smile book summary essay

The graphic novel "Smile" unfolds through a series of poignant and humorous story points across its chapters:

Chapter 1: The Incident

Raina falls and injures her front teeth while racing with her friends, leading to a dental emergency that sets the stage for her transformative journey.

Chapter 2: Dental Drama

Raina undergoes various dental procedures and orthodontic treatments, experiencing physical discomfort and grappling with her changing appearance.

Chapter 3: Middle School Mayhem

As Raina navigates through middle school, she faces the challenges of fitting in, dealing with crushes, and coping with the complexities of friendships.

Chapter 4: High School Hurdles

Transitioning to high school brings new experiences and trials for Raina, including evolving friendships, academic pressures, and the pursuit of self-confidence.

Chapter 5: Growing Pains

Raina's personal growth and self-discovery unfold as she learns valuable lessons about resilience, empathy, and embracing her individuality.

The narrative of "Smile" is punctuated by several pivotal events that shape Raina's journey:

"Smile" explores several universal themes and offers valuable insights for its readers:

Theme: Resilience and Perseverance

The graphic novel portrays the resilience of the human spirit, highlighting Raina's ability to overcome challenges and emerge stronger from adversity.

Theme: Self-Image and Identity

Raina's journey prompts reflection on self-image and identity, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and embracing individuality.

Insight: The Power of Friendship

The story underscores the impact of genuine friendships, showcasing how companionship and support can make a significant difference in one's life.

Insight: Emotional Growth

Readers witness Raina's emotional growth and maturation, recognizing the value of experiences that shape personal development.

"Smile" offers young readers a poignant and relatable narrative, brimming with humor and authenticity. Through Raina's experiences, readers are encouraged to embrace their uniqueness, navigate challenges with resilience, and cherish the bonds of friendship.

In "Smile," Raina Telgemeier skillfully captures the complexities of adolescence, weaving a rich tapestry of laughter, tears, and personal growth. The graphic novel serves as a touching and uplifting reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always room for smiles and newfound strength.

What is the genre of 'Smile' by Raina Telgemeier?

Smile is a graphic novel memoir, which falls under the genre of autobiography and coming-of-age.

What is the main theme of 'Smile'?

The main themes of 'Smile' include self-acceptance, friendship, and overcoming adversity.

Is 'Smile' suitable for young readers?

Yes, 'Smile' is suitable for young readers as it deals with issues relevant to adolescents and is written in a format that is engaging for a younger audience.

Is 'Smile' based on a true story?

Yes, 'Smile' is based on the author's own experiences with dental and orthodontic work during her middle school years.

What age group is 'Smile' recommended for?

'Smile' is recommended for readers aged 8-12, but it can also be enjoyed by older readers who appreciate graphic novels and coming-of-age stories.

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• Smile Summary of Raina Telgemeier's Book

Book Summary: Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Detailed summary, final thoughts.

Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel, Smile , published on July 12, 2009, is a heartwarming and relatable story that captures the struggles and triumphs of adolescence. The book falls into the genres of Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, and Young Adult, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of readers. Through her charming illustrations and candid storytelling, Telgemeier invites readers into her world and takes them on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and resilience.

The central character in Smile is Raina Telgemeier herself. As the protagonist of the story, Raina navigates the challenges of sixth grade, including the unexpected injury that sets off a chain of events in her life. Through Raina's eyes, readers witness her growth, vulnerabilities, and courage as she grapples with issues such as self-image, friendship, and identity.

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. However, her desire for a typical middle school experience is shattered when she trips and falls after a Girl Scouts meeting, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a series of dental mishaps that span several years, including the struggles of braces, surgery, headgear, and a retainer with fake teeth.

In addition to her dental woes, Raina must also contend with the challenges of adolescence, such as navigating friendships, boy confusion, and the aftermath of a major earthquake. Through these experiences, Raina learns valuable lessons about resilience, self-acceptance, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

Telgemeier's Smile is a poignant and heartfelt coming-of-age story that resonates with readers of all ages. Through her evocative artwork and authentic storytelling, Telgemeier captures the universal themes of growing up, facing adversity, and finding one's place in the world. By delving into Raina's personal struggles and triumphs, the book offers a poignant reflection on the complexities of adolescence and the power of resilience.

Telgemeier's depiction of the challenges and triumphs of middle school life is both relatable and honest, making Smile a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the ups and downs of adolescence. The book's blend of humor, heart, and honesty creates a compelling narrative that will leave readers feeling inspired and uplifted.

Overall, Smile is a captivating and engaging graphic novel that showcases Telgemeier's talent for storytelling and illustration. Through Raina's journey of self-discovery and growth, readers are reminded of the resilience and strength that lies within each of us.

