The Plot
This graphic novel is the true story of the author's dental and orthodontic mishaps during her tween years. When a fluke accident knocks out both of Raina's front teeth, she starts the long and painful process of regaining her normal appearance while dealing with the agonies of normal adolescence: pimples, crushes, toxic friendships, and finding yourself.
The Review
Braces have become almost a rite of passage in American adolescence, but very little literature deals with the subject except in passing. This book helps other "metal mouths" and "brace faces" know they're not alone. Because the story of Raina's transformation is such a visual one and explaining exactly how she looked with her teeth semi-imbedded in her gums would make for rather confusing writing, graphic novel is the perfect format for this tale. The layout is conservative and never makes the reader have to work to follow the story. The drawings are engaging, the characters are funny and honest, and the tone is never pedantic or condescending. I would definitely recommend this to some of the tweens I know.
The Details
- Age Range: 8 - 12 years
- Grade Level: 3 - 7
- Lexile Measure: 410L
- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Graphix (February 1, 2010)
- ISBN-10: 0545132061
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