We don’t talk about SMILE enough!

[@lulaloopsey]

sisters video coming in november 👀 (edit: guys i know it was 1989 my dyslexia mixed it up when i read the script sorry 😭)

[@yahooYT]

It’s chill

[@christionpulliam9870]

We need a sister video

[@Isabeltheswiftie1]

It’s cool

[@tommybean45]

If you're still on the fence about guts, it's just as good as smile and sisters, it's very much worth the read

[@littykitty4626]

nice! I would love a video about drama as well that book was my intro to the concept of gay lmao

[@awsmecoolgirl]

raina telgemeier took my money at every single bookfair i’ve had and i still have every one of her books on my shelves

[@abbythings]

ngl i got guts even tho i was like in 8th grade at that point😭

[@7eleven0fficial]

me too!!!

[@elerino]

i’m half way through high school and still read and collect the babysitter club graphic novels 😭

[@Victoria-_]

Same 😂😂

[@Luckyrabbit1927]

Same! I'm 24 now and I STILL buy a new book whenever one comes out! She's amazing! (Looking forward to the next one too!)

[@kendraevette]

shout out to this book for giving me the irrational fear of falling and losing all my teeth

[@isabellanovicki]

yas same lol!

[@greg9073]

it has literally made me terrified of tripping

[@Obsessive_cartoon_drawer]

Literally same

[@isabellanovicki]

@@greg9073 exactly

[@isabellanovicki]

@@Obsessive_cartoon_drawer yep

[@lillostmiracle568]

The part were Raina cut off ties from her old group of friends because they were being rude, kinda toxic and just bullies to be pretty impowering to me, it teaches kids that you shouldn't put up with people being little shits just because their your "friends" that rlly meant something to me when I was younger /gen

[@alxestis]

she unironically inspired me to cut off my old group of friends who just had me around to find a new one that actually fit me. i remember telling myself “if she can do it, so can i” and it worked!

[@GlitchyHalo]

Also they all hung out without her during summer and weren’t interested in the same things as her and were getting into more “girly” things Not to mention the one friend she felt closest to went to a different high school

[@catminecraftyas]

no literally if it wasnt for these books i’d have been walked all over by shitty people

[@yeonjunduck]

one of raina telgemeier's other books, "drama" was my first introduction to queer people and really opened my eyes to the fact I didn't only have date/marry a boy/man. Because of that, her books will always hold a place in my heart

[@pumkinpatchwork]

what’s so funny is that the queer undertones of Drama flew completely over my head as a kid. yes, even when the two guys kissed, I never thought anything was “gay” or off. and I was raised in a rather homophobic school lmao

[@yeonjunduck]

@@pumkinpatchwork lol I was raised in a very conservative, small town and also brought up Southern Baptist so I can definitely relate

[@ifredbenson]

same!

[@ifredbenson]

@@pumkinpatchworksame it went over my head 😭 i didn’t know ppl saw/see it as wrong, i grew up mormon so i was never told about gay people, which isn’t my parents fault, they thought i knew 😭??

[@LionessWhite-ig3hk]

I remember one of the characters coming out as bi in that book (it's been so long that I'm not even sure if that actually happened or if that was just some sorta mandala effect)

[@SASA-s3k8u]

It turns out the ending to Raina and Sean’s friendship is a lot sadder than I thought. I went to go see her exhibit at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in Columbus, Ohio last year (it was as cool as it sounds) and next to the original comic panels there would be notes from Raina that gave new backstories into her art and life. She basically explained that she stayed friends with Sean later on in life, but he was later diagnosed with ALS and when Raina heard about this, she sent him a letter and a copy of her book, admitting she had a crush on him. He wrote back and told her that he was actually overjoyed because he always wanted to be a character in a comic book/graphic novel. He died not long after that. It was really sad yet heartwarming to read about. TL;DR: The real life Sean died from ALS, but learned about his presence in Smile from Raina herself and was very happy about it, as being a character in a comic was something he always wanted. Edit: For those wondering what happened to the other characters in Smile, I can’t say anything about Sammy or her old friends/bullies, but according to the note she posted next to a panel of her with her new, nicer friends, she wrote that people ask her all the time if she’s still friends with them, and she is!

[@madokami03]

That's actually so sad??? I always wondered what happened to him later in life along with many other characters when I was growing up. It's so sad to know he passed away :(

[@RaspBerryPies]

Wow this is so bittersweet horrible he is gone and how he passed but glad he got to have a dream come true

[@Roseofthevines]

Its sad that he ended up passing away so soon later in life, but at least he’s forever immortalized into the book as a comic book character

[@HogartHughes]

now i wanna know what happened to the “tiny tot boyfriend” sammy

[@hammerdisco]

this is so sad oh my god :( rest in peace, sean

[@kierahenley2335]

I hated Raina's toxic friend group. Pantsing her in the school yard and having the nerve to say it was 'kinda funny,' was just cruel

[@cancerussss]

I actually liked that the book accurately portrayed friend groups like this it really showed me that sometimes the haters are ur close friends.

