Guts Graphic Novel Review written by the Hobbit on February 20th, 2022. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Read
Book: Guts
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Autobiography
Length: 215
Age suggested: 9+
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Warnings: No triggers
Quick Guts Summary
Our main character, Raina, is in 4th grade when the book begins and it carries us through her 5th grade year. As the book begins Raina wakes up one night with a stomach bug. Over the next weeks, we see her dealing with the usual stress and problems of 4th grade, but it also becomes apparent her stomach troubles are not going away. This adds another layer of anxiety and stress to what is already a stressful time for her.
Guts Graphic Novel Review (Contains Spoilers)
The Publishers Weekly review says, “The story both normalizes therapy and shows a child developing useful coping mechanisms for anxiety in a way that will reassure, even inspire, readers.” Guts is a largely autobiographical look at the author’s 4th and 5th grade years, and her struggles with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and panic attacks. Therapy is the way she learns to deal with her anxiety. The books covers many of the stresses that kids of this age face – the quirks of family life, friends, being picked on by other kids, grades, etc.
There are no villains here – Raina’s family is very supportive, she has a good friend, and she and the girl who picks on her become friends by the end. The villain is, so to speak, fear. Raina learns that there are things we cannot control, but that we can learn to control some of our reactions to fear. Kids will definitely relate.
–Why Read Guts-
The Epigraph to Guts reads “For anyone who is afraid.” Anxiety and stress were common in kids when the book was published, after the past year and half most kids are feeling extreme levels of anxiety and stress – almost every kid is afraid at some level. As the afterwards makes clear, the author has dealt frankly with her anxiety and panic attacks connected to her IBS, and reading this is a great way to help kids with these issues, and open up communication. The book also gives a couple of techniques to handle anxiety. I read this in one sitting and highly recommend it. We can all use more understanding of mental health, especially in children.
-Guts Awards-
#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 New York Times Bestseller
New York Times Best Comic of 2019
New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2019
NPR Best Book/Book Concierge
TIME Best Book of the Year
Amazon Top 20 Children’s Book of 2019
Today.com Best Kids’ Book of 2019
Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Graphic Novel of the Year
Guts Graphic Novel Quotes
“Thoughts can exist… feelings can exist… but words do not always exist.”
“We all go through changes and times of reflection.”
“Treat others as you wish to be treated”
Guts Graphic Novel Quotes
Guts Graphic Novel Discussion Questions:
Themes to Discuss: Friendship, family, food, fear, anxiety, therapy
For Kids –
- Have you ever felt like Faina did? What problems were you going through?
- Do you have any friend in therapy? How can you support them?
For Parents –
- What did you learn about mental health in children?
- How can you be more supportive of your child in facing some of the issues the book highlights (not just mental health, but friends, grades, etc., and how they affect children)?
Thanks for reading our Guts Graphic Novel Review. Before you go, check out these other posts
–New Kid and Class Act by Jerry Craft
–Unicorn Rescue Society Review
Down The Hobbit Hole Blog and this Guts Graphic Novel Review use affiliate links. We only link products we think you’ll like and you are never charged extra for them. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. We also use cookies to gather analytics and present advertisements. This allows us to keep writing discussion questions and telling ridiculous dad jokes. Find our other reviews with discussion questions here. Our posts about faith here. And our posts about family stuff here.