
In "Smile," Raina Telgemeier's Eisner-winning graphic memoir chronicles her dental drama and middle school mayhem. Can braces really change your life? This relatable coming-of-age story has educators, celebrities, and millions of readers grinning through tears at its authentic portrayal of adolescent struggles.
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Imagine losing your two front teeth in a single traumatic moment as a sixth-grader. How would you face school the next day? How would this change your relationship with your own reflection? "Smile" takes us on a journey that's simultaneously specific in its dental drama and universally relatable in its exploration of self-image during the turbulent middle school years. It begins with a single misstep-literally. Sixth-grader Raina trips and falls after a Girl Scout meeting, causing a horrific dental injury. Her two front teeth are knocked out, blood everywhere, pain searing through her face. The scene unfolds in real-time, with friends frozen in horror and the evening's peaceful routine shattered by screams. What makes this moment so poignant is how it captures the intersection of physical and emotional trauma. Raina isn't just dealing with pain; she's confronting a changed appearance during those developmentally crucial years when self-image becomes everything.