Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Raina trips and smashes her face into the pavement, knocking out her front teeth, adding painful dental surgery and orthodontia to the already daunting list of things she has to contend with during her awkward early teenage years.

Themes: Fitting in, overcoming physical ailments

Content Advisory: The scene where Telgemeier loses her teeth could skeeve out the squeamish (like Jack), but other than that, this is a lighthearted book suitable for all ages.

Discussion Questions:

1. How would the story of Smile work differently in a regular prose novel than it does in graphic novel form?
2. While you may not have had your two front teeth knocked out in an accident, there are probably parts of Raina's story that relate to your own life. What part seemed the most like your own experiences?
3. What is your most horrible injury?
4. The book is set in the Bay Area. What specific places did you recognize in the pictures?

---

Commenting closes after a story has been up for 2 months.