If you enjoyed the summary of Smile , I highly recommend purchasing the complete book to fully immerse yourself in Raina Telgemeier's heartfelt and relatable story. Alternatively, you can also experience the magic of Smile by listening to the audiobook, which brings the characters and story to life in a whole new way. Whichever format you choose, Smile is sure to leave a lasting impression and remind you of the power of resilience, friendship, and self-acceptance. So why wait? Dive into the world of Smile today and let Raina Telgemeier's story inspire and uplift you.

9780545132053 (ISBN10: 0545132053)

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Book Summary Smile , by Raina Telgemeier

Think back to middle school: the mounds of homework, the excitement of crushes, and the changes of puberty. Imagine that on top of all of this, a face-first tumble onto the pavement has lodged your two front teeth higher into your mouth and you’ll need years of dental work to correct it. This is what happened to comic artist Raina Telgemeier, who recounts her middle school years in her autobiographical graphic novel, Smile. Through her exploration of adolescence, self-consciousness, and the horrors of dental work, Telgemeier sends an uplifting message: that you can achieve confidence by focusing less on your appearance and more on your interests.

In this guide, we’ll take you through Telgemeier’s middle school years and dental struggles. In our commentary, we’ll connect the book’s themes to research on adolescence. Furthermore, we’ll offer strategies for applying the book’s themes to your everyday life, whether you’re a parent of an adolescent, someone who works with adolescents, or an adult seeking to reflect on your own relationship with your appearance.

1-Page Summary 1-Page Book Summary of Smile

Think back to middle school: the mounds of homework, the humiliation and excitement of crushes, and waking up to find that your body looks different than it did the day before. Imagine that on top of all of this, a face-first tumble onto the pavement has lodged your two front teeth higher into your mouth, and you’ve found out you’ll need years of dental work to correct your wonky teeth.

This is what happened to comic artist Raina Telgemeier, who recounts her middle school years in her autobiographical graphic novel, Smile. Through her exploration of adolescence, self-consciousness, romance, and the horrors of dental work, Telgemeier sends an uplifting message: that you can achieve confidence by focusing less on your appearance and more on your interests. While Telgemeier’s graphic novel...

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Smile Summary Part 1: 6th Grade

The start of raina’s dental work.

Smile begins with a scene of Raina forcing a grin: She’s at the dentist, and they’ve ordered her to smile wide so they can snap a photo of her teeth. After the dentist examines her mouth, he shares the news that she’ll soon need to get braces to correct her overbite —which Raina isn’t happy to hear.

Supporting Youth Who Need Braces It’s common for children to have an overbite and get braces. Nearly 70% of US children have some degree of an overbite (though not every child with an overbite receives treatment), and 50 to 70% of US children get braces . It’s also common to dread getting braces, especially if you’re a teenager with concerns about your appearance. According to one expert, there are several ways to support a teenager who’s upset about needing braces ....

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Smile Summary Part 2: 7th Grade

Raina’s teeth increase her self-consciousness.

In the first half of seventh grade, Raina’s teeth contribute to her feelings of self-consciousness . Her dentist shares the bad news that Raina’s braces are failing to pull her two front teeth down—therefore, she’ll need a different treatment that will require her to visit the dentist more frequently and get braces again. Raina spends weeks worrying about this new treatment and how “nerdy” she’ll look with braces. Her constant worrying makes it hard for her to pay attention at school.

(Shortform note: Raina’s weeks spent worrying about her teeth and how they’ll affect her appearance is an example of situational anxiety: a common type of anxiety that arises when you’re facing a specific, temporary challenge . Although Raina doesn’t seek treatment for her situational anxiety, experts claim that treatment can help. If your situational anxiety is serious, professionals may recommend anti-anxiety medication as a treatment. If your anxiety is less serious, they may recommend you try certain coping mechanisms, such as engaging in deep breathing, increasing...

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Smile Summary Part 3: 8th Grade

Raina’s crush on sean guides her choices.

Raina begins eighth grade focused on how she can win Sean’s attention, but her concerns about her appearance persist. Raina fantasizes about Sean kissing a more glammed-up version of herself—one who resembles a movie star with neatly-styled hair, clear skin, a great figure, and perfect teeth. When Raina snaps out of her fantasy, she reflects that due to her imperfect appearance, she likely won’t get to kiss Sean in the near future.

(Shortform note: When Raina fantasizes about Sean, she imagines an idealized version of herself rather than her current self. Some experts claim that imagining an idealized version of yourself boosts your ambition and success. For instance, self-help author Brian Tracy argues that [the most successful people have a clear image of their ideal self and use it as a goal to strive...

Smile Summary Part 4: 9th Grade

Raina faces social exclusion and more teasing.

Raina begins her first day of high school feeling more confident than usual: She likes how she looks in her new outfit, and her years of dental treatment have made her teeth look “almost-normal”—“almost” because she still has braces. (Shortform note: Braces were the most common way for teens to straighten their teeth in the late 90s and early 2000s when Raina was a teen. Today, teens have an additional option for straightening their smile: using clear plastic aligners . While many teens prefer the look of clear aligners over that of braces, these aligners have several drawbacks that braces don’t have—for instance, you have to be disciplined about cleaning them well and remembering to put them back in.)

