Raina Telgemeier is an American author and cartoonist best known for writing Smile and Sisters. In addition to her work on that series, Raina has also written and illustrated four graphic novels adapted from The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin.
Raina was born and raised in San Francisco. As an adolosecent she suffered a serious mouth injury and needed uyears of surgeries to correct it. At this time she was teased by her friends and ended up withdrawing from social life to focus on drawing. This experience was drawn on heavily in the writing of Smile. In high school, she found better friends who appreciated her talent. She used that encouragement and her drawing skills to go on to study illustration at New York’s School of Visual Arts where she graduated in 2002. Smile was a 2010 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor title and it was the first time a graphic novel has ever been nominated for that award. The book would also go on to win the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens.
Publication Order of Ghosts Books
Publication Order of Smile Books
Publication Order of Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels
Publication Order of Graphic Novels
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
Publication Order of Explorer Books
Publication Order of Anthologies
If You Like Raina Telgemeier Books, You’ll Love…
Smile tells the story of Raina as she just wants to be a normal sixth grader. One night after Girl Scouts, disaster happens. She trips and falls, and in the process severely damages her two front teeth. She ends up on a long and frustrating journey of braces, surgery, headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth. It’s a lot to deal with for anyone, but Raina is also a sixth grader who has to deal with boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.
Another popular book by Raina is Ghosts. The graphic novel follows the story of Cat as her family moves to Northern California to help with her sister Maya’s health. Cat isn’t happy and as she explores her new home with a sister, she finds something out that makes her even less happy: There are ghosts here. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them.