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A review by anna_wa
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
4.75
When I first read the summary for this book, I thought for sure it would be about Raina Telgemeier getting her very first period while Mrs. Telgemeier went through menopause (both of which could feel like or look like "stomachaches"). But I was completely wrong.
It starts off with an actual stomach flu bug that both Raina Telgemeier and Mrs. Telegemeier get (along with the rest of their family). But while everybody else's stomach flu goes away, the author's doesn't. Or, rather, she's got something that feels like a stomach ache that nobody else in her family seems to have.
This book is about Raina Telgemeier's experience with anxiety, panic attacks, and IBS. About feeling like she can't control her fears and spiraling through anxiety. And about getting a therapist and, for a while, being afraid she's the only person her age with a therapist (she isn't).
I am glad a book like this exists for the middle grade age group. There are so many young kids out there going through anxiety spirals who think they're alone, but they aren't. I hope to give this book to a few in my life.
And, yes, I'm glad a book about IBS exists too. Because that probably makes a lot of kids *also* feel alone and weird (since bathroom jokes are always seen as The Peak Of Comedy during this age).
Definitely my favorite book of the Smile series!
It starts off with an actual stomach flu bug that both Raina Telgemeier and Mrs. Telegemeier get (along with the rest of their family). But while everybody else's stomach flu goes away, the author's doesn't. Or, rather, she's got something that feels like a stomach ache that nobody else in her family seems to have.
This book is about Raina Telgemeier's experience with anxiety, panic attacks, and IBS. About feeling like she can't control her fears and spiraling through anxiety. And about getting a therapist and, for a while, being afraid she's the only person her age with a therapist (she isn't).
I am glad a book like this exists for the middle grade age group. There are so many young kids out there going through anxiety spirals who think they're alone, but they aren't. I hope to give this book to a few in my life.
And, yes, I'm glad a book about IBS exists too. Because that probably makes a lot of kids *also* feel alone and weird (since bathroom jokes are always seen as The Peak Of Comedy during this age).
Definitely my favorite book of the Smile series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder