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Smile: A Graphic Novel
Last updated Thursday, June 6, 2024
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Date of Publication: 2010
ISBN: 0545132053
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jun. 2024
Synopsis:
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.
| Note to readers: |
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Story Themes: This is a story of a young girl who has an accident where she falls and loses her two front teeth. We follow her on her journey from middle to high school as she goes through a lot of pain having to get lots of follow-up work done on her teeth to correct the damage – from braces to head gear to two fake front teeth, then shifting her other teeth to the center, and more! Needless to say, she goes through a lot, all the while navigating friendships, crushes, school work, inner passions…the usual adolescent stuff. She really blooms from middle
school to high school –she stands up for herself against friends she has had since middle school, gets her braces off, makes new friends, and starts doing more art and drawing, which she loves.
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The themes through it all are: growing pains, overcoming fear of what others think and disappointments, what true friendship looks like, self-consciousness/self-criticism, and finding oneself…and the power of a smile.
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There’s a great line in the book that says, “Weird… something happens when you smile at people. They smile back!!” pg. 117
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Picture Walk + Engaging Readers with Questions: Since the illustrations in graphic novels are essential in
conveying and developing the story, it would be helpful/useful to pause in between reading and do “picture
walks” to ensure that the students are able to see and absorb what is happening. While looking at the pictures this
is a great time to ask questions about what is actually happening in the story, as well as asking hypothetical
questions to get kids thinking a little more (i.e. What do you think is going to happen? What would you do? How
do you think they felt? What would you say/say instead? etc.)
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Different Learning Styles: Reading the story + engaging in picture walks will support all learning styles.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Why is smiling important? How do you feel when you smile? How do you feel when someone smiles at you?
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Does anyone like going to the dentist?
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Does anyone know someone who has braces? Does anyone think braces are cool, and wants to get some?
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When you are sick, what’s something special you get to do when you have to stay home from school? (Eat ice
cream, play video games, etc.?)...What’s your favorite ice cream/video game/etc.?
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Was there ever something that made you nervous to go to school, because you were scared of what other people
might think?
Vocabulary
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Orthodontist - a special kind of dentist who corrects problems with the way teeth meet and the jaw works, usually with braces
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Retainer - a removable kind of appliance that helps keep the teeth in place after braces are removed
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Stumble - trip and fall
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Overwhelmed - ompletely overcome in mind or feeling
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Curious - eager to learn or know; inquisitive.
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Prescription - a direction, usually written, by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy
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Nauseous - sickened; affected with nausea; nauseated
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Damage - injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness
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Permanent - intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions
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Temporary - the opposite of permanent; intended to be a stopgap
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Endodontist - a special kind of dentist who performs root canals; deals with the cdiseases of the dental pulp, usually by removal of the nerve and other tissue of the pulp cavity and its replacement with suitable filling material;
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Peaceful - characterized by peace; free from war, strife, commotion, violence, or disorder: a peaceful demonstration.
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Discomfort - uneasiness, hardship, or mild pain
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Sympathy - the act or state of feeling sorrow or compassion for another: agreement in feelings or emotions between people or on the part of one person toward another.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Why is smiling important? How do you feel when you smile? How do you feel when someone smiles at you?
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What do you think is the best thing to do to help a friend or classmate who is sad and scared to get braces? (pg. 1-
31)
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What was your favorite birthday gift ever? (pg. 36-43)
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Have you ever been nervous for the first day of school? Or, do you get excited? (pg. 56-59)
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What is a subject or a hobby that you really like doing that makes you happy and proud when you are working on
it? (pg. 200-end…She gets her braces off, has great new friends, and is focusing on an activity she loves.)
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| Craft ideas: |
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Create their comic strip/picture tiles of an important event in their life (e.g. summer trip, birthday party, new pet,
etc.)
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Make cards for a family member or friend – can be get well cards, or congratulatory/celebratory cards.
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Make a “poster”/flyer for an upcoming event in their life. E.g Birthday, holiday, etc.
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| Special activities: |
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Do the provided word search
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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