[@marcmurphy8479]

Raina friends were toxic

[@OMGSOSILLEH]

and then Jane came :)

[@sketchycat6223]

Literally. And they’re lucky she was wearing tights/leggings. If she wasn’t they probably would’ve gotten in major trouble for that

[@stellathebigback]

@@OMGSOSILLEHyeah, but then she moved away ☹️

[@sangie_lix]

dude. bro. RAINA'S BOOKS WERE MY CHILDHOOD !! Smile, Sisters, Guts, Drama, Ghosts, and even the Babysitters Club books she illustrated - the absolute chokehold she had on my childhood is insane. I think the reason why I love graphic novels so much now is all because of Smile and how much I loved and also related to it as a kid (and even now!!)

[@isabellaxof6293]

I knew the art style was similar to the BSC books!

[@elliejones-je8sw]

i loved bsc

[@isabellaxof6293]

@@elliejones-je8sw me too I had so many of them I was SO excited when I found the graphic novels!

[@chloescherry]

Ghosts is such a looked over gym

[@chloescherry]

i mean gem😕

[@JadeIsMellow]

Honestly I never thought Sammy not talking to Raina ever again was deserved. In fact I remember being pissed af even as a kid lol. She explained to him that she wasn't feeling good. It wasn't her fault. She didn't choose to suddenly feel sick. Yeah I'd be upset that my date didn't show up, but I would understand and I wouldn't make her feel bad about it. Then again these were like 12 year old kids so I dunno what else I was expecting. Also her friends sucked and I hated them.

[@_toulouse]

tbf imagine if the roles were reversed. you wait all night by yourself at a dance for a guy, and later he tells you he wasn't feeling too good so he didn't show up. all fair, but in actuality, he was just outside the doors and changed his mind last minute. that's why raina felt guilty the way she did.

[@JadeIsMellow]

@@_toulouse yeah fair enough. It was a shitty situation for the both of them

[@Valentine--]

I remember feeling the same way, since she told him she honestly wasn't feeling well. But I understand why she still felt like she let him down anyway.

[@tarotsushima3332]

I took it as more like a last straw situation bc she was getting more and more standoffish towards him instead of being honest with him and the dance thing was the last straw. I can see why she'd feel guilty about it bc she did technically stand him up even if she got nauseous from cold feet bc she did go to the dance, just didn't enter. But you're right, they are a bunch of 12 yr olds so they're not gonna handle stuff like that with the most grace.

[@sillygoose2347]

Wait I thought she was anxious and she said she was sick as an excuse?

[@janelbbuck]

The dentist scraping the F out of her gums made me so scared about the dentist. 💀 My dentists are great though.

[@TravFam-m6m]

Speaking as someone who's had braces before. Can confirm, my dentists were nice, would always be talking to them about my day.

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

@@TravFam-m6mmine are really good,i have braces.

[@remyw1409]

About hygiene and mental health, to anyone who needs to hear this today. You are not gross for not staying on top of your teeth, hair, face, showering etc. you are trying to cope the way you can, and I am so proud of you for that! And if you can find something that can make you feel more secure in it, eg. mouthwash or baby wipes, there is no shame in using it. I'm sorry if anyone has ever made you feel bad for it, but I'm so proud of you for chugging along, day by day. Sincerely, fellow smelly, depressed person x

[@Foxy-ve1oh]

This is so important! Never let people shame you for being an unhygienic depressed person

[@mareemars]

thank you

[@audhd_incarnate8001]

Dollar Tree has these really large body wipes that saved me from many a hate spiral because I was smelly at work or class. Wet wipes are a godsend

[@travescharic]

@@audhd_incarnate8001in my brain this type of cleaning is better than no cleaning!! (but even if you can’t clean yourself the original comment is still true!! )

[@audhd_incarnate8001]

@@travescharic It can really help make a bridge that gets you to "properly" cleaning yourself. The reason you arent is because it has too many steps, if you make it easier for yourself, you'll do it more often

[@tmphost]

smile and its sequels were PEAK girlhood for me (and many others ofc)! it feels nice to look back on it and see what aspects i relate or related to (fake friends, sister/family trouble, anxiety and emetophobia (which i also happen to have), etc). im such a huge fan of Raina’s other works too! its just so fun and oozes so much personality. she’s one of my favorite writers and artists ever (she even helped inspire my art style!!)! thank you so much for covering this book it was genuinely so fun! i hope you’re able to cover the sequels and her other work soon too :-)

[@ReallyCoolUsername-n7t]

Guts is my favorite because I relate to it SO much. The emethophobia is REAL.

[@J.Notebook]

I'm a guy so I don't really relate to them the same way, but I think Smile is pretty relatable to me. I honestly think Raina's work is incredibly important for a lot of kids. Even if I couldn't see myself in Guts or Sisters, they both taught me a lot of things I still remember to this day. Guts had some great lessons about coping with anxiety which I still use sometimes. All her books are also just incredibly entertaining and well written. They were probably the first thing I read that had a "message" about growing up that felt nuanced and understanding of what it's like to be a kid. There are so many books about how you have to be friends with everyone and forgive and forget and whatever. Raina was the first person who told me that it was okay to distance myself from people who weren't good influences. I'll cherish her books forever.

