Smile

Raina Telgemeier's "Smile" (2010–present, Scholastic) is a landmark autobiographical graphic novel that launched her celebrated career. The story follows Telgemeier's own middle-school years, centering on a painful dental injury and the awkward, often hilarious, struggles of growing up. As both writer and artist, Telgemeier crafts a warm, relatable narrative that helped define the modern middle-grade memoir genre. Its enduring popularity on Scholastic's list speaks to its power in connecting with young readers navigating their own challenges.