Smile ~ Raina Telgemeier

I finally get why this book never stays on my bookshelf! I’d been meaning to read this title for ages, but I literally could never wrestle it away from my students. In Smile, Raina Telgemeier expertly crafts and illustrates a classic coming-of-age story with a unique twist--missing teeth!

In this graphic novel, Raina writes about her own experiences in middle and high school after an accidental fall knocked her two front teeth out. Navigating middle school drama isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s especially challenging when your friends are rude, you’re wearing dentures, and many days are spent in a dental chair or in pain from countless dental procedures. 

The novel chronicles several years of Raina’s life where she finds her voice, changes schools, makes real friends, and finally rebuilds her smile. Every student will see themselves in Raina (even if their teeth haven’t fallen out!), and they will connect with Raina’s unashamed honesty about the many ups and downs of adolescence.  

BUY IT HERE

MATURITY: 1/4

This novel is ideal for age 9+. It doesn’t contain any mature content and is perfect for any upper elementary or middle school reader!

PAGES: 224

LEXILE: GN410L

(GN = Graphic Novel)

Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.

If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!