Smile: A Graphic Novel

Graduation day arrives. Raina’s parents ask her if she wants to take a picture with her friends, but she says that they are not sentimental even as she sees them crying and hugging each other, and she leaves without joining them. Over the summer, Raina enjoys her final stint as a Girl Scout counselor and some long-distance trips. In addition, Dr. Golden removes her fake teeth and reshapes her new front teeth using a curing light and buzzing tool. The next stage of her treatment is correcting her crossbite, which requires placing a rubber band on hooks at the top-left and bottom-right of her braces. The rubber band is an eyesore and makes it difficult for Raina to talk.

Raina dresses her best for her first day of high school, both nervous and excited for the new chapter in her life. Her goal is to start anew, but she still travels with Melissa on the bus and is disappointed when she ends up in the same circle of friends with Karin, Nicole, Emily, Kaylah, and Jenny. Her new English, German, and history classes quickly overwhelm her.

An assortment of dental products now resides in Raina’s backpack: a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, picks, spare rubber bands, and wax.