Raina Telgemeier

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Raina Telgemeier
Telgemeier receiving an Inkpot Award in 2023
Born (1977-05-26) May 26, 1977 (age 46)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Notable works
Smile (2010)
Drama (2012)
Sisters (2014)
Ghosts (2016)
Guts (2019)
AwardsEisner: 2011 (Smile), 2015 (Sisters), 2017 (Ghosts), Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids' Comics: 2017 (Ghosts), Inkpot Award: 2023
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2015)​
goraina.com

Raina Telgemeier (/ˈtɛlɡəˈmaɪər/,[1] born May 26, 1977) is an American cartoonist. Her works include the autobiographical webcomic Smile, which was published as a full-color middle grade graphic novel in February 2010, and the follow-up Sisters and the fiction graphic novel Drama, all of which have been on The New York Times Best Seller lists. She has also written and illustrated the graphic novels Ghosts and Guts as well as four graphic novels adapted from The Baby-Sitters Club stories by Ann M. Martin.

Early life[edit]

Telgemeier was born on May 26, 1977, in San Francisco and grew up there.[2][3] She has two younger siblings, Amara and Will.[4] According to Telgemeier, she knocked out two front teeth while in sixth grade and needed braces and multiple surgeries as a result.[5] She attended Lowell High School in San Francisco.[6]

Telgemeier studied illustration at New York's School of Visual Arts;[2] she graduated in 2002.[7][8]

Career[edit]

After graduating from the School of Visual Arts, Telgemeier began attending small-press festivals such as the MoCCA Festival, selling self-published autobiographical stories and vignettes from her life. She produced seven mini-comics issues in the Take-Out series between 2002 and 2005. Each was a twelve-page black-and-white comic.[8][9][10] Other early works include a short story in Bizarro World for DC Comics[11] and a short story in Volume 4 of the Flight anthology.[12]

In 2004, Telgemeier joined Girlamatic, a subscription-based webcomics site dedicated to female writers.[13] Telgemeier has said that the disciplined structure and schedule of publishing a weekly webcomic encouraged her to develop the autobiographical story Smile.[8][better source needed]

Her main breakthrough into published comics came from creating graphic novel adaptations of Baby-Sitters Club novels.[2] In a piece for Cosmopolitan, Telgemeier said that she met an editor from Scholastic at an art gallery party in 2004 who mentioned that Scholastic was thinking of setting up a graphic novel imprint. At that year's San Diego Comic-Con, Telgemeier met that editor's boss, who invited her to pitch an idea for Scholastic. After Telgemeier mentioned she had been a fan of Ann M. Martin's The Baby-Sitters Club series, they asked her to work up a graphic novel adaptation.[14][8] Scholastic, though its imprint Graphix went on to publish four graphic novels in the series: Kristy's Great Idea, The Truth About Stacey, Mary Anne Saves the Day, and Claudia and Mean Janine.[15] According to Telgemeier, the advances for the adaptations allowed Telgemeier to quit her full-time job and concentrate on her art, and she completed the fourth Baby-Sitters Club novel in 2008.[16]

In 2009, Del Rey Manga released X-Men: Misfits, which Telgemeier co-authored with her then-husband, Dave Roman. It spent at least five weeks on the New York Times bestseller list for Paperback Graphic Books.[17]

In February 2010, Telgemeier released a print graphic novel version of her webcomic Smile. Smile first featured on a New York Times bestseller list in 2011 and as of October 2020 it is still on the New York Times Bestseller List for Graphic Books and Manga.[18]

Telgemeier followed Smile with several original graphic novels, all of which have made a New York Times Bestseller List:[19][20][18]

  • Drama, released in 2012, about a middle school stage crew and performers, was released. Although the novel was fictional, it drew on experiences from Telgemeier's experience in middle school and high school theater.[21][22]
  • Sisters, released in 2014, about her life growing up with her younger sister.[23]
  • Ghosts, released in 2016, about a girl who can see ghosts, and adventures in a new town during Day of the Dead.[24]
  • Guts, released in 2019, about Telgemeier's stomach problems and her adventures in food, school, and changing friendships.[25]

