Art Club
by Rashad Doucet (Author)
Inspired by the author's own childhood, this contemporary graphic novel paints a picture of an aspiring young artist on a mission to prove that the arts are worth fighting for.
Dale Donavan has heard the same lecture over and over again: Art will get you nowhere in life. A kid with a creative streak, Dale wants nothing more than to doodle, play video games, and create comics forever--maybe even as a full-time job one day. But between his grandfather pushing him to focus on his studies and a school with zero interest in funding arts programs, Dale feels like his future has already been decided for him.
That is, until he comes up with the perfect plan: What if he starts an after-school art club, gathers a team of creative students like himself, and proves all the naysayers--his stubborn vice principal in particular--wrong? This might just work, but if the club isn't financially successful by the end of the semester, the school with shut them down. This may be Dale's only chance to show the adults in his life that a career as an artist is not just a dream but a possibility!
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Publishers Weekly
Vice principal Reginald Ruffins tasks Dale's middle school class with a career report: "Specifically, what financially stable job that provides for you and your family are you going to choose?" Dale's earnest presentation about creating comics gets him sent to the principal's office where, surprisingly for Dale, he's granted approval to establish an art club and is entrusted with the mission to raise funds for club supplies. Dale recruits environmental sculptor Kya, game designer Mackenzie, and basketballer-turned-painter Aren; together, the youths, each depicted with varying skin tones, elevate one another's strengths to reach their fundraising goal. All the while, Dale works to develop his comic project Mega Mage, following advice from art club sponsor Miss Je'Nae to "use the comics and games you love to make Mega Mage more unique and original." Cozy, kinetically enriched artwork by Doucet (the Pax Samson series) evokes classic manga, particularly in Dale's Astro Boy-inspired hairstyle, as well as in the kids' creations. Utilizing adeptly detailed comics and video game-making know-how, Doucet takes cues from popular creative media to tell a unique and original story of an aspirational tween determined to showcase the importance and viability of artistic pursuits. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jas Perry, KT Literary. (Feb.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Kirkus
Review quotes
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
Art
Graphic novels
Study and teaching
Cartoons and comics
After-school programs
