Guts
2019
- middle school and teenage life
- stress in children
- stomach, diseases
- nyt:graphic-books-and-manga=2019-10-13
- anxiety
- bullies
- bullying, juvenile literature
- bullying
- juvenile literature
- comic books, strips
The story
A true story from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Timesbestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts! Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What's going on?Raina Telgemeier once again brings us a thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face -- and conquer -- her fears.
What it’s like
Bright, open-line cartoon panels with a clean, expressive style: rounded faces, simple backgrounds, and a warm palette of pinks, teals and cheerful yellows that makes ordinary school hallways, kitchens and bedrooms feel softly lit and familiar. The page rhythm is easy and brisk, with short sequences of small gestures and quick reaction panels that let a single worried glance carry a lot of weight. Its vibe is gentle and reassuring with a thread of nervous unease, the kind of book that suits a rainy afternoon, a quiet evening on the couch, or an easy read between longer books. Stomach trouble, school anxiety and the sting of shifting friendships run through the story, and the arc follows a young girl slowly naming her fears and finding the nerve to talk about them. Intensity is low: there is no violence, and the bullying and classroom teasing are mild, sketched in passing rather than dwelt on. Some scenes of illness and medical worry are handled plainly but may feel tense to readers who are anxious about health. It is written for younger readers and for adults who enjoy honest, funny, low-stakes coming-of-age comics.
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