Middle-grade book. Raina starts fifth grade. I liked this book, but it doesn't really have much of a plot. Raina starts to struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, having a very sensitive stomach, and dealing with a mean girl at school.She ends up in therapy, which the book sweetly makes clear is not a big deal or something to be ashamed of.There's not a cohesive storyline, and that probably won't bother most people, but for me it makes a book less enjoyable. As usual, Telgemeier makes books with w...

Thank you to Scholastic for the Advanced Reading Copy. This review contains spoilers, and is written from the perspective of a children's librarian.It's been 5 years since Sisters, the sequel to Smile, was published. From my experience working in libraries, interest in the series has only increased over time. When I visit grades 4 - 6 and ask if anyone has read the Smile series, almost every hand goes up - boys included! For that reason alone, the 3rd book in the series is a must purchase for pu...

Raina enters fifth grade—and starts to get weird stomachaches. Nothing is wrong, but she feels awful!I really enjoyed this graphic novel, which aptly talks about anxiety and all of the wealth of health issues that having a lot of stress and anxiety can produce on your body—and how your mind can latch onto things and run with it, particularly in the tumultuous time that is fifth grade and puberty.Raina is an incredibly relatable protagonist, with fears of not fitting in, of over-reacting, of bein...

This book is awesome for a lazy Sunday afternoon snuggling under blankets.Raina has tummy problems. One after the other, her thoughts revolve around food, what her family eats, school, what if she embarrass herself at school, what if her friends don't want her anymore.Slowly she becomes more confident about herself.

If you follow my reviews at all you know by now that I'm a HUGE fan of almost anything that makes the effort, especially for young readers, to normalize things that have historically been hidden or discussed in hushed tones or labeled "not something we talk about." I think we need to begin stepping away from keeping things like mental health issues and addiction anonymous and the sooner we can do it with our kids the better off we're all going to be.I, and god knows how many other people, strugg...

Raina Telgemeier is an A+ writer.Her books are aimed towards middle-grade, but I think that everyone can get something from her stuff.It was fun to read this because it really gave some new info about Smile and Raina's relationship with her friends.As always, the artwork was out of this world.So well-written. A lot of kids (and teens, and adults) will find this painfully relatable.5/5 stars.

Goodreads: Raina Telgemeier is releasing a new book!Me:9/3/19: Y’all, after attending Raina’s Presentation at the NBF, I got a sneak peek. It looks very good and extremely relatable. I’ve request it already and I’m so excited!Two weeks left! :D9/17/19:I finally read it.Here’s my review..Let’s all rise for our national anxiety anthem.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO4nm...You may be seated.This book was emotional. This book was painfully relatable. This book gave me a stomach ache. And I am ok w...

[9/17/2019] - TW: Anxiety, throwing up. Review to come!************WHAT?!? THE QUEEN OF GRAPHIC NOVELS IS RELEASING ANOTHER BOOK!! | Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

I'm "DNFing" this book because I read a sample, and as much this sounds like it would be hella relatable, I honestly think it would be incredibly triggering, and I don't need that in my life. I have severe emetophobia, and chronic stomach pain, and I don't need more anxiety. Perhaps at some point, I will actually read it, but not right now. ---Do you ever feel like someone is writing about your life? As someone with chronic stomach pain, this sounds painfully relatable.

I loved this book and could have really used it when I was a kid. I was this kid, only I didn't tell anyone about my anxiety, nausea, and emetophobia, and I had no idea therapy existed for such problems. I manage well now, but even when I was a college student, I made sure to sit in the aisle seat in case I had to run out unexpectedly, at movies, at restaurants, at class; I avoided airplanes and buses where I would be trapped without an escape if I was sick; and I never talked about it to anybod...

"For anyone who is afraid."Eisner 2020 winner Raina Telgemeier, Guts (Scholastic Graphix)!!!Yet another graphic novel for older children/middle grades by rock star graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier, and this one is maybe her most serious and personal, dealing with her lifelong (and continuing!) anxiety, phobias and panic attacks connected to her digestive system. A doctor diagnosed her as having irritable bowel syndrome, so she has some real sensitivities but they are exacerbated by stress. Thou...

The #1 Bestselling Book in America the week it debuted hardly needs my endorsement, but Imma give it to you anyway: Read Raina's books. Guts, like Smile and Sisters, was a damn delight. I love the way she draws, I love the frank and funny way she tells the story of her childhood. Smile focused on the drama when she smashed her front teeth, but also dipped into the rest of what was happening in her life. Sisters was the tale of a road trip, but also about her life and her relationship with her si...

Rating 5 StarsI adore these graphic novels by Raina. It's like a glimpse into my own life as a kid. I know so well what it is like to suffer from crippling anxiety. How it can get so bad that it causes stomach aches and the fear of throwing up. Standing in front of the class can cause that kind of reaction too for young Raina and for me. It's really weird how much I relate to this graphic novel. How having these problems (on top of the depression) has led me to going to therapy for years. How it...

Albeit that I have once again and certainly noticed author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier’s childhood very much reflected in my own past and innermost soul, I also do have to admit that Guts has in fact been so extremely close to my own personal experiences with both anxiety and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) that much of Telgemeier’s text (as well as of course her accompanying artwork) have felt rather personally uncomfortable and thus also not always all that enjoyable and pleasant a reading...

I love Raina's books and this is another entry in the Smile series. Raina has a special gift for graphic novels. It is also the first story I have seen for younger kids bout IBS.I tell you, Raina dealt with some tough stuff. She had some severe dental work to contend with and she has had to figure out how to live with IBS. She also shares them so beautifully with us. My niece is going to read this next now that I'm done. She loves the other 2 smile books. She can have stomach issues, so I hope t...

Raina is ten years old. After contracting a stomach bug and throwing up all night along with her mother, Raina becomes wary of artichokes as that's the last food she ate before throwing up. She is shy and becomes scared when she has to give a presentation in front of the whole class. That fear makes her stomach hurt and she becomes even more scared of all the foods she's eating or the people around her are eating. Any time Raina is in an awkward or stressful situation, her stomach hurts and she

Absolutely amazing and brave of Raina to share her story to help others who might be going through the same thing. Highly recommended for children who are anxious and nervous. They may benefit from this book. 5 stars, all the way!

While I love the artwork in Raina’s graphic novels this is the first of her Smile series that I’ve actually finished reading. Given how popular her graphic novels are I think my not falling in love with them is probably an ‘it’s me, not you’ thing.Even though I don’t have emetophobia I’m so glad I didn’t read this graphic novel while I was eating, as it definitely depicts a significant amount of vomiting, fear of vomiting and other stomach upsets. (Not a spoiler but this image could trigger peop...

Read in one sitting. Raina can do no wrong. I personally feel this is her best yet.

This graphic memoir is targeted for middle grade/ young adult readers and explores the author's issues with anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias. I appreciate that mental health has started to come out of the closet, and that people are more comfortable talking about it. There is much work to be done here on a variety of fronts, but talking about ways to address and help kids deal with some of these issues head on can only be a good thing. As always the art is cute and colorful, and in this insta...