Despite Raina feeling confident on her first day of high school, her confidence plummets when she joins her friends from eighth grade for lunch and overhears them reminiscing about summer plans that she hadn’t been invited to. This social exclusion soon escalates to hurtful teasing. Raina’s friends tease her when they see all of the items Raina has...

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Shortform Exercise: Plan How to Support an Adolescent You Know

Telgemeier’s graphic novel shows both how difficult it is to be a teenager—as well as how rewarding it can be for teens to persist through their challenges and achieve confidence. Think about how you could support an adolescent in your life.

Think about a teenager in your life who is struggling with their confidence. (They could be your child, a family member, someone you work with, or someone you teach.) Note down who this teenager is, the confidence struggles they have, and why you think they may struggle in these areas.

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Smile: A Novel Summary & Study Guide

Smile: A Novel Summary & Study Guide Description

The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Doyle, Roddy. Smile. Viking, 2017.

Victor Forde has recently moved back to his hometown after a divorce from his famous chef wife, Rachel. Victor, an unsuccessful writer, feels like even more of a failure after his divorce, and he aims to drown his sorrows at a local pub. At Donnelly’s, the bar near his apartment, he meets an old schoolmate named Eddie Fitzpatrick, who remembers details about their time at school that Victor cannot. In fact, he cannot remember Fitzpatrick at all.

However, Victor starts having flashbacks to both his time at school and his early years with Rachel. He remembers three influential events from his days at St. Martin’s Catholic Boys School. The first was when a French teacher – a Brother – developed a crush on him that embarrassed him and made him ostracized from the other boys. The next was singing in a choir assembled for an old Brother’s funeral – a funeral mass that the Brother attended before his death. The final event was a sexual molestation he experienced at the hands of the Head Brother.

Victor also remembers his life with Rachel, when they were both on their ways to becoming successful. He thinks of how they met when they were both guests on a radio show. He remembers how much sex they had and how free he was with her. He remembers the series of apartments they shared, and how happy he was with her.

At the same time, though, Victor recalls how he started having regular visceral flashbacks to his molestation. He aims to minimize the psychological damage the event had on him, however, by turning it into a joke – that he tells Rachel, his friends, and even on air on the radio. He feels panicked that the Head Brother will hear when he tells the story on air.

In Victor’s present, he continues to dislike Fitzpatrick, who seems to always be at the bar when Victor is there. Victor is making friends, though, with normal, likeable guys he feels could have been his friends if he had stayed in his hometown, instead of uprooting himself to move to Dublin. As his relationships with these other men grow, Victor starts ignoring Fitzpatrick.

As Victor develops friendships with the other men and starts seeing a married woman named Brenda, he becomes more concerned that Fitzpatrick is stalking him. His fears are realized when Fitzpatrick angrily corners him in a grocery, seeming upset that Victor prefers spending time with the other men. Later, after a night with Brenda in his apartment, Victor sees that Fitzpatrick has been hiding behind a curtain, watching their whole interaction.

Fitzpatrick soon reveals himself as Victor. They are the same person. Specifically, Fitzpatrick, who is not really named Fitzpatrick, suggests that he is the other Victor, the person that Victor would have become if he had made other choices. Fitzpatrick makes Victor admit that there was no Rachel, that Victor could not even show up for their first date because he was too afraid to touch her. Victor comes to the realization that he and Fitzpatrick are the same. Ultimately, Victor is made to admit that the Head Brother raped him multiple times; he did not just molest him.

These actions, along with the Head Brother’s cruel statement, shuttered Victor’s life forever, meaning that he could not live the life for which he was destined. This unlived life is the one described – fabricated – by Victor in the novel. This final twist destabilizes the reader’s interpretation of the entire novel, making it impossible to tell which parts of the novel are Victor’s reality and which are part of his fictions.

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Smile book summary, by raina telgemeier.

Want to learn the ideas in Smile better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of Smile by Raina Telgemeier here.

Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.

Video Summaries of Smile

We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on Smile, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Raina Telgemeier.

1-Page Summary of Smile

Overall summary.

Smile, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier, is a graphic novel that tells the story of her childhood. It was published in 2010, after originating as a weekly webcomic from 2004-2007. The book follows Telgemeier’s life during middle school and high school. She struggles with issues such as bullying and finding friends.

“Smile” is a young adult graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier. The story takes place in the sixth grade and follows a girl named Raina, who has an overbite that requires braces. When she falls while running after her friends, she breaks two teeth on her upper jaw. Her mother takes her to Dr. Golden for emergency surgery to fix them so they won’t fall out of her mouth completely.

