Smile

We bought a boxed set of Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels at the Eslite main store, Taipei's famous 24-hour bookstore. This book was required summer reading for the Kiddo, and I read it with him.

Title: Smile
Publisher: Scholastic / Graphix
Date: 2010
Writer: Raina Telgemeier
Artist: Raina Telgemeier
Colorist: Stephanie Yue
Editor: Cassandra Pelham

Sixth grader Raina is worried about getting braces, but the situation gets a lot worse when she breaks two teeth in an accident. The story, a memoir of the author's childhood in late 80s/early 90s San Francisco, takes place over the following four years of dental procedures interspersed with middle and high school social drama.

This was a charming story with a very sympathetic main character, tons of insightful details, and a sprinkling of history and nostalgia. Raina is easy to cheer for, and her experiences felt very real.

I also learned quite a bit about dentistry through this, and it resonated with my own orthodontic adventures as a teenager, which like Raina's were of above-average complexity (hers were certainly more extreme than mine, though!).

This is a story that leaves a good feeling but has enough depth to get you thinking a bit.

Rating: 8.5/10

Guinea Pig: Pet Shop Private Eye #4: Fish You Were Here

The Kiddo and I enjoyed another volume from this series, so when we had a chance to run into Colleen A.F. Venable again at the 2014 Maine Comic Arts Festival, he picked this one out.

Title: Guinea Pig: Pet Shop Private Eye #4: Fish You Were Here
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Date: 2011
Writer: Colleen A.F. Venable
Artist: Stephanie Yue
Letterer: Grace Lu

Mr. Venezi has the help-wanted sign out, but he's having trouble finding the perfect assistant for the pet shop until high-school freshman Viola walks in the door, full of energy and know-how. At least, she's full of energy until Mr. V's not watching her. Then she's more into binge-watching her soaps then watching the shop. Meanwhile, Mr. V thinks she's doing such a great job that he isn't even needed anymore.

Sasspants and Hamisher have to convince the rest of the pet store to take some drastic action to get Mr. V to come back. But first they need to solve the mystery of where he's gone.

This was the second in this graphic novel series that I've read, and it was amusing and cute. The subplot involving the goldfish (all named Steve) getting a pleco as a new addition to their tank was particularly fun.

Rating: 7/10

Guinea Pig: Pet Shop Private Eye #5: Raining Cats and Detectives

Here's a book we picked up at the Maine Comics Arts Festival in Portland ME this past May.

Title: Guinea Pig: Pet Shop Private Eye #5: Raining Cats and Detectives
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Date: 2012
Writer: Colleen A.F. Venable
Artist: Stephanie Yue

This is an all-ages book printed in a squarebound 7"x7" 46-page softcover childrens' book format.

Sasspants the guinea pig and his best friend Hamisher the hamster have decided that they will only leave the pet store with an owner who is a stylish detective. But when the perfect owner shows up, he only has enough money to buy one of the rodent detective team.

And to make matters worse, an important case has come up. The cat who resides in the bookstore next door has vanished. This is particularly alarming because Tummytickles the cat never ever moves under his own power. Clearly there is foul play involved! The detective team won't be able to work as a team to solve this mystery, but perhaps they can arrive separately at the same conclusion.

The actual plot took some time to get going, but I really didn't mind because this story was absolutely loaded with quirky jokes. And the final resolution was handled in a perfectly adorable way.

Fun characters, a great sense of humor, and some clever mystery writing make for a winner here.

Rating 8.5/10