Common Sense Media Review
By Sally Engelfried
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Delightful graphic novel follows teen girl's teeth troubles.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say the book offers a warm, relatable story that explores themes of bullying, peer pressure, and growing up through the eyes of a young girl dealing with braces and social dynamics. However, some reviewers express concerns about its mature content, including references to puberty and inappropriate peer behavior, suggesting that it may not be suitable for younger readers.
- relatable themes
- mature content
- bullying issues
- positive message
- age appropriateness
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 74 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a hilarious yet relatable graphic novel that addresses experiences with dental issues, friendships, and crushes, particularly resonating with tweens and early teens. While some parents find the mature themes and mild gore concerning, many reviewers appreciate its positive messages about resilience and self-acceptance, making it a beloved read for kids 9 and up.
- humor and relatability
- positive messages
- mature themes
- dental issues
- friendship dynamics
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Like many 12-year-olds, Raina is apprehensive about getting braces. But when she trips and knocks out her two front teeth, the fate of her teeth becomes even more traumatic. For the next four years, we follow Raina through many trips to the orthodontist, mouth surgeries, and a variety of dental contraptions. Meanwhile, Raina starts middle school, gets a crush on a boy who barely notices her, experiences the Loma Prieta Earthquake in San Francisco, and deals with friends who are not always supportive and are sometimes downright mean. As Raina's teeth go through extensive changes, Raina learns to stand up for herself and discovers that following her own interests, especially art, will lead to healthy friendships with people who like her for who she is.
Is It Any Good?
Telgemeier's simple, clean drawings in a soft color palette are easily accessible even to readers new to graphic novels, and there is also a rich, complex story to delve into. Raina's experiences with her teeth as she goes through middle and high school serve as an excellent metaphor for her life: Her teeth will never be perfect, but with a little work, they get a lot better. In SMILE, through incidents both meaningful and trivial that span the course of several years, we watch author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier grow up. Readers will enjoy figuring out that The Little Mermaid influenced Raina's future as a cartoonist, and they may relate to how Raina can always find comfort in the art room at school. But one of Smile's most outstanding qualities is its spot-on depiction of the subtle way middle school girls can undermine one another and how Raina eventually figures out when friends make her feel more bad than good, she shouldn't accept it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Raina's experiences with her teeth make her feel like a misfit. Have you ever gone through something that made you feel like you couldn't relate to your friends?
How does this graphic novel compare with others you've read? Do you react to it differently knowing that the story is from the author's real life?
Lots of friends tease each other playfully, but sometimes they can go too far, as Raina's friends did. What's off-limits for teasing among you and your friends?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Raina Telgemeier
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Arts , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : February 1, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 17
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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