Raina finds this situation funny at first, but then becomes frustrated with the recovery process. She is asked invasive questions and given throwaway platitudes. When she goes back to her orthodontist, Dr. Golden tells her that now her front teeth are too high up in her mouth and need to be moved down with braces. To move them down, she will have a root canal as well as painful headgear that makes it hard for Raina to go out in public without feeling like a nerd.

Raina’s mother consoles her by buying her videogames and allowing her to get a couple of ear piercings on her 12th birthday. Meanwhile, a sub-conflict emerges as Raina’s friends pressure her about how she looks. Two of them, Karin and Nicole, make mean jokes at Raina’s expense. When Raina enters seventh grade, she develops a crush on Sammy, another sixth grader in the band class who also wears braces. Soon after that, San Francisco experiences an earthquake but only suffers temporary power loss for the family. It turns out that Sammy has feelings for Raina too but then she develops an obsessive crush on Sean (not mentioned if he is basketball player or otherwise), which causes problems in school with Karin and Nicole until they leave town without telling anyone why they’re leaving.

The braces aren’t working, so Dr. Dragoni decides to remove them and give her full braces that will pull the teeth together. Raina is terrified of this but gets used to wearing a retainer with fake plastic teeth in between procedures so she can feel normal while waiting for the next one. She’s excited when Sammy asks her out on Valentine’s Day, but she feels sick at school and leaves without telling him why or even going into the dance where he was planning to confess his love for her. The next day, Sammy finds out from someone else what happened at the dance and is heartbroken because of it.

Raina’s braces are even more painful now, and she has to go for re-tightening every few weeks. In addition, Raina had a traumatic experience when she fainted after a botched gum cleaning. Her friends think that she is too uptight because of this incident, so they intensify their teasing and stage a prank on her 13th birthday. They give her a tacky makeover under the pretense of wooing Sean, who Raina likes but can’t get because of her appearance issues.

After graduation, Raina plans to start fresh at high school. However, she ends up in the same group and struggles in class. In fact, she now has to wear a rubber band between her braces to correct a crossbite. At the book’s climax, Karin mocks Raina because her extensive dental supplies fall out of her backpack. As Raina storms away from them, Karin and Nicole pull down her skirt in the middle of the courtyard while everyone watches. Tearful and humiliated by this incident, Raina stands up for herself as well as other friends who condone their actions when they tell others about it later on that day during lunchtime.

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Smile : Book summary and reviews of Smile by Sarah Ruhl

Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books

The Story of a Face

by Sarah Ruhl

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Readers' rating:

Published Oct 2021 256 pages Genre: Biography/Memoir Publication Information

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About this book

Book summary.

The extraordinary story of one woman's ten-year medical and metaphysical odyssey that brought her physical, creative, emotional, and spiritual healing, by a MacArthur genius and two-time Pulitzer finalist.

With a play opening on Broadway, and every reason to smile, Sarah Ruhl has just survived a high-risk pregnancy when she discovers the left side of her face is completely paralyzed. She is assured that 90 percent of Bell's palsy patients see spontaneous improvement and experience a full recovery. Like Ruhl's own mother. But Sarah is in the unlucky ten percent. And for a woman, wife, mother, and artist working in theater, the paralysis and the disconnect between the interior and exterior brings significant and specific challenges. So Ruhl begins an intense decade-long search for a cure while simultaneously grappling with the reality of her new face—one that, while recognizably her own—is incapable of accurately communicating feelings or intentions. In a series of piercing, witty, and lucid meditations, Ruhl chronicles her journey as a patient, wife, mother, and artist. She explores the struggle of a body yearning to match its inner landscape, the pain of postpartum depression, the story of a marriage, being a playwright and working mom to three small children, and the desire for a resilient spiritual life in the face of illness. Brimming with insight, humility, and levity, Smile is a triumph by one of America's leading playwrights. It is an intimate examination of loss and reconciliation, and above all else, the importance of perseverance and hope in the face of adversity.

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Reader reviews.

"Within her chronicle of illness, the author deftly weaves memories of her father; thoughts about motherhood, friendship, writing; and perceptive reflections about the meaning of smiling, especially for women...A captivating, insightful memoir." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "In this stunning work, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ruhl reflects on her long and arduous battle with Bell's palsy after giving birth to twins...Ruhl proves that even life at its most mundane can be fascinating. This incredibly inspiring story offers hope where it's least expected." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A moving, insightful account that will appeal to many readers, especially those who like memoir. It will particularly engage readers interested in reflections on women in society or self-acceptance, and, of course, fans of Ruhl's plays." - Library Journal "With a poet's sharp eye for detail and a playwright's grasp of both the tragic and the absurd, Sarah Ruhl has written a remarkable book. Smile is at once a gripping story and a profound exploration of the mysteries of illness. I know of nothing like it." - James Shapiro, author of Shakespeare in a Divided America "I'm now accustomed to Sarah's whipping out profound and necessary books that I can't put down even when I smell dinner burning, but I guess I wasn't prepared for her book about Bell's Palsy to provide some of the most deeply romantic passages about married love I have ever read. I smiled, for sure, but I also swooned and ached and was left with goose-flesh more than once. I adore this book." - Mary Louise Parker, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Mr. You "I bet everyone reading this has had difficulty expressing an internal reality. Now imagine an affliction that separates the two physically. With poignancy and power, Smile helps us all to find ways of expressing our internal truth. It helped me to both learn and grow." - Gloria Steinem, author of My Life on the Road