[@zahrxh_]

OMG FRFR I HAVE SUCHHHH BAD EMETOPHOBIA AND TO THIS DAY I READ GUTS WHEN I FEEL SICK!!

[@ValpCreates]

When she says that feeling like you might throw up is worse than actually puking, I felt that, because when I feel nauseous, Im like, oh no, but when it happens, Im like, that wasn't so bad. Now, im still scared to puke, but last time I felt like it or did, I was just like, just gonna let it happen if it does, might feel better anyways

[@M48AA]

this book and other raina telgemeier books SHAPED ME as a kid

[@celestialcrystals2637]

SAMEE

[@djtaitai]

Not to mention If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Pretty sure bro was poisoning that mouse

[@Betty_Baby_Alives]

lol

[@cranburrey]

Also No, David. Those books scared me a lot when I was a kid...

[@DoesEvilAWSHUKThingsGuyCIR-m8d]

Dipper Goes to Waffle House Be Like: It was a peculiar day in the small town of Gravity Falls, more peculiar than usual. Dipper Pines found himself craving something different than the usual pancake house grub. He had heard whispers of a Waffle House, a place of legend where the syrup flowed like the rivers of Babylon and the coffee was as dark as the mysteries of the Upside Down. "Mabel, let's ditch the diner," Dipper suggested. "I've got a hankering for something with more...syrupy goodness." Mabel, ever the adventurous one, squealed with excitement. "Waffle House? Sure! Let's go!" But Grunkle Stan was less than thrilled. "Waffle House? Why waste your time when you've got the best grub right here?" Mabel pouted. "But I want to try something new!" "Fine," Stan grumbled. "But don't come crying to me when you're all sticky and full of regret." So, Mabel and Dipper set off into the great unknown, the vast wilderness of the town's culinary landscape, to find the fabled Waffle House. After a treacherous journey through the dense urban forest of strip malls and gas stations, they stumbled upon a gleaming beacon of hope-a Waffle House, nestled between a car wash and a laundromat. Inside, the Waffle House was bustling with the energy of a secret fight club. The smell of freshly baked waffles mingled with the scent of grease and burnt butter. The jukebox played a mournful tune as patrons eyed each other warily, their forks poised like gladiatorial weapons. Dipper approached the counter, his stomach growling like a cryptid in the woods. The cashier, a burly man with a handlebar mustache, looked up from his newspaper with a raised eyebrow. "What can I get for ya?" he asked, his voice a gruff rumble. "I'll have the All-Star Special," Dipper replied, trying to sound cooler than he felt. "You sure you can handle that?" the cashier challenged. "Bring it on," Dipper said, a smug smile playing on his lips. Mabel took a seat at a sticky booth, her eyes wide with excitement. Dipper sat opposite her, his heart racing with anticipation. The waitress, a stern woman with a name tag that read 'Rosetta', brought over their drinks. She looked them up and down, sizing them up for the culinary battle that was about to unfold. The waffles arrived, steaming hot and smothered in syrup. The fried chicken looked like it had been marinated in the tears of angels, and the eggs were so fluffy they could've been used as pillows. But as Dipper took his first bite, the atmosphere in the Waffle House changed. The jukebox skipped, and the lights flickered. The patrons around them began to argue, their voices rising like the dough in a fresh batch of waffles. Suddenly, a chair was thrown across the room, shattering into a hundred pieces. The fight was on. Dipper and Mabel ducked under the table, their food forgotten. They watched in horror as the patrons threw punches and smashed plates. The waffles were used as shields, the syrup as a weapon. It was a sticky, sweet chaos. "Dipper, we've gotta get out of here!" Mabel shouted, her voice barely audible over the clanging of silverware and grunts of exertion. But Dipper was in a trance. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the syrupy battle. The waffles, once a symbol of peace and breakfast joy, were now a symbol of fierce competition and unbridled rage. As they crawled to the exit, they were caught in the crossfire of a syrupy squirt gun battle. They emerged from the Waffle House, sticky and bewildered, but alive. "Well," Dipper said, wiping a glob of syrup from his cheek, "that was definitely an adventure." Mabel looked at him, her eyes wide. "You enjoyed that?" "Honestly, it was kind of...exhilarating," Dipper admitted. Back at the Mystery Shack, Grunkle Stan looked up from his paper. "How was the Waffle House?" "It was...eventful," Mabel said, still trying to process what they had just witnessed. "Told ya," Stan said with a knowing wink. "But hey, at least you tried something new." And with that, Dipper and Mabel agreed never to speak of the sticky, savage world of Waffle House fights again. But every time they passed the place, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement, wondering what other secrets lay hidden in the quiet, unsuspecting town of Gravity Falls.

[@bonkcg2485]

​@@DoesEvilAWSHUKThingsGuyCIR-m8dYou're really playing with fire...

