Book Cover Image:
Book Summary:
This graphic novel is about Raina and her struggles through
adolescence. The story begins with Raina falling down and knocking out some of
her front teeth in 6th grade. She goes through many dental procedures
over the next several years. During this time, she is also experiencing a
normal teenage life. She struggles with friendships, boyfriends, feeling
inadequate, looking uncool, and many other issues. She does eventually find a
group of good friends and does end up feeling more confident, with her smile
and her life. Older children could also enjoy this book because of the
relatable content but the focus ages are grades 3-7.
APA Reference:
Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile.
New York, NY: Graphix.
My Impressions:
I really liked this book. It features many situations that
children, especially pre-adolescent and adolescent children, can relate to. It
probably makes them feel like they are not alone in feeling inferior, because
Raina feels that way, too. I remember feeling this way, too as a pre-teen and
teen. This would have been a good book to have at the time. I could have found
a lot of comfort in reading it when I struggled through similar times. These
kinds of books are invaluable for children. The graphics are also a very
important part of this book. Stephanie Yue and her use of color really brings
life to these scenarios. Children can surely relate even more to this book
because they are able to see the scenes of her life play out. They can see the
expressions on Raina’s face. One of my favorite parts that I can especially
relate to because I went through a similar situation, is when Raina gets
“pantsed” by her so called “friends.” This is wear they pull her pants down in
front of other classmates. After this, she finally pops…she just can’t take
anymore disrespect from her so-called friends. She stands up to her “friends”
and says enough is enough. She has taken all of their bullying and decides to
take away their power by standing up to them. All in all, this is an excellent
book for upper elementary school and middle school students and it just must be
a part of every library collection.
Professional Review:
“Gr 5 Up--When she was in sixth grade, Telgemeier
tripped while running and lost her two front teeth. In the years that followed,
she went through a torturous series of dental surgeries and repairs, the trauma
of which was mirrored by the social struggles she experienced during her
adolescence. A minor complaint is that there is no mention of when all of this
took place, and readers may be puzzled by seeming anachronisms such as
old-school Nintendo games. Telgemeier's full-color
artwork is confident and light, and her storytelling is appropriately paced.
This straightforward and entertaining autobiographical comic is sure to please.”
Review Reference:
Davey, D. (2010, March 1). [Review
of the book Smile, by R. Telgemeier].
School Library
Journal, 56(3), 186. Retrieved
from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Library Uses:
Focus ages: grades 4-7
This book would be a good book for a book club meeting with
the theme “Self-esteem.” Many children struggle with feeling like they look
awkward. They also feel inadequate sometimes compared to others in school. The
librarian and students could have a discussion at the book club about their
similar experiences and any advice they would give Raina.
This book would be a good inspiration for a bookmark
contest. The students could draw, illustrate, and put captions if they want on
their bookmark. They could use a smile and dress it up anyway they want. The
winner would get a bookstore gift card and the library would make copies of the
winning bookmark to distribute to patrons, including the winning artist’s name.
No comments:
Post a Comment