FACING FEELINGS

A deep dive into the life of an award-winning cartoonist.

Drawing inspiration from an exhibit at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, the work opens with a note from the exhibit curator, Anne Drozd, a foreword from the museum’s head curator, Jenny E. Robb, and an introduction by comics veteran Scott McCloud. This volume examines the life of the bestselling fan favorite author of middle-grade graphic novels, including Smile (2010) and Guts (2019). The first section, “A Conversation With Raina,” features a transcript of an in-depth interview between Telgemeier and Drozd. Drozd’s questions are thoughtful and perceptive, and Telgemeier’s answers are upbeat and inspiring, but oddly placed illustrations disrupt the flow. The next section, “Growing Up,” revisits much of the same content. Although the illustrations buoy this segment, readers may be frustrated by the repetition. “Facing Feelings” explores Telgemeier’s keen eye for capturing expressions, breaking down the steps with examples from her beloved books. The final section, “Books Behind the Scenes,” offers analysis of and personal backstory for her oeuvre, bolstered by intriguing and comprehensive details (Telgemeier includes her actual dental records in her recounting of Smile’s history). Overall, the sections don’t fully coalesce, but they do provide edifying insights. This book may be of interest to older readers who grew up with Telgemeier’s work and are looking to begin their own artistic careers.

A bit uneven, but die-hard fans will find much to enjoy.