Fist stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence (Canada, Geoffrey; 1995; 179 p. ISBN 9780807004227)
Canada narrates his own stories, often gritty, of life on the streets of the Bronx in the 1950s. Today, Canada is a well known educator. In the 1950s, he was a boy being raised, along with his brothers, by his mother after his father left. He tells a series of stories in both personal narrative and graphic novel form.
(Ages 11+)
Smile (Telgemeier, Raina; Graphix, 2010; 213 p. ISBN 9780545132060)
This is a memoir—told in a graphic novel—of a 12-year-old girl who requires extensive orthodontic work after a bad fall results in damaging and losing her front teeth. The orthodontic trials are difficult enough, but for them to be happening during a time of such insecurity and focus on appearances is especially difficult. Readers see the author grow and evolve as her teeth heal; this book is especially great for any braces/retainer/headgear-wearing young people.
Check out a trailer for the book here.
