Skip to main content

Smile Read Alikes

Smile is a fun coming of age graphic novel that many readers have grown to love. It tells the story of the author's life and experiences while she was in middle school. Raina went through many of the same experiences that other 6th graders go through along with some unique ones as well. If you loved Smile here are some other fun graphic novels that you will also enjoy!
 
Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter
New York, NY: Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2023. Comics. 243 pages.

Avery is part of a big family which means that being at home can be a bit chaotic. She is tired of always feeling squished and wants her own room to be able to have a space all her own. Avery comes up with a plan to be able to make this dream happen! The family dynamics explored in this comic are very similar to Raina's relationship with her siblings and parents in Smile.

Written by Christina Soontornvat
Illustrated by Joanna Cacao
New York, NY: Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2022. Comics. 255 pages.

Similarly to Smile, this comic is a memoir about the author, Christina, and her middle school experiences. Christina and her friend Megan decide that they would like to tryout for the cheerleading team. They work super hard at tryouts and end up performing for the entire school at the end, all to try to earn a spot on the team.
Written by Claribel A. Ortega
Illustrated by Rose Bousamra
New York: First Second Books, 2022. Comic. 212 pages.

Frizzy is another wonderful coming-of-age book about a girl named Marlene that goes on a journey to learn how to love her curls. Her mother always takes her to get her hair straightened so she can fit in better. But with the help of her TĆ­a Ruby, she learns how to take care of her curls and that her curls are something to be proud of, all while navigating the difficult years of growing up!

By Johnnie Christmas
New York, NY: Harper Alley, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2022. Comics. 245 pages.

This is Bree's first year at a new school. When she gets to school she realizes that the only elective that fits with her schedule is a swimming class, which makes Bree really anxious because she doesn't know how to swim. But, with the help of a kind neighbor in her apartment complex she learns how to swim and ends up joining the swim team.

By Kat Fajardo
New York, NY: Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, 2022. Comics. 234 pages.

Sue's family decides that for their summer break they are going to go to Honduras to visit their relatives. Sue is less than excited to spend her summer away from friends, texting, and internet. The summer gets even worse when Sue's mom tells her that they will be throwing a quinceanera for Sue, which she does not want. With Sue struggling to hold on to her identity while still incorporating her family traditions, it has a similar feel to Smile.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Review: Umami

  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Five Faves: Easy Readers of 2024

Hello world! I know you have been anticipating the release of this list all year... my favorite easy readers! Whether they're funny or sweet, these titles are all great for kids taking their first steps for reading. So without further ado...here are my five favorite easy readers of 2024. Lone Wolf Goes to School Written by Kiah Thomas Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Easy Reader.  Lone wolf would spend all of his time alone if he could. Unfortunately, he has to go to school with the "snotty" kids, and even when he leaves school there's people at the beach, on the mountains, and at the movie theater. What's a wolf to do? Invite them all to a party at his house and then leave so that all the places he wants to be are empty, of course! If you're looking for a moralistic read-aloud that will teach the virtues of making friends so that you aren't lonely, you should definitely look elsewhere. However, if you're loo...