Smile

Book review by Sally Engelfried, Common Sense Media
Smile Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Delightful graphic novel follows teen girl's teeth troubles.

Raina Telgemeier Coming of Age 2010
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 21 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 68 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the autobiographical graphic novel Smile follows author Raina Telgemeier through her real-life experiences of having her teeth knocked out and the years of orthodontic work that follow during her early teen years. Because the story is true (although the names of the characters have been changed), not all of Raina's dilemmas are solved in the neatly wrapped-up way of most middle-grade novels, which may be disappointing to some readers. Although the cartoony drawings may indicate a light, fun story -- and there are certainly elements of that -- Smile is also a meaningful story of a teen's journey to self-acceptance.

Community Reviews

goodparentoverhere
goodparentoverhere Adult
October 10, 2019
age 10+

Good, but just a little off

It is a cute story about a teen girl's tooth tale, but it has things like bras, crushes, how a teenager needs to kiss her first boy, puberty, some other mature content. It is a good story for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, but not intended for elementary school kids.

This title has:

Too much sex
5 people found this helpful.
EHaralamos
EHaralamos Adult
April 24, 2020
age 13+

Fun read, but full of insecurity, bad friends, peer pressure that only improve on the last couple pages

This was a really fun book for my daughter, but I was unhappy with the age rating and some of the negative themes. The graphics were cute and she was hooked and finished it in one sitting. Although things do improve at the very end of the book, the main character focuses on physical insecurity throughout the whole book, with friends who are obsessed with boys and try to pressure her to kiss anyone at the party just so she can "get her first kiss." The friends push her to dress very scantily in a mini skirt, tube top and fish net stockings (which is pictured) to impress her crush. They do admit that they are kidding and she doesn't leave the house that way. At one point, her mom says in a demeaning way that she needs a bra, without talking to her about puberty in any way. Finally in the end, she decides to start doing something she likes to do and makes better friends, who work together and like her for herself. I'm glad she finds how to love herself through all her teeth trials and friend troubles, but my daughter wasn't ready yet for the ideas of obsessing over kissing boys, insecurities and peer pressure.
4 people found this helpful.
See all 21 parent reviews

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

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love graphic novels and coming-of-age books

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