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Quick answer: If you loved Smile, try Sisters, Guts, Drama, Ghosts, Real Friends and El Deafo. Each one is a funny, honest graphic novel or story about growing up, friendship and family.
Raina Telgemeier's graphic memoir tells the true story of how, in sixth grade, Raina trips and knocks out her front teeth, leading to years of dental work while she navigates crushes, friendships and growing up. Kids love its humor and honesty. These books share its bright art, relatable middle-school moments and big feelings.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sisters | Raina Telgemeier | 8-12 | kids who want more Raina |
| Guts | Raina Telgemeier | 8-12 | kids who worry a lot |
| Drama | Raina Telgemeier | 9-13 | kids who love theater |
| Ghosts | Raina Telgemeier | 8-12 | kids who like family stories |
| Real Friends | Shannon Hale | 8-12 | kids who face friendship drama |
| El Deafo | Cece Bell | 8-12 | kids who like superheroes |
| New Kid | Jerry Craft | 9-13 | kids starting at a new school |
| Sunny Side Up | Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm | 8-12 | kids who like summer stories |
| Roller Girl | Victoria Jamieson | 9-12 | kids who like sports |
| The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea | Raina Telgemeier | 8-12 | kids who like friend groups |
| Invisible Emmie | Terri Libenson | 9-12 | kids who are shy |
| Awkward | Svetlana Chmakova | 9-13 | kids who like school clubs |
| Click | Kayla Miller | 8-12 | kids who like friendship stories |
| Allergic | Megan Wagner Lloyd | 8-12 | kids who love animals |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney | 8-12 | kids who like humor |
1. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Raina and her younger sister take a long road trip, and old memories surface.
Best for: kids who want more Raina.
2. Guts by Raina Telgemeier
Raina deals with stomach aches and anxiety in fourth grade.
Best for: kids who worry a lot.
3. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Callie works on the set crew of her school's musical while navigating crushes.
Best for: kids who love theater.
4. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Cat moves to a California town where ghosts are part of daily life.
Best for: kids who like family stories.
5. Real Friends by Shannon Hale
Shannon's memoir of trying to fit in with the popular group.
Best for: kids who face friendship drama.
6. El Deafo by Cece Bell
A girl with a hearing aid feels like a superhero in this graphic memoir.
Best for: kids who like superheroes.
7. New Kid by Jerry Craft
Jordan becomes one of the few kids of color at a private school.
Best for: kids starting at a new school.
8. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Sunny spends a summer in Florida with her grandfather and learns about a family secret.
Best for: kids who like summer stories.
9. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Astrid joins roller derby camp and learns about friendship.
Best for: kids who like sports.
10. The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier
Raina's graphic novel version of the classic series.
Best for: kids who like friend groups.
11. Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
A quiet girl's secret note ends up in the wrong hands.
Best for: kids who are shy.
12. Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
A girl starts at a new school and tries to fit in after an embarrassing moment.
Best for: kids who like school clubs.
13. Click by Kayla Miller
Olive feels left out when friends join different acts for the school show.
Best for: kids who like friendship stories.
14. Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
A girl who wants a dog discovers she is allergic.
Best for: kids who love animals.
15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley's middle-school misadventures in diary form.
Best for: kids who like humor.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Smile: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
Start with Raina's other books, Sisters, Guts, Drama and Ghosts. If you want graphic memoirs, read Real Friends and El Deafo. For stories about fitting in at school, choose New Kid, Awkward or Invisible Emmie. Kids who want a funny read can pick Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Readers who love animals will enjoy Allergic, and Click and Roller Girl are perfect for kids who are finding their own interests apart from their friends. Graphic novels count as real reading, and they are a great way to keep a reluctant reader turning pages while building vocabulary and confidence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Smile for?
It is usually recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Is Smile a true story?
Yes. It is a graphic memoir based on Raina Telgemeier's own dental injury and middle school years.
Are graphic novels like Smile good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The pictures carry part of the story, which keeps pages moving and helps kids build confidence and stamina.
Is Smile appropriate for younger kids?
Most seven- and eight-year-olds can enjoy it, especially with an adult nearby, since it deals with crushes and friendship troubles in a gentle way.
What order should I read Raina's books?
Smile, Sisters and Guts form a loose trilogy of memoirs, and Drama and Ghosts are standalones.