Smile (comics) - Smile Comic

Smile is an autobiographical graphic novel written by Raina Telgemeier. It gives an account of the author's life from sixth grade to high school. The book is based on Telgemeier's webcomic, Smile.

Summary

After a Girl Scouts meeting, Raina trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey; nearly a five-year experience with dental surgery and orthodontics. This occurs at the same time as the onset of puberty, peer relationships in middle school, and school bullying.

Reception, awards, and recognition

The book received positive reviews. The New York Times described it as "a story to comfort readers traversing the years between childhood and adulthood," and named it an "Editors' Choice." Kirkus Reviews called it "irresistible, funny and touching," with "strong writing and emotionally expressive characters"; later, Kirkus designated it one of the best 2010 nonfiction books for teens. According to School Library Journal, it is an "excellent addition to middle school literature." It was included as one of four "Great Graphic Novels for Family Entertainment" in a 2010 article in The Christian Science Monitor.

The book won the 2010 Boston Globe - Horn Book Honor for Nonfiction. In 2011, the book won the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. It was also one of Young Adult Library Services Association's 2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, and a 2011 Association for Library Service to Children Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers. In 2013, it won the Intermediate Young Reader's Choice Award from Washington and the 2013 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award from Illinois. It won the 2014 Nevada Young Reader Award.

As of February 24, 2013, the paperback version had spent 50 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list under the category "Paperback Graphic Books."

In May, 2014 Mark Tatulli wrote Smile into his daily comic strip Heart of the City, as heroine Heart Lamarr discovers the graphic novel on a trip to the library with her mother.

References

External links

• Hogan, John. "Teeth Marks: An Interview with Raina Telgemeier." GraphicNovelReporter.com.