When Life Hands You...A Messed Up Grill?

As a teacher one of my greatest joys is passing on good books to students.  I know we have hit a groove in our class when we all start passing books on to each other.  Kids are making their own book clubs outside of school, they are all a-twitter on our class twitter board, books are swapped like baseball cards, and they even start recommending books to me. And yet, despite my efforts to make them all love books, there are still some every year who reluctantly step up to the plate.  Sure, they are happy to discuss the books we are reading in class and really love those, but they just haven't found that book to convince them reading is a-ma-zing, with emphasis on the ZING!

I have had a few students this year who I know want to be bookish but it has been difficult for them.  One of these, who has really tried to love books but hasn't had any success, rushed into school this week and thrust a book in my face.  "Meg!  I found a book I love!  I got it after the orthodontist (or was it at the orthodontist?) and I read the whole thing this weekend!  You need to read it!"

Any book recommended to me from a child who finally found "the one" for them, well, that is a book I will read.  I had the book sitting on my computer table at school and another teacher came by and said, "Ooh!  That is a great book!" Then she started to tell me her own personal connection with the book.

So what is this magical book?  It is called Smile by Reina Telgemeier.  Written as a graphic novel, it tells the story of a sixth grade girl who gets braces...and then falls and knocks her two front teeth out.  As if pre-teen years aren't bad enough!  I have only just started reading but here is a bit taken from the back of the book...

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth.  What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached(!).

First the braces...

Then the fall...and it keeps coming

What were your first favorite books?  Mine was Beauty by Robin McKinley.  I actually own two copies because my original is so worn down at this point. I still read it every so often.  *sigh

So, maybe you have a young reader in your life who is still searching for their one and only first favorite book.  If so, Smile comes highly recommended!