[@mmarceline3]

i have sensory issues with toothpaste and mint too, it feels nice knowing i’m not the only one. right now i use a kids toothpaste, it’s still not great but it’s better than all the mint!! fuck mint! i will say i didn’t know there was toothpaste with no flavor. i’ve always had issues with my teeth, but we’re trying and slaying ya know

[@PAN-PAN107]

Same! I use the brand Hello. I'm really sensitive to mint and it makes my gums and eyes burn and mouth water.

[@queenbee3561]

Yeah, fuck Mint!

[@sunnfIower]

Same, my issues are mostly due to hating the feeling of the toothpaste in my mouth and that plus the taste causes me to gag a lot.

[@piperdochylo8900]

My brother has this issue (although we only found recently due to him having a bunch of cavities and him coming clean that he hasn’t be using toothpaste at all). There seems to be a lot more alternative flavours out there than I expected. He started off with kids strawberry toothpaste, but he has discovered adult brands that do cinnamon, orange, and watermelon flavour.

[@Robert_E_Main]

I struggle both with mint flavours and with motivation to do things like brushing my teeth. Recently I've used hismile, theres a load of different flavours (right now I have a watermelon one and a red velvet one, they're both delicious and make me actually want to brush my teeth) and it's actually meant for adults unlike kids toothpaste. The one downside is that theyre like £10, not loads but more than I used to have to pay

[@nithyanair1906]

honestly i don’t think we talk about ANY of raina telgemeiers books enough. there was another book of hers called “ghosts” that i really enjoyed (and still have a copy of!) because it helped lessen my fear of death as a child! all of her books grapple with serious topics in such graceful ways. they were a lot different than many of the other books i read at the time.

[@Will0wisp_]

Ghosts is seriously so good! It tackles disease, death, family and more! And Mexican culture plays a big part to. I loved it sm

[@fangirlofbands7146]

Yes! all of her books are so good

[@kendallandbaxter8982]

The chokehold this book had on me strengthened when I got braces from middle school to high school. It will forever be my relatable-comfort book.

[@emmitaxdarling]

Raina Telgameir was such a big part of my childhood it's actually so nice to see her get recognition

[@kekeandtofo]

Ikr? I'm surprised someone remembered her I'm also glad too!

[@danibug6141]

Guts is genuinely the most seen i have ever felt by a book. it makes me cry almost every time i read it because having emetophobia and intense anxiety always feels so incredibly isolating!!! reading about a girl who's going through the same things and having the Literal same thoughts, 'if i eat this then xyz will happen' and that leading to unhealthy behaviors helped me verbalize my own experience that is often intensified by my autism and high bodily awareness mixed with a very low discomfort tolerance. It's my favorite of all her works.

[@ceasinghornet40d40]

i should check out that book too, because what you described is also very similar to my experience. emetophobia really is one of the more debilitating phobias and it sucks. people always tell you you're overreacting or whatever because "it's just a bodily function, everyone does it". sure, but did that same bodily function completely ruin your entire childhood? i don't think so!

[@abbeta2740]

Me too, felt so seen lol

[@Val-uk6ss]

This and drama shaped me as the man I am now. Also, as an autistic person, I have struggled with toothpaste and the feeling of it all my life. I'm so glad to hear about your experience and how I'm not alone. :)

[@S0ap_Bvbbl3z]

Drama is why I know gay people exist lol

[@evie..xctasy]

GERARD PFP OMG

[@Val-uk6ss]

@@evie..xctasy YESSSIRRRRR

[@Xo_Addison]

OMG GERARD WAY PFP‼️

[@Val-uk6ss]

@@Xo_Addison my people

[@ArcticFoxxyProfessional]

i loved smile and sisters literally so much as a kid, they were sort of a hyperfixation for me. i love raina’s art style and i really think we need more “normal girl” stories for little girls to show them that being ordinary is still awesome.

[@therealgamingcatguy]

So little susie what story do you want to read today, this one is about a beautiful princess who gets saved by a handsome prince who stops and evil witch, and this is one is about a team of superheroes who fight valiantly to defend the earth from any naredowellers who might want to destroy it What’s the third one about A normal girl with dentistry issues

[@ArcticFoxxyProfessional]

@@therealgamingcatguy idk man clearly a lot of kids chose the dentistry issues book, also i’m not talking about books for toddlers i’m talking about 8-12 year olds

[@len4129]

@@therealgamingcatguy Little me would be so hyped for the dentistry book

[@7eleven0fficial]

Raina Telgemeier was my favorite author in elementary school and i even met her in fourth grade!!! my biggest flex

[@chillbeanz8979]

LUCKY

[@TravFam-m6m]

Lucky

[@consultingotter221b]

Kelli was like the only good friend

[@The-biggest-theatre-kid]

And Melissa.

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

And Jane, but she was barely in Smile

[@Luckyrabbit1927]

@@The-biggest-theatre-kid Melissa had one or two 'less than ideal' moments in the book, but her last appearance saying "Don't forget to smile!" towards Raina always got me. It's one of my favorite moments.

