74 pages • 2 hours read
Raina TelgemeierSmile: A Graphic Novel
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Symbols & Motifs
Smiles
The novel begins with Raina’s forced smile during a dental appointment and ends with her genuine smile at the Sophomore Hop. In between, Telgemeier regularly changes the way she draws Raina’s teeth as she goes from the stunted front teeth after the initial surgery to the top-line-only braces, to a retainer in which the line only goes over her real teeth, to full braces, and finally to the crossbite-fixing braces with a rubber band visible at all times. Raina grins deliriously when her retainer makes her feel “normal” and later comments that it is painful to smile after getting new braces. Telgemeier also depicts the antagonists with smiles, such as the evil grin of the periodontist or the smirk Karin and Nicole have after the pantsing.
Mirrors
Mirrors are important for a preteen girl when it comes to judging her appearance. When Raina uses a handheld dental mirror, Telgemeier often draws her teeth in a more realistic manner that better shows the damage to Raina’s teeth. The girl uses other mirrors to check herself as well. As a child, she finds her appearance funny, but as she grows older, she becomes more anxious about her looks. During the periodontist visit, Raina faints after catching a glimpse of her damaged gums in the mirror.
Earrings
Earrings, both the accessories and the piercing procedure to get them, are a rite of passage for some young girls. Nearly all of Raina’s sixth-grade classmates wear earrings, and she is eager to fit in after her accident. Showing off her creative side, Raina regularly switches between studs, hoops, and dangling earrings over the years, and she wears peace symbol earrings as part of her new high-school ensemble, reflecting both her love for the accessory and potentially her desire to distract others from her braces. Meanwhile, Karin’s choice to always wears large hoops or cascading earrings designates her power status within the group.
Corn
Corn and popcorn are taboo food for people with braces as they can get stuck in the metal. Raina initially does not care much about missing the food, but the smell of movie theater popcorn leaves her floating in midair in one of the story’s few examples of unrealistic movement. In the initial rush after getting her retainer, Raina struggles to eat an ear of corn with it still on. Finally, Dr. Dragoni offers a bottle of popcorn kernels as a reward for completing her treatment—even though Raina is still upset about her teeth.
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