Telgemeier has continued to contribute to anthologies, including Nursery Rhyme Comics (2011, First Second), Fairy Tale Comics (2013, First Second); the Explorer graphic novel series (2012, 2013, Abrams/Amulet); and Comics Squad: Recess! (2014, Random House).[26]

Of her work, Telgemeier said, "I'm more aware than ever of what I want to say to kids through my books [...] it's going to be O.K. That everybody, with just a little bit of talking and a little bit of empathy, can find out that they have a lot in common."[27]

In 2021, Salt & Straw partnered with Scholastic Inc. and made a line of Comics themed ice creams.[28] Telgemeier's ice cream flavor was called "Smile: Words & Pictures" which Salt & Straw said was "A pencil-inspired yellow and pink almond-infused sponge cake and Stracciatella “pencil shavings'' are strewn about a notebook paper-esque canvas, in this case trusty vanilla ice cream."[29]

In 2023, Telgemeier announced she had finished pencilling her next, untitled graphic novel, though would not be inking the pages as with previous books. The as yet untitled novel will be released by Scholastic's Graphix imprint in January, 2025.[30]

Reception[edit]

As of 2019, Telgemeier's books collectively have more than 18 million copies in print.[31] According to David Saylor, publisher at Graphix, "Raina single-handedly created the market for middle-grade graphic memoir".[31] Telgemeier's work has won several awards and nominations, including five Eisner Awards, and has been included on many lists of recommended books.

Awards[edit]

Year Nominated work Category Result Refs.
2023 Inkpot Award Won [32]
2020 Guts Eisner Award – Best Publication for Kids Won [33]
2020 Guts Eisner Award – Best Writer/Artist Won [33]
2017 Ghosts Eisner Award – Best Publication for Kids (ages 9–12) Won [33]
2017 Sisters Young Hoosier Book Award - Intermediate Won [34]
2015 Sisters Eisner Award – Best Writer/Artist Won [33]
2014 Smile Young Hoosier Book Award - Intermediate Won [34]
2013 Drama Stonewall Book Award – Honor Books in Children’s and Young Adult Literature Won [35]
2011 Smile Eisner Award – Best Publication for Teens Won [33]
2011 Smile Children’s Choice Book Awards – Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year Nominated [36]
2010 Smile Boston Globe-Horn Book Award – Nonfiction Nominated [37]
Smile (webcomic version) Web Cartoonists' Choice Award – Outstanding Slice-of-Life Webcomic Nominated [38]
Smile (webcomic version) Web Cartoonists' Choice Award – Outstanding Slice-of-Life Webcomic Nominated [38]
2005 Smile (webcomic version) Eisner Award – Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition Nominated [39]
2003 Take-Out Lulu Awards – Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent Won [40]
2003 Take-Out Ignatz Awards – Promising New Talent Nominated [41]
2003 Take-Out Ignatz Awards – Outstanding Minicomic Nominated [41]

Recommendation lists and bestseller lists[edit]

Year Work Organization List Notes
2014 Sisters New York Times Editor's Choice [42]
2011 Smile Young Adult Library Services Association 2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens [43]
2011 Smile Association for Library Service to Children 2011 Notable Children's Books (Middle Readers) [44]
2010 Smile Kirkus Reviews Best of 2010 for Teens [45]
2007 Baby Sitter's Club: Kirsty's Great Idea Young Adult Library Services Association 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens [46]

All five of her original graphic novels have made a The New York Times Best Seller list, as has at least one of her Baby-Sitters Club adaptations and X-Men: Misfits.[19][20][18][17] On May 10, 2015, the top four books on The New York Times Best Seller list for paperback graphic books were all by Telgemeier: Drama, Smile, Sisters, and Kristy's Great Idea.[19] Smile first featured on a New York Times bestseller list in 2011 and as of October 2020 it is still on the New York Times Bestseller List for Graphic Books and Manga.[18]

In 2017, Telgemeier was named the "Most Important Comics Creator" by Comics Worth Reading, which cited her BookScan numbers, copies sold, and influence on the modern comics market as reasons why.[47]