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Author Information

Sarah Ruhl is a playwright and writer of other things. Her fifteen plays include In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play) , The Clean House , and Eurydice . She has been a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Tony Award nominee, and the recipient of the MacArthur "genius" Fellowship. Her plays have been produced on- and off-Broadway, around the country, internationally, and have been translated into many languages. Her book 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write was a New York Times Notable Book. Her other books include Letters from Max , with Max Ritvo, and 44 Poems for You . She has received the Steinberg Playwright Award, the Samuel French Award, Feminist Press Under 40 Award, the National Theater Conference Person of the Year Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, a Whiting Award, a Lily Award, and a PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award for mid-career playwrights. She teaches at the Yale School of Drama, and she lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Tony Charuvastra, who is a child psychiatrist, and her three children.

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Smile by Raina Telgemeier

This book is a graphic novel memoir the author wrote and illustrated highlighting her journey through extensive dental work done over several years after an accident where her front teeth were embedded into her upper gums.

While the dental journey is the main theme running through it, we also get other glimpses into the life of Raina from age 12 to age 16.

Raina lives in San Francisco and experiences a large earthquake at the beginning of the story. She also struggles throughout the book with girl friendships. From the start of the book until the end, she is teased significantly for her teeth and other physical attributes. Raina has a difficult time liking her body and her smile because of the comments her friends continued to throw at her. She has crushes on several boys throughout the story, but when her friends make fun of the one because he is a grade younger, she stops being nice to him. She told him she would meet him at the school dance, and she doesn’t show up. When her friends pantsed her in front of the entire school, she finally stands up for herself and decides to find new friends.

Her new friends find joy in her little quirks-the types of shirts she wore, the video games she was interested in. They spend less time worrying about what she looks like. When her braces finally were off, she was surprised to find that her new friends did not criticize her for her teeth still looking different.

The story ends with Raina going to the school dance and having a great time with her new friends.

Mom Thoughts

Smile is an autobiographical graphic novel with an intended audience of 8-12. However, the content appears to be for an older audience. The graphic depictions of blood and dental work could be scary for a young child who has yet to embark on an orthodontic adventure of their own! I want my children to have good experiences with doctors, dentists, and orthodontists. I worry the way these professionals are depicted could cause some worry for younger kids.

There is also an extreme amount of name-calling that occurs between Raina’s friends. They are continuously picking on her for the clothes she wears, her hair, her teeth, and who she has crushes on. The amount of time spent on crushes and boys seems to also be more for an older crowd of readers. The friends even play a game of spin the bottle! This is not a game I’d like my 8-12-year-old to read about. Since this is autobiographical and does not intend to teach, it does not dive into positive friendships, appropriate boy/girl relationships at this age, or how to deal with the big emotions Raina experiences. I worry that a child reading this book independently receives unhealthy information about these relationships without an adult to help navigate.

Sexual Content Continuous desire to be with cute boys and wanting boys to like her. Whenever there is a boy Raina likes, the entire graphic is filled with hearts. Raina daydreams about a boy carrying her with hearts surrounding them Talking about a boy asking her out on a date Raina’s friends have boyfriends Thought bubbles of Raina kissing a boy On her 13th birthday, Raina’s friends tell her it’s time to kiss a boy, so they give her a makeover. They have her wear a lot of makeup, a tube top, mini skirt, and fishnet stockings Raina’s mom tells her out of the blue with no discussion that she needs to wear a bra Talks about puberty. The graphic has pictures of each of Raina’s friends and the physical ways they’re showing they’ve gone through puberty–chest is big is one of the descriptions Normalizes boys noticing girls going through puberty and shows them reacting to girls with violence-slinging rubber bands at girls they like and shoving them Raina says she needs to practice flirting. The pictorial representation is Raina shoving a boy hard Raina and her friends play spin the bottle When Raina went off to high school, she was excited to meet new boys Raina’s friends pants her in front of the entire school Pictures showing boys and girls slow dancing together at a school dance Using the term “hots for Sean” when describing a crush

Language Metal mouth, oh my gosh, jerk, name-calling baby for wearing pigtails, talks about puke, calling her vampire girl, brace face, zit face, calling younger kids shrimp, saying what the heck repeatedly, using the word hate throughout the entire story, using the term nerd in a negative context associating with braces,  tone of her friends is always very cruel and condescending, name-calling “dog breath”

