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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