Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Taken from Goodreads:

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, and 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.

What a pleasant surprise this book was. It was based on Telgemeier's own dental trauma in junior high and high school. The story and adorable drawings make you laugh, smile, and wince all at the same time. I think what I especially loved was all of the pop culture references since the author was in junior high and high school around the same time I was. It brought back a flood of memories from my own awkward phase of pre-adolescence and teenagerhood. It's sure to delight kids, teenagers, and adults alike. 

Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Published: February 1, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic 
Pages: 224
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Audience: Middle Grade