Monday, October 01, 2012

“Smile” by Raina Telgemeier


When this book came in, it arrived at the same time as another book with a happy face on the cover.  For some reason, that one caught my attention more than this one did.  I had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Telegemeier at the National Book Festival and was impressed by the demo she did on how she creates graphic stories.  In two short sittings, I was able to read “Smile,” the autobiographical tale of her childhood.  The story begins with an unexpected injury to her mouth in sixth grade, resulting in four and a half years of torturous dental work – and no shortage of teasing through those wonderful middle school years.  Unlike the “autobiography as fiction” novels I dislike, this is a well-balanced tale that has a healthy mix of teen angst and humor.  Despite the figures being drawn in a fairly simple style, the bright colors and small details (how the dialog boxes are drawn, movement lines) help the story leap out from the page and really engage the reader.  I would bet that the book would appeal to boys as well as girls, despite the female protagonist, as the story is one that almost any kid could relate to.  “Raina” as a character is a multidimensional young woman, and credits to Ms. Telegemeier for being honest about all the trials, tribulations and dramas that accompany this time in life.  She never goes out of her way to clean up her fictional self and the result feels distinctly real.  This is also evident in the story-telling, as she doesn’t overwork the tale to “find meaning.”  There is a moral here, but it comes naturally and gently.  Greatly enjoyed reading this and look forward to her next book, “Drama.”

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