Challenges and bans[edit]

According to the ALA, Drama was among the top ten most challenged book in libraries and schools in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Reasons given for challenges and bans have included having LGBTQIA+ content and characters, sexually explicit content, an "offensive political viewpoint", being "confusing", and for concerns that it goes against “family values/morals”.[48]

Personal life[edit]

Telgemeier was married to fellow cartoonist Dave Roman;[2] they married in 2006[49] but they filed for divorce in 2015.[31]

She currently lives in San Francisco, California.[50] She has lived in Astoria, New York.[2][51]

Bibliography[edit]

Raina Telgemeier at BookExpo at the Javits Center in New York City, May 2019

Author and illustrator[edit]

  • Take-Out (self-published, 2002-2005)
  • Smile (Scholastic/Graphix, 2010)
  • Drama (Scholastic/Graphix, 2012)
  • Sisters (Scholastic/Graphix, 2014)
  • Ghosts (Scholastic/Graphix, 2016)
  • Guts (Scholastic/Graphix, 2019)

Illustrator[edit]

Babysitters Club graphic novels[edit]

  • Kristy's Great Idea (2006)
  • The Truth About Stacey (2006)
  • Mary Anne Saves the Day (2007)
  • Claudia and Mean Janine (2008)

Author[edit]

  • X-Men: Misfits (2009), co-authored with Dave Roman

Contributions to anthologies[edit]

  • Bizarro World HC (DC Comics, 2005)[52]
  • Flight, Vol. 4 (2007)[12]
  • Nursery Rhyme Comics (First Second, 2011)[2]
  • Fairy Tale Comics (First Second, 2013)[26]
  • The Explorer graphic novel series (Abrams/Amulet, 2012, 2013)[26]
  • Comics Squad: Recess! (Random House, 2014)[26]

References[edit]

General references[edit]

  • MacDonald, Heidi (April 18, 2005). "Young Cartoonists Look to the Book Market". Publishers Weekly. p. 23.
  • Schou, Solvej (April 18, 2006). "Not the 1980s anymore: popular Baby-sitter's Club books go graphic". Entertainment and Culture. The Canadian Press.

Inline citations[edit]

