Smile

Name: Smile
Rating: 6.6 (3 reviews)
Author: Raina Telgemeier
ISBN: 9780545132053

by Raina Telgemeier

The graphic memoir that helped a generation of kids feel less alone about being different

Kid

Parent

Teacher

Best fit: ages 9-13 Still works: ages 8-14 Lexile GN410L

The story

When sixth-grader Raina trips and damages her two front teeth, what begins as a simple dental emergency turns into years of orthodontic treatment that coincides with the most socially intense period of her life. As braces, retainers, and self-consciousness become her constant companions, Raina navigates shifting friendships, emerging crushes, and the universal question of whether the way you look defines who you are.

Age verdict

Best for ages 9-13 when readers are actively experiencing or approaching the friendship shifts and identity questions Raina faces; younger readers enjoy the humor and visual format while older readers catch the deeper emotional layers.

Our take

Parents and teachers value this more than kids expect — a growth-rich graphic memoir that hooks reluctant readers while delivering genuine emotional and educational substance.

What stands out

Each audience's top 3 dimensions. Out of 30 scored per book.

👦

Kids love

Mental movie Exceptional

Comparable to Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute — Both are visually driven graphic novels where illustrations carry narrative weight. Smile's full-color expressive character art creates cinematic experience. Sits at because visual design is essential.
First-chapter grab Strong

Comparable to Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute — Both open in immediately relatable settings with instant dramatic stakes. Smile's accident on the playground is equally grabbing. Sits at because visual hook plus immediate emotional investment.

👩

Parents love

Emotional sophistication Strong

Comparable to Because of Winn-Dixie — Both model emotional understanding through behavior rather than declaration. Raina's shame, longing, and gradual acceptance give children vocabulary for unnamed states. Sits at.
Reading gateway Strong

Comparable to Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute — Both are full-color graphic novels with conversational voice and visual storytelling that enable reluctant readers. Smile's consistent Scholastic Book Fair presence confirms gateway status. Sits at.

🍎

Teachers love

Empathy & self-awareness Exceptional

Comparable to Because of Winn-Dixie — Both are exceptional empathy-building texts. Smile helps students understand invisible struggles and classmate insecurity. Sits at.
Discussion fuel Strong

Comparable to The One and Only Ivan — Both spark authentic classroom debate. Smile's ambiguity about whether friends were unkind or growing apart generates genuine disagreement. Sits at.

✓ Perfect for

• Readers aged 9-13 navigating middle school
• appearance anxiety
• or friendship changes will find their own experiences reflected and validated. Also ideal for reluctant readers who connect with graphic novels and relatable
• real-world stories.

Not ideal for

Readers seeking fantasy adventures, action-driven plots, or fast-paced mysteries will find this introspective memoir too quiet and internally focused.

⚠ Heads up

Body Image

At a glance

Pages: 224
Chapters: 8
Words: 15k
Lexile: GN410L
Difficulty: Easy
POV: First Person
Illustration: Fully Illustrated
Published: 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Illustrator: Raina Telgemeier (color by Stephanie Yue)
ISBN: 9780545132053

Mood & style

Tone: Warm Pacing: Steady Clip Weight: Moderate Tension: Identity Crisis Humor: Situational

You'll know it worked when…

Very high completion rate — the graphic novel format, relatable content, and consistent humor keep readers engaged from start to finish, even those who typically abandon chapter books.

If your kid loved "Smile"

Matched across 30 dimensions — interest hooks, character appeal, tone, pacing, emotional core. Not by what other people bought. By what fits the same reader profile.