Book Review of Guts

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Telgemeier, Raina. (2019). GUTS. Ill. by Raina Telgemeier (with color by Braden Lamb). New York, NY: Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. ISBN 9780545852517.  

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Raina is a girl in elementary school. She is shy and nervous about most things (except discussing cartoons and comics), and she has an intense fear of everything related to vomit and vomiting. Raina’s mom eventually takes her to a therapist to try to help Raina handle her anxiety and fears. Raina learns coping skills such as breathing exercises. Eventually, Raina learns that she is not alone when it comes to these kinds of problems.            

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book should not be dismissed as just another graphic novel. The subject matter discussed in this memoir is perhaps the single most important issue surrounding student life in upper elementary, middle school, and high school today – mental health. There are numerous concerns addressed: anxiety, obsessive thoughts, stress, fear of public speaking/presentations, panic attacks, worries about body issues, menstruation, family issues such as alcoholism, attending therapy sessions, etc. This book should be included in every school library, and in every teacher’s and school counselor’s arsenal of help for struggling students. This is the kind of book that initiate conversations that help kids.

 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS

2020 EISNER AWARD FOR BEST WRITER / ARTIST

2020 EISNER AWARD FOR BEST PUBLICATION

2020 RINGO AWARD BEST KIDS COMIC OR GRAPHIC NOVEL

KIRKUS review: “With young readers diagnosed with anxiety in ever increasing numbers, this book offers a necessary mirror to many.”

BOOKLIST review: “In this third graphic memoir, Telgemeier describes her childhood anxiety in an approachable, nonjudgmental way and emphasizes how useful talk therapy can be…”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The subject matter is conveyed realistically but with humor—anxiety can be taken seriously, and farts can still be funny. Especially important is a scene in which Raina’s therapist talks her through a grounding technique and deep breathing exercise, giving readers a coping technique that they can use.”

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX review: “Far too many of our young people are wrestling with mental health issues and we need to do better for them. Guts is just one of the ways that we can help. And that’s the power of story.”

 

CONNECTIONS

* This is an excellent book for introducing readers to discussions of feelings, fears, anxiety, therapy, etc.

* Other books related to this one:

Telgemeier, Raina. SMILE. ISBN 0545132061.

Stone, Kaiya. EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE K.O.: AN ILLUSTRATED MEMOIR OF LIVING WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES. ISBN 9781789544961.

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