  1. ^ "Audio Name Pronunciation". www.teachingbooks.net. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Mallozzi, Vincent M. (October 14, 2010). "Drawn Together by a Love of Cartooning". City Room [blog]. The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  3. ^ "Raina Telgemeier". Scholastic. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Raina Telgemeier (October 16, 2014). "Raina Telgemeier: An illustrated life" (Interview). Interviewed by Jennifer M. Brabander. The Horn Book. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Deuben, Alex (February 12, 2010). "Raina Telgemeier Opens Up About "Smile"". Comic Book Resources. Valnet, Inc. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  6. ^ "#iDrawThisBig". GoRaina!. January 19, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  7. ^ Cavna, Michael (September 14, 2019). "Raina Telgemeier became hero to millions of readers by showing how uncomfortable growing up can be". The Washington Post. In 2002, shortly before graduation from the School of Visual Arts in New York
  8. ^ a b c d Raina Telgemeier (September 12, 2016). "Get That Life: How I Became a Best-Selling Graphic Novelist". Cosmopolitan (Interview). Interviewed by Heather Wood Rudulph. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  9. ^ "Take-Out #3". Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Telgemeier, Raina. "How - Advice for Budding Cartoonists". GoRaina!. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  11. ^ "Bizarro World HC (2005 DC) comic books". www.mycomicshop.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Flight, Vol. 4 (Flight, #4)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  13. ^ "GirlAMatic.com relaunches". CBR. April 19, 2004. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  14. ^ Sherman, Jen (October 21, 2020). "THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB, FROM NOVELS TO GRAPHIC NOVELS". Book Riot. The first four BSC graphic novels were adapted by Raina Telgemeier, herself a BSC fan.
  15. ^ Smith, Zack (July 7, 2020). "Looking back at Baby-Sitters Club with Raina Telgemeier". Newsarama. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  16. ^ Raugust, Karen (May 19, 2016). "Graphix to Expand Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel Series". Publishers Weekly. Telgemeier's black-and-white graphic novels were published from 2006 to 2008.
  17. ^ a b "Paperback Graphic Books - Best Sellers - Sept. 27, 2009 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d "Graphic Books and Manga - Best Sellers - Oct. 18, 2020 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  19. ^ a b c "Paperback Graphic Books - Best Sellers - May 17, 2015 - The New York Times". The New York Times.
  20. ^ a b "Paperback Graphic Books - Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  21. ^ "Interview: Raina Telgemeier on 'Drama' — Good Comics for Kids". blogs.slj.com. June 22, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  22. ^ "Interview with Raina Telgemeier | Teenreads". www.teenreads.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  23. ^ Raina Telgemeier (September 4, 2014). "Raina Telgemeier Shares the Secrets of "Sisters"" (Interview). Interviewed by Alex Dueben. CBR. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  24. ^ Larson, Sarah (September 13, 2016). ""Ghosts": Raina Telegemeier returns". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  25. ^ Telgemeier, Raina (October 5, 2018). "Announcing . . . GUTS!!! (And Share Your Smile!)". GoRaina!. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  26. ^ a b c d "Books by Raina". goraina.com. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  27. ^ Larson, Sarah (September 13, 2016). ""Ghosts": Raina Telgemeier returns". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  28. ^ Kaplan, Avery (May 28, 2021). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  29. ^ Bond, Amber Love. "Salt & Straw Partners With Scholastic Inc. To Feature Rad Readers Ice Cream Flavors". Forbes. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  30. ^ Club, Comic Book (October 19, 2023). "Raina Telgemeier Teases New Graphic Novel Online". Comic Book Club. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  31. ^ a b c Alter, Alexandra (October 21, 2019). "How Raina Telgemeier Faces Her Fear (Published 2019)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  32. ^ "UO professor receives Comic-Con Inkpot Award". College or Arts and Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  33. ^ a b c d e "2010-Present". Comic-Con International: San Diego. December 2, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  34. ^ a b "Past Winners: Young Hoosier Book Award" (PDF).
  35. ^ "Stonewall Book Awards List". Rainbow. September 9, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  36. ^ "2011 Winners and Finalists". Children's Book Council. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  37. ^ "Past Boston Globe -- Horn Book Award Winners — The Horn Book". www.hbook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  38. ^ a b "A Graphic Novel Smiles! | News For Kids, By Kids | Scholastic.com". www.scholastic.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  39. ^ "2005 Eisner Nomination Announced". CBR. April 14, 2005. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  40. ^ "Lulu Awards". Friends Of Lulu. March 8, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  41. ^ a b "2003 Ignatz Award Recipients". smallpressexpo.com. October 1, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  42. ^ "Editors' Choice". The New York Times. August 29, 2014. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  43. ^ "2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)". www.ala.org. December 21, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  44. ^ "2011 Notable Children's Books | Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)". www.ala.org. January 18, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  45. ^ "2010 Best for Teens: Smile, by Raina Telgemeier". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  46. ^ "2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)". www.ala.org. July 30, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  47. ^ Johanna (March 8, 2017). "Raina Telgemeier Is the Most Important Comic Creator of the Current Age". Comics Worth Reading. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  48. ^ "Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists". American Library Association. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  49. ^ Marks, Terrence (March 5, 2007). "HIS AND HER WEBCOMICS: DAVE ROMAN AND RAINA TELGEMEIER". Comix Talk. Raina: We got married in December of 2006, just a few months ago!
  50. ^ Hartlaub, Peter (October 23, 2016). "S.F. author Telgemeier relates to her growing young audience". San Francisco Chronicle.
  51. ^ Brenner, Robin E. "A GUIDE TO RAINA TELGEMEIER'S Sisters" (PDF). Scholastic. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  52. ^ Hart, James (February 24, 2005). "Superheroes get bizarre treatment". The Kansas City Star. p. G18.

External links[edit]

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