[@zahrxh_]

@@one-onessadhalf3393 JANE WAS SOO GOOD, but she was only in smile when raina went over to her house and asked if she looks cooler/older

[@zahrxh_]

@@Luckyrabbit1927 yeah, esp when she said raina ahd never been cool and all, but the last scene in the bus was sooo respectable

[@mooniekitty3619]

I loved Raina books when I was was fourth grade. It was the reason why I love graphic novels.

[@yellowteethsauce]

25:31 From experience I think it's called autism

[@catcember]

her work definitely resonated with a lot of neurodivergent kids. her book ‘guts’ made me feel so seen.

[@natfrey]

@@catcemberme too!! I have emetophobia as well and that book hit close to home.

[@catcember]

@@natfrey i had extreme emetophobia when i was a kid because of my anxiety! reading it was like seeing myself in a book.

[@keyaunna.]

OUR EXPERIENCES ARE SO SIMILAR WITH TEETH AND THE DENTIST IT’S INSANE!!!! growing up i didn’t go to the dentist until i was 7-8 years old, which led me to have really crowded teeth with no sign of recovery unless i got braces. unfortunately, my family is in poverty and couldn’t afford it. thankfully, i applied to a charity that helps underprivileged kids get braces and was accepted to get my braces treatment completely for free. i had my braces for two years and also experienced gums going over my brackets because i had such a bad experience with flossing. i was also going through foster homes and so i was also not very mentally stable. so i just want to say that i’m sending all my love because you’re not alone 🖤

[@cayae9468]

Growing up I always struggled with my teeth and brushing them due to undiagnosed depression and autism. Smile was one of the books that helped me through that and I was able to connect with someone based on teeth insecurity. Thanks for being vulnerable, its comforting to know I'm not the only one who still struggles with my teeth

[@embe_r]

ME TOO!! hearing it being talked about in this video and the comments has healed my soul so much

[@fairygrl999]

omg same, i had headgear in 4th grade and I remember reading this over and over and over again.

[@Nebulousart]

raina telgemeir was my absolute favourite artist as a child. her book drama in introduced me to queer people around the time i realised i was ace, and smile taught me that being an author was like an actual career path as well as getting me obsessed with reading through graphic novels. damn... drama was so damn good now that i think about it...

[@Nebulousart]

now i need you to talk about all the graphic novels from when we were kids: bad island (probably not bc fuck doug tenapel), bone, amulet, dork diaries, baby sitters club, geronimo stilton (my goat)

[@AlolaMaskedYT]

I actually have that book! It’s a massively underrated and relatable masterpiece!

[@Saber-d8m]

Dude all of Raina’s books had a fucking chokehold on me as a kid too so it was great to see someone who had a similar experience. Great video!

[@KairaSuperSayan93]

The earthquake didn't take place in 1998. The book takes place in the late 80s and early 90s

[@ChickenNugget-ev8zd]

I think you can even figure out the exact years through the basketball tryout poster

[@jennidavis588]

I think she meant 89

[@spacephroggo5711]

I think so too because she went to see “the little mermaid” in theaters and it came out in 1989

[@TheHaunCoolGamer]

It was in '89 (I read it on Raina's website), I'm pretty sure Lula just got the numbers mixed up.

[@Oddies.Odditi3s]

As someone who is only a teenager and has gone to the dentist for problems more times than I can count, this book rlly helped me realize I’m not alone. I got my parents mouth, I can confidently say that. And I’ve had so many problems with my teeth and the pain is… horrible. That all I can say haha! I love with book though and it helped me loads.

[@Dystoastic]

Smile is peak (non)fiction, without a doubt. Good video, I'd absolutely love to see you do ones on Sisters and Guts.

[@mk-aka-morgan8386]

Jeff Smith, Kazu Kibuishi, and Raina Telemier ate with their comics 👏👏👏 They’re all HUGE reasons why I decided to become a comic artists, so it’s so great to see anyone showing interest in any of their comics (though Jeff Smith will always be my favorite out of the three)

[@commiemommie9802]

Another day another camera picked up!!!

[@sugarsprink]

As someone who went through a traumatic tooth incident at the same age Raina did, this book hit me so close to home. so much of the stuff was exactly the kind of stuff I went through and it was so comforting to know i wasn't alone after such a horrible experience

[@MaliaHensley-p1j]

This book was a godsend when I fell running up a slide and knocked out one of my front teeth

[@GoldenControllerYT]

Simile is a certified classic!

[@wribbles6619]

I've been waiting for more people to talk abt this!!!

[@simplyviella]

5:20 literally the most validating thing I've heard in my life. I never tell people my struggles when depressed because it is always dismissed as disgusting and lazy, like hello? At least I'm alive!

