The first book I read by Raina Telgemeier was Smile,and even though I read it when I was about 17 years old, I still enjoyed it. The funny thing is, even though I never had braces but two of my sisters did, I didn’t feel like I could recommend this novel to them, as they would find it too juvenile (even though they are younger than me!). However, I think tweens, teens, and adults can all enjoy the same book if they have the right perspective. I still find myself drooling over picture books and their beautiful illustrations.

When Sisters was released a while ago, I secured a copy from our library as soon as possible, which was not an easy task, as all of the middle-school girls in our town were trying to do the exact same thing. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Smile, but it was still a fun, quick read. Drama is geared for a slightly older crowd, but still has the same feel as the author’s other two books. I think that if I were a teen that struggled with reading, I would naturally gravitate towards books that were simpler. This book isn’t simple as in dumb, but since it is set in a comic book/graphic layout it is a fast and easy read. The illustrations are really fun, and I could relate to the characters even though most of the issues they faced are in my past. I think all of Telgemeier’s books are not only something an elementary student, tween or teen could read on their own, but it might also help their parent connect with them and talk about social issues that the child may be facing or might face in the future.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  None

Sex/Nudity:  Minors kiss.

Mature Subject Matter:

Gender/Sex Identity Issues.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None