Questionable Behaviors There is a lot of shoving each other when the friends are spending time together Talks about medications, specifically codeine, and how it makes her feel Uses slang, like fresh Plays a lot of video games-notes Wizards and Warriors video game Discusses the tooth fairy-the mom says she is magical and knows what happens even when she is not there There is a lot of talk about “normal” bodies, and how if Raina just looked normal, people and boys would like her Raina mentions prayer when she says her sister prayed during the earthquake. She says that was the only time she’s ever heard her sister pray References the movie Nightmare on Elm Street

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74 pages • 2 hours read

Smile: A Graphic Novel

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Dental Problems and Self-Esteem

With one misstep, Raina goes from needing braces to fix an overbite to undergoing four years of dental surgeries. This painful process, with several false finishes, harms her psyche at a critical moment in her development. Initially taking the accident in good humor, Raina becomes cynical as she faces intrusive questions and hearsay about the accident. She encounters microaggressions such as the get-well card with a smiley face on it or the assistant who wishes her a Merry Christmas following her front teeth removal. Her frustration and pain leave her in a sullen mood that leaves her open to her friends’ teasing.

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Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, smile: a memoir.

Ten years ago, my smile walked off my face, and wandered out in the world. This is the story of my asking it to come back. This is a story of how I learned to make my way when my body stopped obeying my heart.

But this story begins with hope—the very particular hope of a birth to come. I was lying down in a dressing gown, cold gel on my belly, waiting as the lab technician looked for a heartbeat. I already had a three-year-old girl, and was expecting my second child. I was also expecting to have a play I’d written to be per- formed on Broadway in five months, and was slightly nervous about the potential collision of two kinds of abundance.

Suddenly the lab technician pointed to the screen and said, “Do you know what that is?”

“No,” I said.

I flashed on the ultrasound I’d had before miscarrying my sec- ond pregnancy, when the obstetrician had said the fetus looked not quite right and probably wouldn’t last. “Don’t, like, go out and get drunk, though,” she had said in a tone not quite teasing, “just in case it’s viable.”

“Uh, not to worry,” I had said, wondering what gave her the impression that I would go out and get wasted that weekend.

So this time, I feared the worst as I lay there, nervous, while the lab technician squinted at a screen I could not see. “Look!” she said, pointing. There was movement, a heart beating, it seemed to me. A heartbeat, that’s good , I thought, but what was wrong? Why was her brow furrowed? Was she alarmed, or, wait, was she pleased? “Did you use fertility treatments?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “Well,” she said, “you have twins!” “Oh!” I said. “Do twins run in your family?” “No,” I said. My mind raced to keep up with my body. “You can go to the waiting room,” she said. “I’ll give you a list of new providers. We can no longer be your ob-gyn because your pregnancy is now considered high-risk.”

This was a great deal to absorb—that I had two babies inside me and was also now considered high-risk, so much so that they wanted to get me out of their SoHo office as soon as possible before I got preeclampsia and sued them.

I got dressed. I happened to be alone for this appointment; I had planned to meet my husband afterwards for lunch, where we would celebrate if there was a heartbeat, or commiserate if there was not. Now I was sorry I’d come alone. I wanted to tell my husband, Tony, the news immediately, but it also seemed strange to reveal such big tidings over the phone.

So I texted him: “Meet me at Gramercy Tavern instead of at Rice.”

“Twins?” he texted back.

Gramercy Tavern was closed for lunch. Tony and I went to Rice, as planned. We were both in shock; Tony, on top of the shock, evinced buoyancy, elation. Coming from a family of three sib- lings, he’d always wanted three. Being from a family of two, I’d settled on two. I’d even, at one point, settled on one, when I read in an Alice Walker essay that women writers should only have one child if they hoped to remain writers. “With one child you can move,” wrote Walker. “With more than one you’re a sitting duck.”

At lunch, Tony and I talked about how my miscarried child had wandered back, not to be excluded from this birth. We talked about how we would manage with three. I told Tony my fears: that my body could not contain this much abundance and that I’d never write again. He said he had faith in my body and mind.

At the end of the meal, I got a fortune cookie. I cracked it open. It read: “Deliver what is inside you, and it will save your life.”

Everyone seemed jubilant about the news, but I was over- whelmed. I found myself feeling vaguely sick when thumbing through books about multiples in the pregnancy section of the bookstore. There were pictures of breastfeeding triplets, and I didn’t want to know about all that. It struck me as grotesque, as though I had once been a woman but was now hurtling towards becoming full mammal, all breasts and logistics. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to give enough attention to my three-year-old, Anna. I feared that my body wouldn’t tolerate two babies; I feared that my writing wouldn’t survive three children.

I called my mother with the news. I gave off a scent of “How can this have happened?”

My mother paused, then said, “Well, your great-aunt Laura had twins.”