[@gloomy_glamour]

5:16 Omg im glad im not the only one. I truly am so good about brushing my teeth until im depressed and the feeling of it along with the repetitive action is too much and i can't do it. I never like to brush my teeth but i forxe myself to but when im depressed i just cannot do it

[@trinitylehmann9073]

Same, I don’t understand why it’s such a struggle when I can do other stuff like brush my hair or shower…

[@Astrolionking]

YESSSS RAINA TELGEMEIER!!!!! I started reading her books in 5th grade. It started with “Sisters” and it was such a good read bc I had a sister of my own at the time (stepsister, my mom divorced my stepmom tho) Only book of Raina’s I have left is Ghosts which was the start of me thinking about death and anticipatory grief. I also read “GUTS” recently and as someone who struggles with anxiety and irrational fears, it helped me. “Drama” was amazing too, it was pure fiction but it was my first time seeing gay rep in “children’s” media and it made me feel so comfortable even when I didn’t even realize I was queer yet. Raina you will always be famous.

[@valpixx]

you somehow never fail to cover the niche things i was obsessed with as a kid, i LOVED raina’s books and im so glad you talked about smile

[@EPICCOLESLAW1]

0:28 realest thing ive heard today

[@sugarcanedraws]

Off topic but cute raggedy Ann pfp :D

[@EPICCOLESLAW1]

@@sugarcanedraws thanks!!!! :)))

[@sunnfIower]

I’m not diagnosed autistic, but I have SPD (sensory processing disorder) and hearing you talk about your issues with toothpaste makes me feel a lot better about mine. I struggle with gagging when I’m eating/drinking, and especially when I’m brushing my teeth. It’s a combination of how awful the texture and taste is, and the fact that I hate feeling my out spit in my mouth. Sometimes it can be really bad, to the point where I’ll have to take a break and try again in a bit, and I’ve even had nights where I can’t do more than maybe 30 seconds. I always feel super bad about it, because it feels so childish and embarrassing that I struggle so much with basic tasks, but hearing that somebody else has similar issues really helps me feel less embarrassed of it.

[@hammerdisco]

hey, i have spd too!, i know struggling with things as simple as textures feels embarrassing, but i promise, you’re valid and completely normal for it! don’t be too hard on yourself. :)

[@Clown_Nerd]

I have SPD too and I also struggle with simple textures! But just know that's it's a very common thing, it's completely okay and fine to feel and experiences things like that!

[@sunnfIower]

@@hammerdisco thank you for your comment, it makes me feel so much better to hear that I’m not alone!

[@sunnfIower]

@@Clown_Nerd thank you for your comment! Hearing that I’m not alone really helps!

[@abbyd3073]

This book actually helped me so much as a kid. I had a similar accident where I was riding my bike and fell face first. Luckily, my damage wasn’t nearly as bad as Raina’s, but I still felt so weird having fake teeth. This book helped me realize that I wasn’t the only person going through something like this and that it was actually pretty normal.

[@beatlebingb0ng]

THIS BOOK OMGOMG this and drama were my favorite books for YEARS. you always hit the niche nail right on the head.

[@anactualtree652]

My favorite book is Guts by Telgemeier, because she illustrates so perfectly moderate emetophobia. I myself have emetophobia, so I loved reading it

[@citlallehernandez]

This book was so therapeutic for me when I got braces. I got to relate to experiences, see things I would either never or later on experience, unlock new fears, and feel not alone on my 3-4 year journey with braces. It holds up so well, and I'm glad more people appreciate this novel like I did. 😊

[@endercist]

reading this book as a young disabled and chronically ill child was EVERYTHING to me. i related to all of the doctor visits and the insecurities of things you genuinely can't control (for me, it was needing crutches to walk). it spoke to me, I bought every book from Raina after that, she holds a very special place in my heart.

[@rowan5891]

I STILL have all of Raina's books sitting on my shelf in my room, her books and the Amulet series were what made me fall in love with graphic novels

[@lavenderbees]

The amulet series was so good!!

[@_ThatCandyGirl_]

The last amulet book sucks though and I waited 5 years not worth it😭

[@sanriosugaz]

This just unlocked a deeply held memory and phobia inside of me: that this book basically started my fear of oral injuries. EVERY panel I see with her teeth being injured/operated on I cringe still after like 7 years from when I read this book.

[@leinycat]

as someone with depression, on the autism spectrum, and sensory issues, i still struggle with brushing my teeth. youre not alone in this talula.

[@thecatlover463]

Love you too. Things are going to get better.❤️‍🩹

[@leinycat]

@@thecatlover463 🥹❤️‍🩹

[@leinycat]

@@thecatlover463 im gonna subscribe to you

[@Azmetrex]

This is a little late, but Guts was one of the only writings that made me cry on a personal level because I've never had anyone to related to on emetophobia. (I was maybe 15/16 when I read it and my nana bought it for me when she saw me looking at it in Target.) I've read most of Raina's other books at the time, but this one just hit different. She reveals she's scared of vomit (emetophobia). Not exactly to the same degree as me, but it was very relatable. It made me realize I wasn't alone when it came to emetophobia. Like, I thought I was insane because literally nobody gets how it is for me. I was so used to everyone pushing me to the side and/or getting offended that I got panic attacks whenever someone threw up. Then seeing someone represent it pretty accurately made me break. I started crying halfway through because *finally* someone understands me without judging me harshly or making fun of me. I actually read the entire thing the same night I got it. 😭 Really good read and really recommend it for anyone with emetophobia. It's very refreshing to have someone to relate to on such a niche topic.

