Smile: A Graphic Novel

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

• Roll with It follows Ellie as she moves in with her grandparents and aims to be a professional baker. Ellie has cerebral palsy and a mom who is concerned about Caring for a Child with Medical Problems, but Ellie convinces her that this new start is exactly what they need.
• a 256-page middle grade novel that was awarded Best Middle Grade Novel by Kirkus Reviews

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

• Astrid signs up for roller derby camp after fifth grade and expects her best friend to join her, but when her friend has different ideas, Astrid experiences the growing pains of Adolescence and “Maturity.”
• a middle grade graphic novel about individuality and friendship

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

• This graphic memoir follows Shannon Hale’s experiences with finding true friendship in middle school. It also explores the difficulties of bullying, cliques, and Breaking Up with Childhood Friends.

Other Student Resources

Graphic Novels and the Struggling Reader

• a video from Reading Rockets with Cece Bell, author of El Deafo, who explains why graphic novels help reluctant readers
• El Deafo on SuperSummary

The Dos and Don’ts of Friend Drama from DoSomething.org

• an article that helps children identify and resolve conflict between friends
• can help students identify the “frenemy” behaviors in Smile that led to Raina Breaking Up with Childhood Friends

How Much Do Braces Cost?

• This Oral B. article provides a breakdown of braces used in orthodonture and how much they cost. It offers insights into what Raina’s mother might have experienced when Caring for a Child with Medical Problems.

Teacher Resources

A Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens

• This Scholastic guide discusses the benefits of using graphic novels in the classroom and identifies specific elements that can be incorporated into lessons, including panels and gutters, sound effects, and word bubbles.
• a 14-page document that includes classroom activities, discussion questions, and further resources to expand upon graphic novel use in curriculum

Using Graphic Novels in Education: Smile

• an article provided by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund about how to implement Smile in lesson planning
• includes discussion questions, activities, text pairings, and more
• provides a breakdown of Common Core Standards that can be aligned with the text