“Why didn’t I know?” “They were stillborn,” she said. Twins run on the mother’s side, skipping a generation. Poor

great-aunt Laura, whose heartbreak I never knew. Somewhere in Iowa in the 1950s she buried two babies on the prairie and never spoke of it. I imagined their graves on some grassy plain. I wondered whether Laura gave them names; Laura was dead so I couldn’t ask her. The ghosts of my great-aunt Laura’s babies would haunt me for the rest of the pregnancy.

When I told friends I was having twins, I was as apt to cry as to laugh. My dear friend Kathleen, a playwright, from a large Irish Catholic family, comforted me, saying, “I love big families. Small families are so boring in comparison.” Kathleen had already raised two daughters, and had shown me all the ropes, talking me through potty training and tantrums. Her most comforting phrase was, “I’m sure it’s just a stage.” At this seismic news she said quite simply, “I’ll help you.” And I knew she would.

Three months pregnant and terrified, I visited my former play- writing teacher Paula Vogel and her wife, Anne Fausto Sterling, an eminent feminist biologist, on Cape Cod. They said, come, we’ll grill fish, we’ll take care of you. Paula is the reason I write plays. She has the ferocity of a general in battle, the joy and humor of a street performer, and the tenderness of a mother. That week, she entertained Anna with tissues she made into a puppet. Anna laughed with joy. I was quiet. Paula observed me. “What’s wrong?” she asked. She gave me her conjuring, summoning look.

“Will I ever write again?” I asked her.

“Yes, you will,” she promised. I looked out at the ocean. This was the same view Paula had shown me years ago, when she’d invited her graduate students out to her Cape Cod home, entreated us to look out the window, and say to ourselves a mantra— This is what playwriting can buy .

My first Broadway play was supposed to go into rehearsal that fall; I was not only pregnant, I was extra pregnant. What luck, what abundance. All this bounty, why am I not happy? I thought.

And my mind went back to the fortune cookie: “Deliver what is inside you, and it will save your life.”

Did it mean that my life was imperiled, and if I didn’t deliver the babies speedily, the pregnancy itself would kill me?

Or did it mean something more metaphysical?

All through the pregnancy I thought, How could my children possibly save my life?

It would take me a decade to find out.

Smile: A Memoir by by Sarah Ruhl

• Genres: Memoir , Nonfiction
• paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books
• ISBN-10: 1982150955
• ISBN-13: 9781982150952
• About the Book

Sleepy Reads

Smile The Book Summary By Raina Telgemeier

In the realm of adolescent literature, Raina Telgemeier’s ‘Smile’ stands as a vibrant and heartfelt tale that resonates with readers of all ages.

Like the title suggests, this graphic novel paints a vivid portrait of one girl’s journey through the trials and tribulations of adolescence, using dental drama as a metaphorical vehicle for exploring deeper themes.

Telgemeier’s storytelling prowess lies in her ability to blend humor and honesty seamlessly, creating an authentic portrayal of middle school challenges that strikes a chord with readers.

Through the protagonist’s experiences, ‘Smile’ delves into the intricacies of friendship troubles, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and resilience when faced with adversity.

With its engaging narrative style and relatable characters, this book not only captivates its audience but also provides valuable insights into navigating the complexities of growing up.

Whether you’re seeking entertainment or understanding, ‘Smile’ offers a compelling exploration into the universal struggles of adolescence.

Key Takeaways

• ‘Smile’ is a vibrant and heartfelt graphic novel that explores the complexities of adolescence through dental drama.
• Raina Telgemeier skillfully blends humor and honesty to create an authentic portrayal of middle school challenges.
• The book emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance, resilience, and inner strength in navigating the ups and downs of growing up.
• ‘Smile’ inspires readers to face adversity with confidence and to embrace personal growth, ultimately developing a strong sense of self-worth.

The Author’s Personal Journey Through Adolescence

The exploration of the author’s personal experiences during her adolescence provides a nuanced and introspective perspective on the challenges and growth that individuals navigate during this developmental stage.

Raina Telgemeier’s memoir, ‘Smile,’ delves into her own journey of self-discovery and coming of age, allowing readers to gain insight into the universal struggles faced by teenagers. Telgemeier artfully captures the complexities of adolescence through vivid illustrations and candid storytelling, creating a relatable narrative that resonates with readers from various backgrounds.

Her honest portrayal of issues such as friendships, body image, and identity formation offers valuable lessons for young readers who may be navigating similar experiences. By sharing her own vulnerabilities and triumphs, Telgemeier effectively conveys the message that adolescence is a time of growth and resilience, ultimately inspiring readers to embrace their own personal journeys with courage and self-acceptance.

Humor and Honesty in Depicting Middle School Challenges

Humor and honesty are skillfully employed to portray the challenges faced by middle school students in Smile, as evidenced by the fact that the book has received numerous awards and accolades for its portrayal of relatable experiences.

