Smile: A Graphic Novel

Raina enjoys her new friends so much that she forgets about her dental troubles. After four-and-a-half years of largely improvised treatments, Dr. Dragoni finally removes her braces. Raina’s joy turns into dismay when she sees her teeth as greenish and misshapen—worse than the plastic teeth from the retainer. She is not consoled by her mother’s reassurance or Dr. Dragoni’s jokey counterarguments and gift of popcorn kernels, previously a forbidden food. Her mood only lightens when Theresa compliments them without a second thought, even after Raina tries to point out their flaws. Dr. Golden performs additional bonding to improve their appearance, and the night headpiece becomes a memento on her drawer.

Although Raina struggles in class and never gets together with Sean, she is happy with her new friends and pursuits such as Japanese Club and choir. She continues to design posters for her school, including a large banner for the Sophomore Hop dance. Raina realizes, “I had been letting the way I looked on the outside affect how I felt on the inside” (206). By focusing on her passions, she can improve both her own self-esteem and how others see her.

Unlike the Valentine’s Day dance in middle school, she enjoys the Sophomore Hop dance with gusto.