Cover of Smile

Smile

by Raina Telgemeier

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Among the most widely assigned — 13 curriculum lists · 11 states

#32 most-assigned book in America — on school reading lists in 10 states (2026-07-13 study of 13,258 assignments).

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Iowa Children's Choice AwardPacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice AwardMaine Student Book AwardVermont Golden Dome Book Award+8 more

Smile by Raina Telgemeier is assigned in US schools at grades 4–8, with a Lexile measure of 410L. It appears across 13 curriculum references and 11 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Smile is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Lexile
410L
Grade range
Grades 4–8
Difficulty for grade
Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range
Ages 9–13
Pages
224
Reading time
about 4h 5m (est.)
First published
2010
Genre
Middle Grade Graphic Novel
ISBN-13
9780545132053

Reading difficulty: At 410L, Smile reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.

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New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

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About this book

After Raina knocks out her two front teeth in a fall, she endures years of braces, surgery, and headgear — all while navigating friendships, earthquakes, and growing up. Raina Telgemeier's Eisner-winning graphic memoir is one of the most-read middle-grade graphic novels, beloved in grades 4-8 for its honesty and humor.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Smile→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Graphic Novel title, reads at early-reader complexity, typically at grades 4–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on growing up and friendship; cited across 13 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

growing up · friendship · self-acceptance · humor

Where this book is assigned

Show 7 more awards & assignments

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Common questions

What grade level is Smile?
Smile is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–8, with a Lexile measure of 410L. It appears on 13 school reading lists across 11 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What is the Lexile level of Smile?
Smile has a Lexile measure of 410L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read Smile?
It takes about 4h 5m to read Smile (224 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 245 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Smile hard to read for 4th grade?
At 410L, Smile reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Smile?
Smile appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award, Hawai'i Nēnē Award, and 10 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
410L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 4–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 13 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 11 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club, read-aloud, summer.

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