Smile: Living with Braces

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Smile

By: Raina Telgemeier



Publisher: Scholastic GRAPHIX

Copyright: 2010

Brief Synopsis: Raina, a sixth grader, has to get braces to fix her overbite.  One night before getting her braces on she was getting dropped off from girl scouts when she trips and falls on her face.  After this, things get from bad to worse for Raina.  Her front two teeth get knocked out, and she has to go through a series of 4 ½ years of braces, headgear, and false teeth in order to get her teeth back to normal.  Besides just trying to cope with the embarrassment of braces she goes through the 1989 San Fransisco earthquake and all of the other struggles of being a teenager.  This book of cartoons shows Raina dealing with family life, friend drama, and also crushing on guys in school. 

Author:
 Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Fransisco, California and then moved to NYC where she earned her degree in illustration.  She also adapted and illustrated the Babysitter’s Club graphic novel.  This book is a true story of Raina’s experience getting braces.  Every illustration and scenario came from her own memory of the experience.  Her love for drawing and animation is shown in this story, and it demonstrates why she was inspired to be a graphic novelist.  Smile was recently named an Honor Book in the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards. Her short comics have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Eisner, Ignatz, Cybil, and Web Cartoonists' Choice awards.

Themes: Struggles of growing up

Feeling confidence in oneself

Being happy with who you are

Coping with hardships

Growing into your own skin

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Have students make a web of times they felt uncomfortable, embarrassed, or frustrated.  This will help them when reading because they will be able to relate their experiences to Raina’s.

- Have students draw a self-portrait and then around the portrait write words about their personality.  At the bottom in big bold letters they will write their favorite thing about themselves.  This will help students to see themselves and how they view themselves.  Throughout the book Raina never views herself positively because of her braces and teeth.  She has to try to find what she likes about herself. 

- Mini-lesson on how to read a graphic novel.  Show students the order in which to read the boxes and also the talk bubbles.  Discuss what the different talk bubbles mean…

Post Reading Activities:

- Have students do a character analysis of Raina.  Describe her inside and outside traits.  After they finish this have them answer the question:  What traits does Raina have that lead her to smile once again at the end of the book?

- Have students analyze the title of the book…beyond the obvious reasons of a girl getting braces on, why else would the author name the book “Smile.”

- Have students create their own graphic novel having to do with a difficult experience in their own life.

Reflection: This is a very delightful animated book that many children can relate to. Many students are traumatized when they find out they have to get braces. They can relate to the stresses that Raina experiences in the story.  The illustrations brilliantly help to show Raina’s personality and emotions as she tells her story of her teenage struggles.  Her thoughts and insecurities can aid students in addressing their own insecurities and find comfort in that it all turns out fine for Raina.  Life’s changes are heard for children to cope with at times and fun books like Smile really allow kids to read, enjoy, and learn from.  Here are some examples of the animated characters Raina delights her readers with. 

Links:
Raina's Bio
Raina's Website