeier, she knocked out two front teeth while in sixth grade and needed braces and multiple surgeries as a result. Telgemeier has continued to contribute to anthologies, including Nursery Rhyme Comics (2011, First Second), Fairy Tale Comics (2013, First Second); the Explorer graphic novel series (2012, 2013, Abrams/Amulet); and Comics Squad: Recess! However, since it didn't really have anything to do with the main storyline, and it was removed fairly quickly and easily, Telgemeier couldn't think of a way to naturally fit it in, so she just left it out. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Raina Telgemeier Graphic Novels Collection - Archive.org Raina Telgemeier Graphic Novels Collection - Archive.org

Eye Take: Raina's reaction to her new friends treating her post-braces teeth (which she thought were ugly) with a grain of salt.A study conducted by Professor William Boerman-Cornell in 2016 upholds the pedagogical value of Smile, as it includes this novel in a list of recommended graphic fiction for middle grade readers. Tearful and humiliated, Raina stands up to them as well as to other friends who condone their actions. While everyone else laughs at her humiliation, Raina's crying in the bathroom shows that it's not so fun on the receiving end.

Smile — GoRaina! Smile — GoRaina!

They subtly bully and tease her even after she tells them to stop, and pull down her skirt, then laugh when she starts to cry. 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. Raina finds the situation funny at first but becomes frustrated with strict recovery guidelines, invasive questions, and throwaway platitudes. All she does is chew them out and break up with them, with is sadly Truth in Television that bullies aren't sorry and never will be.

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