Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A few months ago, I bought ‘Guts’ by Raina Telgemeier on a whim, unaware that it’s part of an autobiographical series consisting of three books so far, with ‘Smile’ having been published first. However, not only can these books be read in any order, but Raina is ten years old in ‘Guts’ and twelve in ‘Smile’, making Guts a chronological prequel despite being published later. So it kinda worked out better for me.
In this graphic novel memoir, Raina Telgemeier recalls how she lost her two front teeth, setting her on a journey filled with nightmarish dentist visits, lots of pain, and relentless teasing at school for resembling a vampire. Anybody whose ever had a nightmarish experience or even a mildly unpleasant visit to the dental clinic, will find this graphic novel absolutely relatable and fun.
From struggling to eat popcorn at the movies to feeling self-conscious around her crushes and disappointed by unsupportive friends, Raina vividly captures the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. One of the novel’s subtler strengths is the way it acknowledges that emotional bullies aren’t always strangers; sometimes, they’re your own friends. For Raina, sporting a smile simply wasn’t that easy.
With Raina’s signature colorful, cute, cartoonish artwork, Smile playfully captures the highs and lows of being an almost-teenager. She also inserts a few full-page illustrations that serve as both welcome visual breaks and a sense of continuity for the story. And because Raina grew up in the 1980s, the book also offers a wonderful sense of nostalgia to older readers.
If you’re looking for an easy, cutesy non-fiction graphic novel, just pick up Smile. I’m sure Raina has embellished a few memories here and there, as anyone recounting their childhood probably would (I honestly won’t be able to recall so much from my own middle-school years), but it’s still remarkable how vividly and candidly she recreates those formative years. There’s very little judgment in the way she tells her story, only warmth, honesty, and hindsight.
Rating: 5 on 5 stars.
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