Title: Guts by Raina Telgemeier
Image:
Genre: Biography, Graphic Novels
Justification:
There are some books that are meant to
be read. Originally my free choice books were Dear Martin by Nic Stone
and Scythe by Neal Shusterman. After reading this book I noticed it was
a biography. However, where I was fixing my computer from a virus, I picked up Guts.
This book had just arrived from scholastic and had not made it to my after this
assignment I will read pile. I read the first chapter and could not put it
down. After going on Good Reads I verified that seventh graders could read this
book and therefore it counted. The book has received 7,436 ratings and was
rated 4.38 stars (goodreads, 2019) . This book is a part
of a wonderful series that is a best seller. It is also, currently in the Best
Middle Grade & Children’s books semifinals (goodreads,
2019) .
Evaluation of the book:
Guts by
Telgemeier is a graphic novel. This graphic novel tells the story through illustrations.
The readers get most of information from the pictures and the speech bubbles. These
color illustrations help the reader to feel like they are part of the book. The
lines are clear and while it has a cartoon look it is still realistic pictures.
The setting can shift as well as seeing the characters expressions help the
reader to envision what is going on. This is a unique, interesting way to write
an autobiography.
The use of the illustrations extends and develop the
plot. When Raina first gets the stomach page the pictures show her getting sick
and how she progressed (Telgemeier, 2019, pp. 4-6) . The reader does not
need as much text because they can rely on the illustrations. Her anxiety
become apparent as she gets sicker and starts to shake (Telgemeier, 2019, pp. 20-21) . This helps the
reader know that her anxiety is building. As the book progresses the reader can
see that she stops eating and how her emotions change. The reader sees how she panicked
when having to present and how relieved she is when she finally shares with her
peers that she in therapy. The illustrations help to the message across without
having to use the words and show the reader her struggle and anxiety.
The illustrations reinforce the text. Each speech
bubble matches a picture to help further the story. This graphic novel depends
on the illustration to spread the message. The text is primarily in speech
bubbles with a few sections where some background knowledge occurs. For instance,
when Michelle is teaching the class about the salad a lot is told through the pictures
(Telgemeier, 2019, pp. 142-144) . The reader can see the mayonnaise on the
apples and how the rest of the class enjoys it. It also, shows how Raina is too
scared to attempt to eat it.
Response:
(a) I have always had stomach issues.
When I was a baby I did not grow or gain weight for months. It was so severe
that my parents were about to send me to Houston for treatment. Growing up I
never wanted anything tight on my stomach and remember always feeling sick.
When I went to college it got so bad that I was diagnosed with IBS. My
gallbladder exploded and several years later the cause of my stomach pain was
finally correctly diagnosed as celiac’s disease. This has shaped everything I
have done in life to what I wear, how I eat, and my choices of activities I do.
Reading this related to my own life. I know how Raina felt and how hard it is
to deal with being different. How it is hard to explain the stomach pain and
going to school could be the hardest thing to do. I was tempted to write Raina
Telgemeier to tell her how I relate and how it gets better.
© There is a lot of stigma about
seeing a therapist or a counselor. Some of the stigma comes from the families
themselves. Growing up there was a stigma about going to therapy and seeking
help. It was viewed as if you get help you are broken, there is something
horribly wrong with you. This book fights that stigma and lets kids and young
adults know it is ok to seek help. Sometimes we need someone in our corner
helping us. Her parents should be commended on how they fought to help her. How
they went past the stigma until she felt she could share about herself. I wish
I had this book when I was younger. It would have helped me to deal with the
issues that I faced.
(e ) This graphic novel does a great
job of telling an important message to students in a fun, popular method. Raina
Telgemier can tell her story in a way that reaches numerous teens. Her
biography uses an untraditional format. It makes the book appear less preachy
and more like realistic fiction. She shows how she handled her stress such as
drawing comics, and biking. She shows students other coping mechanisms. I loved
reading this graphic novel and really related to the characters and her
feelings.
Conclusion:
This graphic novel biography is a
wonderful asset to have for middle and high school students. The engaging illustrations
extend and develop the plot and reinforce the text. It can relate to students
with anxieties, puberty, and those who carry their stress in the guts. As someone
who struggles with Celiac’s disease and has always had gut issues this book as
affirming and a needed read in my personal collection and will help countless others
going through the same thing.
Citation:
goodreads. (2019). Guts (Smile #3). Retrieved
from Guts: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42190572-guts
Telgemeier, R. (2019). Guts. New York:
Graphix.
The University of Texas at El Paso. (n.d.). How to
Write a Reaction Paper or Reader Response. Retrieved from Reader Response:
http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0310link/readerresponse.htm
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