Telgemeier, Raina. Cartoonists Club, The. Raina Telgemeier, Illus. Addl. Creator Scott McCloud. Scholastic/Graphix, 04/2025. 261pp. Graphic. Trade $24.25. 978-1-33877-722-2. Paper $14.99. 978-1-3387-7721-5. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING.
Four middle schoolers meet at their school library and form a club to make comics and graphic novels in this clever story featuring racially diverse characters. Makayla (Black), Howard (biracial), Art (white), and Lynda (Latinx) are assisted by the librarian Ms. Fatima who wears a hijab. Each of the quirky students comes to the club with different issues, such as being overly ambitious, a shy perfectionist, or having an unapproving parent, making this very relatable. The authors are adept at weaving in information about making comics or how to draw, without it coming across overtly as a lesson; these instructional passages seem to organically result from the plot. The full-color paneled cartoon artwork looks like Telgemeier’s other middle school graphic novels including Drama (2012) and Smile (2010). This will inspire readers (and librarians) to start their own cartoonists clubs, using the book’s easy to replicate instructive passages. Back matter includes more information on drawing comics, a glossary, and a fun interview with the two authors.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool