Raina Telgemeier Books In Order

Publication Order of Ghosts Books

Publication Order of Smile Books

Publication Order of Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Explorer Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Raina Telgemeier is an American author of children books, comics and graphic novels. Drama, Ghosts, and Sisters are among this New York Times bestseller’s most notable works. These books have earned Telgemeier three Eisner Awards, A Stonewall Honor, and Boston Globe-Horn Honor, to mention but a few. Raina Telgemeier has also contributed to many anthologies and short stories. Telgemeier’s way with words shines through her books, and her ability to come up with beautiful illustrations to accompany these stories sets her apart. Currently, Telgemeier lives in San Francisco, CA.

Smile

Smile tells the story of a girl named Raina and her captivating and sometimes hilarious early teenage experiences. Raina has had her fair share of teeth problems. First, a normal overbite leaves her with braces. Soon after, Raina trips and falls only to knock off two of her front teeth. What follows is years of painful procedures, surgeries, and an ever-changing appearance. It doesn’t help that Raina is right in the middle of her adolescence. Now the dream of a typical sixth-grade experience has been replaced by pimples battles, painful surgeries, and a depleting self-confidence. There is also the mean girls who do not waste an opportunity to tease Raina about her teeth.

Sixth Grade is one rollercoaster for Raina. Aside from the teeth issues and mean girls, she is, at one point, forced to wear a hideous headgear. There is also the boys and a major earthquake to worry about. Clearly, this is not a stage for the fainthearted, but unfortunately, it is all part of growing up. Join Raina as she goes through the highs and lows of being a teenager. Through this journey, Raina will grow from a girl struggling with self-confidence to a young woman who stands up for herself whenever necessary. It is easy to see how much power we give away when we make other people’s opinions dictate our feelings. It is until Rena learns this valuable lesson that she lets go of her mean friends and find others who love her the way she is.

This is an intriguing coming of age story, and the most notable thing is that it is true. The author went through all the experiences in this book. This book appeals to anyone who has ever been to middle school- the never-ending desire to be recognized, raging hormones, and struggling kids who mask their pain with meanness. Through the author’s experience, people in similar situations will know what to do to make things better. There are beautiful illustrations in this book, also done by the author, making the story understandable to young readers.

Smile is a comic yet touching story of an adolescent girl and her experiences with an ever-changing body in a very mean world. While this story is written with middle graders in mind, the book will appeal to anyone with a sense of humor, and you don’t need braces to enjoy it. The author captures the teenage experience well, and anyone who has gone through this stage will relate to her story. This is an ideal pick if you are looking for anything inspirational. There is a lot to learn for a teenager struggling in school or a 30-year-old who needs a reality check.

Drama

Drama features Callie, a girl, so in love with theater, she cannot hide her feelings for it. In this book, Callie’s school is doing a Moon Over Mississippi production for the middle graders. While Callie falls under this category, the truth is that she cannot sing. Still wanting to be part of the production, she offers to be the set designer for the crew. This gives her a chance to showcase her talent and love for theatre, but she will have to work with a very tight budget. To make things even more complicated, Callie knows very little about carpentry, and the low-ticket sales would only mean that she will have to cut her budget further.

The drama doesn’t stop, both on and off stage. First, the crew members are having a hard time working together. The choosing of the actors doesn’t go well for some, and there are also two cute brothers that Callie cannot get out of her head. It is refreshing to see how little Callie cares about what other people think of her. She is quick to embrace whatever she loves and let go when things do not work out in her favor. Typical of any girl in eighth Grade, Callie falls in love fast as the boys battle with their sexuality. When a boy she loves turns gay, Callie quickly moves to her next crush.

This book particularly appeals to theater lovers. The author gives a sneak-peak of the kookiness, budget constraints, and love stories that often occur behind the scenes. Raina also perfectly captures the middle school experience. Talk about boys, confusion on sexuality, mean bullies, and the whole drama that comes with growing up. The crew is multicultural, which gives the book quite an edge, not to mention the diverse sexual preferences. Sexuality is handled in a non-judgmental and unbiased way, making this read like a breath of fresh air. Unlike most stories that feature the lead actor or actress in a musical, the author focuses on the stage, making the story more relatable and intriguing.

Drama is simply a delight. While the storyline is simple, the content is deep without being overwhelming and comes packed with courageous, talented, and dedicated teenagers. The illustrations are excellent and brightly colored, and when coupled with this sweet story, the result is an exciting book that should be top on the list of your favorite books. You can expect many laugh-out-loud moments as well as scenes that will leave you beaming. There are also many lessons for boys and girls in middle school. It is usual for adults and teenagers alike to be too hard on themselves. This book teaches that there is nothing wrong with our unique differences, and through acceptance, we are can make all the difference in our lives.

One Response to “Raina Telgemeier”

1. Ella: 3 years ago

   Are you going to make a part 2 of drama it is my favorite book and i was really sad to find out there was no part 2 so if could make a part 2 that would make me happy 🙂

   Reply