[@May.May0927]

I have emetophobia too

[@Tipsy_Turby]

BRO I LOVE DRAMA SM BRO ISTG WE NEED TO TALK ABT IT

[@Lorimclain74]

This book and all of her books had such a tight grasp on me😭

[@Lilyyyyarieeel]

I never read this book but damn, I never knew that it would be so relatable. I’ve been apart of this friend group for a couple years now and although I have had problems with them, I never left because I didn’t want to be alone. I’ve had this one friend that I’ve known since middle school and she always has mistreated me and has been rude for no reason. Recently me and that friend got in a fight because I finally stood up for myself after all these years so now everything is very awkward rn. I really hate being around some of these people but I don’t want to leave them because I don’t want to feel lonely. Hopefully like in the book I’ll meet new people to be around. People that fun to be around and respect me and other people. Just a few good friends is all I need rn

[@ghastlyghostsalot]

shoutout to raina telgemeier for helping me discover i want to be an artist. 10 years later, i’m now about a year and a half away from going to art school for graphic design, as well as currently working on my own graphic novel ideas. she is such an inspiration to me

[@RaShell1026]

2:09 That’s how you say her name!?!?!?!?

[@SzeaYT]

The most underground and underrated channel, i love this vibes and the weirdo old stuff

[@JellySquidAKAMiku]

I have an anxiety disorder and “guts” really helped me get through that

[@OliverDay-c9p]

You talking about your experiences with teeth as someone who’s neurodivergent like I am is so awesome to hear from someone who struggles to brush his teeth everyday. It feels welcoming to know that I’m not alone with this.

[@potatolord8677]

i never touched any of this author's books, but there is something so lovely hearing about them and the charm they had to those who read it. thanks for the video, i've occasionally thought about book fair books i never gave a shot and was curious about them (not enough to hunt them down to read, but still) so this was a pleasant surprise

[@morenaprudoz]

autobiographical graphic novels are my absolute favorite books ever… something extra beautiful about seeing the life of an artist drawn by themself

[@Tipsy_Turby]

HAVENT EVEN WATCHED THE VID YET BUT IM ALREADY FAN GIRLING BC BRO PEOPLE NEED TO TALK ABT HER BOOKS MORE ISTG

[@thisisavivistanaccount7866]

i saw this book at a few book fairs growing up but it wasn’t a fantasy novel (if there was no dragons, magic, super natural elements i was not really into reading it.) I’m glad this book and this author helped many young people. Maybe had i read this in my middle school years i would’ve been a little less miserable.

[@chickenpermission6969]

huh. i’ve broken my front teeth too, but i never had a cast on my teeth or got to SKIP SCHOOL??? i had my teeth, which also were rescued, just glued back on, i took some basic pain meds, and went to elementary school the next day. it’s probably because i didn’t have any bone damage but

[@cadence-2]

Smile was the first graphic novel I read, joined later by Sisters and Drama. I loved it because I also had a ton of things happening with my teeth and I loved seeing stuff like that in a book. (I’m autistic and I’m only sharing this to show how I relate. I’m glad that I’m not they only one that relates to this book) I went from braces-> herbst appliance->retainer->braces->retainer over the course of 1st grade to high school. In Highschool, I had to start getting my teeth removed, starting with the two front teeth- so I got a retainer that looked just like hers in the book, and I even did the things she did with it in the book (like flipping it down while it was in 😂). I found my copy of Smile while all of it was going on, and I’m so glad I did; even though I was older than her in the book, I’m glad that I was able to see her experience too. I still love Smile ♥️

[@Thefoop]

I read practically all her books as a kid. They meant so much to me as a kid and they were truly wonderful. Shame I donated them, but I'm sure it would be impactful to anyone who get them.

[@irlsonico]

you are the one creator that really gets my (what i thought was) niche interests that have stuck with me ever since i was a kid... i was so hyperfixated on this book as a kid i remember i stole it from my childhood library because i loved it so much i wanted to gatekeep it from the other kids

[@lilliexoxo999]

I was obsessed with Raina and graphic novels for years. I still read The Babysitters Club graphic novels even though the artists changed multiple times haha. Now that I’m thinking about it may have been an auDHD thing for me 😍

[@Froggy-ys2sz]

In my old school these books were praised every person wanted to read it we had whole waiting lists on who would read it

[@saan-h2k]

i think of this book at least once a week it’s so special and lovely

[@Joshua429]

25:54 god your voice was so smoothing to where I just watched this entire vid ahhhhhhhhhh

[@RaShell1026]

This book made me so grateful that I knocked my front teeth out in Kindergarten (yes they were permanent teeth) and not later, I would have not survived I was already bullied enough as the autistic fat kid.

