Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Guts

Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

sulleyread's review

funny inspiring fast-paced

4.25

This book was good and it is a good book to help kids who have engsity and also it helps girls who might get bullied or teased.

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adamderb's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny fast-paced

4.0

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hgracieeees's review

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.25

An inspiring, true story about a girl dealing with anxiety and emetophobia. Something I deal with too! Great to hear these stories being told all around.

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anna_wa's review

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emotional informative reflective tense

4.75

When I first read the summary for this book, I thought for sure it would be about Raina Telgemeier getting her very first period while Mrs. Telgemeier went through menopause (both of which could feel like or look like "stomachaches"). But I was completely wrong.

It starts off with an actual stomach flu bug that both Raina Telgemeier and Mrs. Telegemeier get (along with the rest of their family). But while everybody else's stomach flu goes away, the author's doesn't. Or, rather, she's got something that feels like a stomach ache that nobody else in her family seems to have.

This book is about Raina Telgemeier's experience with anxiety, panic attacks, and IBS. About feeling like she can't control her fears and spiraling through anxiety. And about getting a therapist and, for a while, being afraid she's the only person her age with a therapist (she isn't).

I am glad a book like this exists for the middle grade age group. There are so many young kids out there going through anxiety spirals who think they're alone, but they aren't. I hope to give this book to a few in my life.

And, yes, I'm glad a book about IBS exists too. Because that probably makes a lot of kids *also* feel alone and weird (since bathroom jokes are always seen as The Peak Of Comedy during this age).

Definitely my favorite book of the Smile series!

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ninahuynh's review against another edition

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emotional funny tense medium-paced

4.5

Raina really went in and illustrated how her fear of vomit and anything surrounding said topic made her feel and the struggles she went through as she dealt with it on her own and eventually through therapy. I like how therapy was introduced to her early and hopefully young people who may relate to her anxiety and struggles would feel less alone and singled-out when seeking help.

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sallytiffany's review

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I related to this so much. The stomach problems are so true to what I had all growing up. And I feel the pain of indigestion problems to this day. I loved how they normalized therapy. Absolutely wonderfully done.

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yoursparrow's review

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funny hopeful fast-paced

4.0

A great Elementary/Middle School graphic novel about anxiety and food issues.

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

Title: Guts
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Series: Smile #3
Genre: Graphic Novel
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 17, 2019

T H R E E • W O R D S

Thoughtful • Effective • Helpful

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When Raina wakes up one night with an upset stomach, they assume it's just a bug, as her mother also as one. What ensues is an aversion to food and throwing up. After few days, Raina returns to school where she must endure the highs and lows of growing up - changing friends, tests, etc. It soon becomes clear that her tummy trouble isn't going away, and so her mother takes her to the doctor in order to figure what is going on.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Guts is the third book in the Smile series from celebrated graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier. Of the three, I would definitely say this is the most important of the bunch. It centers around Raina's struggle with anxiety, phobia, panic attacks, and sensitive stomach. But it doesn't stop there, it combines how these things can interact with food, hormones, puberty, and mean people, etc. It also shines a light on therapy and the power of talking about our thoughts and feelings. There needs to be more books out there that help remove the stigma surrounding therapy, and to which kids can relate to. I know I'd have certainly benefited from a book like this back when I was in school.

My one issue is that I felt as though it could have used more explanation. It wasn't until the author's note that I really grasped what Raina was going through. In fact for much of the book I assumed it to be about puberty, menstruation, and menstrual cramps. I'd have preferred a clearly picture.

The illustrations continue to be a highlight. They are of real kids going through relatable struggles which is what makes these books so valuable.

Written and targeted as a series of books for kids, I definitely think the entire series (particularly Guts) opens up dialogue between kids and adults to talk openly about mental health struggles. I'd highly recommend this book to any child dealing with anxiety and panic, as well as to educators and parents of these children.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers of all ages
• middle grades students
• educators

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Thoughts can exist... feelings can exist... but words do not always exist."

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