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On Sale: Feb 6, 2024
Page Count: 240 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
ISBN-13: 9780759556393

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!

Genre:

*"This heartwarming, adorable, and highly informative narrative is perfectly tailored for middle-grade readers who are figuring out how to stand up for themselves...The story imparts valuable life lessons about staying true to what's important, resisting the pressure to choose a career path too soon, and the beauty of adult support for dreams."
Booklist, starred review
“This story is filled with different kinds of tension that will keep readers hooked: rocky friendships, family problems, artists trying to prove themselves, and the struggle between creativity and financial security.”
School Library Journal, starred review
"An engaging and satisfying depiction of a real-life issue that affects many artistic students."
Kirkus Reviews
"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."
Publishers Weekly