Guts: A Graphic Novel

Because Guts is a true story, readers may deduce that the events Telgemeier records happened in the San Francisco Bay area in 1986-1987. As a nine and then 10-year-old in this locale, much of Raina’s experience is predictable. The young Telgemeier family lives in a cramped two-bedroom apartment that must subdivide internally to make room for Raina’s growth and the temporary addition of a grandmother. Much of the story is characteristic of that geographical location and period: Raina’s classmates and friends represent a variety of races and nationalities; her mother drives a blue and white VW microbus; her dad wears an Oakland T-shirt; and the students daily eat their lunches outside on the playground.

Readers may also determine that the environment the author describes is authentic in depicting children who are older elementary students, verging on middle school. In moments of crisis, as when Raina wakes up sick at the beginning of the narrative, children this age still flee to their parents for support and insight. This is also the time in a child’s life, however, when the opinions of playmates become more important than those of parents or other adults. True to form, Raina does not want her mother to tell her teacher too many details about her intestinal problems, fearing her fellow students will think she is a “poopy diaper baby.