Raina Telgemeier effectively uses laughter and vulnerability to navigate social pressures, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Through her illustrations and storytelling, Telgemeier captures the awkwardness and uncertainty of adolescence, highlighting both the humorous and difficult moments.

By incorporating humor into the narrative, she creates a sense of camaraderie among readers who have experienced similar situations. Additionally, Telgemeier’s honest depiction of middle school challenges promotes empathy and understanding among readers of all ages.

Overall, Smile successfully combines humor and honesty to provide an insightful portrayal of the complexities of navigating through middle school.

The Impact of Dental Drama on the Protagonist’s Life

One notable aspect of the narrative is the significant impact that dental drama has on the protagonist’s life, as evidenced by statistics showing that dental problems are one of the leading causes of missed school days among children and adolescents. The emotional trauma experienced by the protagonist due to her dental issues is a central theme in Smile. Raina Telgemeier portrays how dental problems can lead to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem. This emotional trauma affects not only the protagonist’s physical well-being but also her social interactions, leading to social isolation.

Throughout the book, Raina depicts instances where the protagonist feels isolated from her peers due to her appearance and struggles with making friends. The portrayal highlights how dental drama can have a profound impact on an individual’s overall quality of life during their formative years.

The protagonist’s constant worry about her appearance affects her confidence and ability to participate in social activities.

Her experiences with bullying further exacerbate feelings of isolation.

Dental treatments and procedures become a source of anxiety for the protagonist, adding another layer of emotional distress.

Overall, Smile effectively illustrates how dental drama can have far-reaching consequences on an individual’s emotional well-being and social interactions during middle school years.

Exploring the Theme of Friendship Troubles

Expanding upon the narrative, an exploration of Smile delves into the theme of friendship troubles and examines the complexities that arise in the protagonist’s social relationships. The graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier portrays the challenges faced by its main character, Raina, as she navigates her way through middle school while dealing with dental drama. Throughout the story, Raina experiences shifting dynamics within her friendships, highlighting the emotional turbulence that can occur during adolescence.

The book vividly captures how friendships can be tested and strained when faced with personal struggles and individual growth. Telgemeier skillfully depicts the nuances of these relationships, showcasing both their strengths and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, Smile emphasizes the importance of emotional support from friends during difficult times, reinforcing how crucial it is to have a strong support system in order to navigate through life’s obstacles successfully.

Embracing Self-Acceptance and Resilience

Embracing the theme of self-acceptance and resilience, Smile skillfully portrays the protagonist’s journey through middle school, emphasizing the importance of inner strength and perseverance in overcoming obstacles.

Raina, the main character, faces numerous challenges such as dental issues and social struggles that impact her self-confidence. However, throughout the book, she learns to embrace herself for who she is and develops a positive mindset. By navigating these difficulties with grace and determination, Raina demonstrates the power of self-acceptance in building resilience.

The narrative highlights how accepting one’s flaws and embracing personal growth contribute to developing a strong sense of self-worth. Through Raina’s experiences, readers are encouraged to cultivate their own inner strength and adopt a positive outlook on life, ultimately inspiring them to face adversity head-on with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has raina telgemeier written before smile.

Raina Telgemeier has written four books prior to Smile. Her other works include Drama, Sisters, and Ghosts. It is unclear what specifically inspired her to write Smile as the question does not provide that information.

What is Raina Telgemeier’s writing process like?

Raina Telgemeier’s writing process involves a meticulous routine that incorporates her unique writing style, inspirations, and creative techniques. She employs storytelling techniques to enhance character development and conducts thorough research to overcome writing challenges. Her influences contribute to her analytical and knowledgeable approach.

How did Raina Telgemeier come up with the idea for Smile?

Raina Telgemeier’s creative process involves drawing from personal experiences. The inspiration for Smile came from her own dental accident. Through character development, Telgemeier explores themes of resilience and self-acceptance, which are prevalent in her other books as well.

Did Raina Telgemeier base any of the characters in Smile on real people?

Real life inspirations for the characters in Smile can be likened to puzzle pieces that fit seamlessly into Telgemeier’s narrative. This adds authenticity and relatability to the story, enhancing its impact on readers.

What other themes does Raina Telgemeier explore in her books besides friendship troubles and self-acceptance?

Raina Telgemeier explores themes of resilience and identity development in her books, employing the impactful graphic novel format. Her stories resonate with readers seeking understanding as she expertly navigates complex issues through an analytical and knowledgeable approach.

In conclusion, Raina Telgemeier’s book ‘Smile’ offers a compelling portrayal of the challenges faced by adolescents in middle school.

Through her use of humor and honesty, Telgemeier effectively captures the complexities of friendship troubles and the impact of dental drama on the protagonist’s life.

The book also explores themes of self-acceptance and resilience, highlighting important lessons for readers.

Overall, Telgemeier’s work provides valuable insights into the experiences of young individuals navigating their way through adolescence.

Further investigation into the truth behind these experiences could shed light on the universal nature of such challenges.

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