Guts Raina Telgemeier – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Guts Raina Telgemeier

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

86%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Raina Telgemeier's honest graphic memoir about anxiety, stomach troubles, and learning to face your fears—therapy included.

Guts Raina Telgemeier

book

2019

86%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Raina Telgemeier's honest graphic memoir about anxiety, stomach troubles, and learning to face your fears—therapy included.

4.8

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4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the book anxious kids need—and the one their parents wish existed when they were growing up.

Telgemeier doesn't sugarcoat anxiety. She shows the panic, the physical symptoms, the way fear can take over your life. But she also shows the path forward: therapy, support, patience, and the slow work of facing what scares you. It's honest, compassionate, and incredibly validating for kids who feel like they're the only ones struggling.

The graphic novel format makes it approachable even when the content is heavy. Kids who might resist a traditional book about feelings will devour this one. And parents report it opens up conversations they didn't know how to start.

The one caveat: this book depicts vomiting and intense fear around getting sick. For some kids, that's exactly what they need to feel less alone. For others, it might be too much. Know your kid. But for the right reader at the right time, Guts is genuinely life-changing.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-13, particularly kids dealing with anxiety, school stress, or friendship drama. The graphic novel format and fifth-grade setting make it accessible for younger readers, but the mental health themes require some emotional readiness. Teens may still find it validating, especially if they struggled with anxiety as kids.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Telgemeier's autobiographical story models vulnerability, emotional honesty, and seeking help for mental health struggles. The narrative shows healthy family support, therapy as a positive tool, and working through anxiety without sugar-coating the difficulty. The tone is age-appropriate, compassionate, and reassuring for kids dealing with similar fears about food, school, and changing friendships.

Imaginative

While this is memoir rather than fantasy, Telgemeier's expressive graphic novel format uses visual storytelling creatively—depicting anxiety as physical sensations and internal experiences through color, panel composition, and character design. The format invites readers to see how feelings can be expressed visually. However, it's grounded in realistic school/family life rather than world-building or open-ended creative play.

Safe

The book directly addresses anxiety, panic, emetophobia (fear of vomiting), and stomach issues—topics that could be triggering for some kids dealing with similar struggles. There are depictions of characters throwing up and Raina's intense worry about getting sick. However, these are handled sensitively within a therapeutic framework, and parent reviews consistently note it helps kids feel less alone. No violence, inappropriate content, or other safety red flags. The lower score reflects that this content requires some readiness from the reader.

Enriching

Exceptional mental health representation for middle-grade readers. The book normalizes therapy, shows concrete coping strategies for anxiety, and validates the physical manifestations of stress. It builds empathy for kids struggling with invisible challenges and provides language for discussing fear and worry. Parent and kid reviews consistently highlight how it helps children feel understood and less isolated. The 4.8 Amazon rating and widespread acclaim from both parents and young readers confirm its impact.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Normalizes therapy and mental health struggles in a way that makes anxious kids feel seen and less alone
Shows concrete coping strategies and the reality that getting better takes time and work
Telgemeier's accessible graphic novel format makes heavy topics digestible for middle-grade readers
Addresses the mind-body connection—how worry manifests physically—in age-appropriate terms
Parent and kid reviews consistently praise it as a conversation-starter and comfort read for anxious children

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What to Watch For

Multiple scenes depicting vomiting and intense fear of getting sick—may be triggering for kids with similar anxieties or emetophobia
The subject matter is heavy; best for kids who are ready to engage with mental health topics or who are dealing with similar struggles
Some kids may need support processing the content, especially if they relate strongly to Raina's experiences

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever felt worried about something and it made your stomach hurt? What was that like?"
"Raina goes to a therapist to help with her fears. What do you think about talking to someone when you're struggling?"
"How do you think Raina's friends could have been more supportive when she was having a hard time?"
"What are some things that help you feel better when you're anxious or scared?"

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