Hardcover, 224 pages
English language
Published Feb. 1, 2010 by Graphix.
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. This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.
The whole time I was reading this, I was thinking about this article: slate.com/technology/2020/07/does-anyone-need-braces.html. All that pain and suffering for purely cosmetic changes. Still, I can't imagine how much worse middle school would have been for her if she didn't get all that dental work.
Also Raina Telgemeier is a genius. Not that anyone needs me to tell them that.
Simple, charming, and without a gimmick, Raina’s autobiographical cartoon has become a true phenomenon, and one must simply open its pages to see why.
