Review: Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Series: Smile, #2
Release Date: August 26^th 2014
Publisher:  Scholastic
Format: eArc
Genre: Middle Grade – Graphic Novel, Memoir
Source: NetGalley
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

The companion to Raina Telgemeier's #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir, SMILE.

Raina can't wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren't quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she's also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, something doesn't seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.

Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.

*This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sisters is a companion novel to her first memoir Smile. Sisters follows Raina, her mother, sister, and brother on a road trip from San Francisco to Colorado for a family reunion. All Raina wanted was a sister to play with so when her parents tell her that they are having a baby that’s all she can think of. She is a little disappointed when she sees a baby come home that she can’t play with yet. Once her sister Amara is old enough to play she figures out that she is very cranky and prefers to play by herself. This pretty much gets worse over the years.

I feel bad for Raina. Her sister isn’t just cranky, she is just plain mean. Now I have a little sister so I know how they can be and this is just a glimpse into Raina’s childhood but her sister seemed to do stuff all the time just to be mean to Raina. This includes getting a snake all because her sister doesn’t like them, and then accidently letting loose in the van. The road trip to Colorado is the perfect place it insert some flashbacks of Raina’s childhood and to show how their family acts now. Once they get to Colorado Raina realizes how much everyone has changed since the last time she has seen everyone. She feels totally left out. They also realize that something might be wrong with their parents relationship and that really slaps them with reality and they realize that they must figure out how to get along.

I fell in love with Raina’s artwork and story in Smile and I knew I had to get my hands on sisters as soon as I was able. Thankfully I was granted access from NetGalley! Raina has made her way to my auto buy list. I can’t wait to pick up more books by her and I will definitely be on the lookout for the Smile boxset to add to my bookshelves.

Review: Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Series: Smile, #1
Release Date: February 1st, 2010
Publisher:  GRAPHIX
Format: Paperback
Pages: 214
Genre: Middle Grade – graphic novel, realistic fiction
Source: Library 
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads

FAMILY, FRIENDS, BOYS...DENTAL DRAMA?! A true story

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girls Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. 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. Raina's story takes us from middle school to high school, where she discovers her artistic voice, finds out what true friendship really means, and where she can finally...smile.

Smile is a graphic novel based on a true story about Raina Telgemeier’s childhood and what she had to go through with her teeth. One day after Girl Scout meeting, Raina and her friends have a race up to her doorstep. Raina trips and falls and knocks both of her front teeth. One is pushed all the way up inside the gum and the other they have to put in milk to save. From that moment on she goes through all sorts of dental work. From surgery and a cast to a retainer with fake teeth attached, and eventually braces.

Throughout this she is going from 6th grade all the way up to her high school years. She has to deal with a tornado, boys, and friends that are not very nice to her. When Raina finally decides that she is going to stand up for herself she makes a big step in her life. She finds friends that really mean something to her. I was so proud of her for standing up for herself.

Smile is a story that rings true for many kids. Maybe not the broken teeth part but definitely the struggles with self-image and wanting to fit in. This is a great story on how to overcome that and be your own person. You will find friends that like you for who you are. This book is funny, sad, and definitely moving at times.

I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They are full color panels with an occasional full page graphic thrown in. They do a really good job of showing the emotions of the characters.

Smile was also the winner of multiple awards, including the Will Eisner award for Best Publication for a Teen Audience in 2011. It was also mentioned for other awards and was a Kirkus Best Books of 2010 and a New York Times Editors’ Choice.  This is totally a book I would recommend anyone to pick up. Especially kids that may be going through some of the same things. Also turns out there will be a sequel or companion novel to this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on that.

My Rating: