52 pages • 1 hour read
Raina TelgemeierA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Smile (2020), Sisters (2014) by Raina Telgemeier
These two graphic memoirs along with Guts form a trilogy describing the formative years of Telgemeier as she reaches middle school, dealing with her relationships with her sister and brother and a fateful accident that puts her in braces for years.
Sophie Washington: My BFF (2020) by Tonya Duncan Ellis
A lifelong relationship between two best friends faces new challenges for tween girls; the novel involves several thematic elements of Guts, especially the difficulty in maintaining friendships as individuals mature.
Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World (2018) by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Chris Riddell, William Morris
A collection of essays from a famous multi-media artist on using art to challenge one’s most pressing problems; Telgemeier is a living example of these principles.
Normal: One Kid’s Extraordinary Journey (2020), by Magdalena and Nathaniel Newman, Illustrated by Neil Swaab
A non-fiction account of a boy with TC Syndrome that dramatically alters his appearance, even after 60 surgeries, as he strives to live a “normal” life; as with Guts, the main character, even though unique, embodies the essence of the struggle for “normality” faced by every maturing child.
“Raina Telgemeier: Guts—Let’s Just Talk About It” by Reading Rockets (YouTube, 2020)
Telgemeier describes her reasons for writing Guts, how it fits in with her other graphic memoirs, and the important message it bears for tween children.
“Panic Attacks: A Story to Help Children Understand and Manage Them” by Martin Burridge (YouTube, 2021)
A British consultant uses graphics to explain the roots of panic disorder and how children can manage them.
“What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome” by AumSum Time (YouTube, 2020)
A cartoon video for children explaining what is understood about IBS, its symptoms, and treatment.
By Raina Telgemeier