SMILE (AI DRAFT)
A dental ordeal and a painful lesson in friendship, with tween romance throughout.
The Worldview
Read it together, especially with a middle-schooler. The book offers real encouragement about finding supportive friends, but recurring crushes, pressure to kiss and graphic dental scenes call for a parent’s guidance.
SMILE values perseverance, creative interests and the courage to step away from friends who repeatedly demean you. Raina’s parents support her through an extended medical ordeal, and the book is strongest when it shows how appearance-based teasing can wound. It does not argue against Christianity, but God is mostly absent from this everyday story; during the earthquake, Raina notes that her sister prayed. The memoir’s answer to insecurity is chiefly self-acceptance and finding people who appreciate you, rather than a stated faith in the One who gives every person worth. You can affirm that a person’s value does not depend on teeth, clothes or popularity: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14, ESV).
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSixth-grader Raina is already dreading braces when a fall after Girl Scouts badly injures her two front teeth. The long road of dental repairs follows her through middle school and into high school, alongside changing friendships, a first crush and the everyday worry of trying to fit in. This graphic memoir turns an embarrassing ordeal into a story about growing up.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own reader.
- Fall and dental injury Raina falls and injures her front teeth; blood is shown.
- Language and name-calling scenes Mild language and name-calling, including “jerk” and insults about Raina’s appearance.
- Thirteenth-birthday party and makeover Recurring crush material leads to birthday-party pressure to kiss a boy and a makeover featuring a tube top, short skirt and fishnet stockings; the friends ridicule Raina.
- Spin-the-bottle party A party game of spin the bottle includes kissing.
- School pantsing prank Raina’s friends pants her in front of others.
A locator so a parent can pre-read the scenes that matter instead of the whole book.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Moral coming-of-age story values perseverance, family support and finding kinder friends; faith is mostly absent, with one brief mention of prayer. A childhood flashback discusses the tooth fairy.
Foul Language
Light. Mild words include “jerk,” “darn” and “barf”; characters also use repeated insults such as “brace face,” “nerd” and “dog breath.”
Violence
Moderate injury and peril, not fighting, such as Raina falling and badly damaging her front teeth, with blood shown; subsequent dental procedures are described and illustrated, and an earthquake brings news of deaths and injuries. No character death is depicted.
Sex
Moderate romantic material for young teens: recurring crushes, talk about dating and first kisses, a daydreamed kiss, and a spin-the-bottle party scene with kissing. Friends pressure Raina to kiss a boy and dress to attract him. Puberty and bra advice are mentioned.
Nudity
No nudity. Raina is shown in a tube top and short skirt during a makeover; her midriff is visible.
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use.
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug abuse. Prescription codeine is mentioned as dental pain medication.
Miscellaneous Immorality
Friends repeatedly mock Raina’s teeth, clothes and appearance; they also pants her as a humiliating prank. Raina passes notes in class and stands up a boy she had agreed to meet at a school dance. A summer-activities passage mentions watching the horror movie NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET; the movie’s content is not depicted. The story shows the hurt these actions cause, and she eventually leaves the cruel friend group, though adults do not consistently address the behavior.
Is the Writing Any Good?
Three stars means good, with real flaws. Raina Telgemeier’s clean, expressive drawings make the panels easy to follow, and the dental trouble gives this autobiographical story a strong, memorable through-line. Her scenes of adolescent embarrassment and unkind friends feel specific rather than preachy. The book is lively and readable, but its years-long span can feel episodic, and some transitions move quickly. The craft is appealing; parents may still want to read alongside a child because the social and romantic material is substantial.
Talk About It
Four questions for the dinner table, the car, or a parent and teen reading it together.
Raina’s friends repeatedly tease her about her teeth and clothes. What makes teasing cross the line, and how could you respond if a friend were being targeted?
Ephesians 4:29 · Proverbs 12:18Raina’s friends pressure her to kiss a boy and change how she looks. What could help someone make a choice that fits their own convictions instead of giving in to a group?
Romans 12:2 · Proverbs 1:10Raina’s interests help her find people who treat her better. What qualities make someone a good friend, and how can you be that kind of friend?
Proverbs 13:20 · John 15:12Raina feels self-conscious about her appearance. What does Scripture say gives a person lasting worth?
Psalm 139:14 · 1 Samuel 16:7The Final Word
SMILE offers a relatable picture of perseverance and the relief of finding friends who treat you kindly. Its repeated crushes, kissing game, peer cruelty and painful dental scenes are best discussed with a parent. Read it together.