[@offbrandpollypocket]

FINALLY MY FAV BOOK OF ALL TIME EVER GETS SOME RECOGNITION

[@GabbyClown4213]

My mom got me this book after I had a similar accident and lost my two adult front teeth. It really helped me feel less scared about what was going on. It was literally one of my favorite books because I just related to it so much, even outside of the dental stuff. Peak childhood book

[@everest5718]

This book series (Smile, Sisters, and Guts) was one of my favourites as a kid, and made me feel a lot better about getting braces and my own problems with my sister (as well as sharing a tendency to use listening to music and a mechanism to tune out the world). Idk, they just stuck out a lot to me and helped me a lot.

[@ScreamingAllTheTime]

The absolutely insane procedures done on her teeth have always haunted me. Like tooth pain related stuff freaks me out so much. The damage is enough to be big yikes, but god, the concept of moving every tooth in her top jaw to fill the gap sounds so so painful. Like surely there could have been some less invasive method to fill that gap. That orthodontist is a madman

[@ALIIENSUPERST4R]

smile literally was a HUGE part of my childhood 😭

[@GlitchyHalo]

Same with sisters both sisters that clash a lot because they are jealous of the other and it felt so real also the snake thing too😭 Also that one line “Well my cousin that was a sister to me barely knows me anymore. And the sister that I have hates me.” Hit too hard. There’s always that one older relative that you looked up to and changes so much that both of you aren’t the same anymore

[@ThatWeirdTherianPerson]

Raina Telgimeier is one of my favorite writers but this one scared me 😭😭

[@ChristineSG19]

Please do sisters! I never read smile (my school library didn’t have it) but sisters is so nostalgic for me!

[@rruyi__]

MY CHILDHOOD COMIC OMG? SHE INSPIRED ME SO MUCH

[@Bread-toast13]

you should really read guts!! I was also a lover of raina's books and storytelling and in 2019 when guts came out it was such a good book for me after reading smile and sisters! I definitely recommend this.

[@Notimperfectchez]

I was always scared of braces bc of that book 😭

[@astravilla6560]

im serious when i say i feel like ive never connected to content somebody has made on youtube as much as this channel, as a autstic person who literally would die for your room and is the same age, it literally is amazing how every video you make is about something i adored. i just wanted to say i truly appreciate the love and care you put into your videos!!

[@BitingTheAir]

PLEAAASE DO SISTERS NEXT OH MY GODDDD I still have that book on my shelf, and it . genuinely helped me get along with my sister when I was younger LMAO

[@aceyfan]

It was the 1989 earthquake. The author is 47 years old.

[@alexp7880]

This book meant the world to me as a kid. I had a nearly identical injury to my teeth and i’m still dealing with the aftermath and her story made me feel less weird and alone. It deserves so much more love than it gets and Raina is such an amazing artist and storyteller.

[@BlixyBlix]

smile is and always will be my favorite book

[@violet4935]

this video is good PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE do another video on literally any of her other books and i’ll be sat

[@veenatamara4543]

I used to want this book so bad 😭😭😭😭

[@pintrovert]

I was OBSESSED with Smile and Sisters!! I really related to Raina, being the oldest, and having a younger sister and younger brother, as well as some of her struggles, and her books got me more into comic making and inspired my art journey I read those books dozens of times, definitely impacted me :)

[@PAN-PAN107]

Your section about your own struggles with teeth is super relatable. I had about 7 brackets on my top row, a bar on the bottom, and a palletal expander. I had to get my expander removed for some time because I was struggling to take care of my hygiene due to depression. I only had braces for 11 months, and everything was mostly fine. I even got invisalign and worked super hard to take care of my teeth to straighten everything. Also, the way you can connect to this book made me think if another one of Raina's books: Guts. It talks a lot about emetophobia which is something I've dealt with throughout my life. I'd live for you to talk about it! I also totally forgot but I used to call myself a vampire, referencing this book. My canines grew in kind of in front of my gums (the gaps for them weren't big enough, that's why I had braces in the first place). So the way that my teeth were stuck half grown in made me think of her.

[@allyBestow]

Bro, Raina Telgemeier's books were a huge part of my childhood. Im glad to see that she's getting a bit of recognition with this video.

[@andromeda_is_rad]

Read this as a kid holy bals

[@oliveanimates14]

Raina was the reason why I wanted to get into art as a kid. I loved her books so much and I have a vivid memory of reading “sisters” over and over and over again and every time getting sad that I got to the end and wished it was longer before I’d start it over and analyze EVERYTHING, the thought bubbles, the page colors, the clothes, the rooms, everything

[@abbythings]

3:42 OK SAME. i remember DREADING having to brush my teeth as a little kid, until i found chocolate toothpaste and later kids sparkle toothpaste that i still use today cuz i refuse to use mint😋

[@abbythings]

also i didn’t get braces until i was 17 cuz my teeth didn’t finish falling out until i was 15💀 then i tried invisaline for a year when i was 16 and never wore it, so i was stuck with braces as a junior in hs😍

[@daniellenitkewicz4065]

you should do real friends by shannon hale. it’s a graphic novel as well that was important to me when i was younger! very similar to smile in a way

[@purppurpyellow]

thank you for feeding us lula!