Smile

Smile

            The graphic novel, Smile by Raina Telgemeier is an excellent true story of growing up and going through the changes of life as a young adult. This graphic novel is based on the true events of the author going through her teen years and dealing with the struggles and embarrassment children are faced with orthodontia. It begins after a Girl Scouts Meeting when Raina is chasing her friend and trips and falls knocking her front teeth out, one completely falling out while the other is jammed up into her gum. Embarrassed and humiliated, the story spans four years, the crucial years of middle school and transitioning into high school. If orthodontia wasn’t her biggest problem in this novel, Raina grows up realizing her friends are bullies, facing rejection of boys and the ups and downs and the struggle of becoming a young adult.

            When it comes to reading at a young age, it is very common that children don’t find the pleasure of reading. They are being forced to read in school and at home, this is where I think graphic novels become a good thing. For children who don’t naturally pick up books and read for pleasure, Graphic Novels are a great way to get them to start reading. With illustration and graphics, it may be easier for kids to start taking interest in reading. Helping children find an interest and encouraging them to find graphic novels or comics is an easy way to fix that “I don’t want to read” phase for children and young adults. Finding stories like Smile, that deal with day to day life and struggles of being a young adult is certainly more entertaining to children who can relate to the story.

(images via pinterest)