Today Marshmallow reviews The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud, first published in 2025.
Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like cartoons, art, or graphic novels, then this is the book for you!
Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Makayla’s mind is always overflowing with new ideas for stories but Howard is the one who keeps passing her doodles during math class. One day, after they finally get caught by their algebra teacher, they decide to make their own comic book. When they meet up at their middle school’s library after school, Makayla reveals her master plan: they are going to form a club for the other students in their school who want to be cartoonists too. With the help of the kind librarian, they print out their posters and wait for the next day to see if anyone shows up.
Luckily, someone does! Art is an agender artist who loves “making mistakes” and can’t wait to make them in another new forum. The three of them become friends quickly and can’t wait to start making comic books. Unfortunately, they are extremely puzzled and ask the librarian what the “right” way to proceed is. To their surprise, she informs them that there is no right way at all. Through this newfound freedom, they proceed to produce numerous silly but fun short comics.
They also are able to welcome in a new member: Lynda. She’d been in the library since day one, drawing quietly in a corner, but had been too nervous to show anyone her art. Since she focused so heavily on the mistakes she made, she was too scared to show any part of her art at all.
As the story progresses, each of the characters’ artistic struggles are revealed and remediated through a group effort. The Cartoonists Club is a heartwarming, inspiring story perfect for any and all young artists interested in drawing. It is the ideal guide for young bunnies looking to find and create communities much like the one in this book!
Marshmallow’s Review: I think The Cartoonists Club is a very cute book! The characters’ interest in comics and their making is a bit infectious in fact. I’ve always appreciated graphic novels and the like, but reading The Cartoonists Club has made me appreciate how much of an art they really are.
I really liked how different aspects of the art were highlighted in different chapters. In almost every section, the librarian or one of the club members teaches the club and the reader about how to perfect another aspect of cartoons. I especially liked the section that talked about the magic of the blank page. It was simple yet inspiring in a way that recalls the childlike awe too many of us lose as we grow older.
I think The Cartoonists Club is a perfect book for all young bunnies who love drawing or reading or learning! And while it might at first seem too childish for those older than twelve, I think there is still a lot of value in reading it. As a bunny who is no longer in middle school, reading The Cartoonists Club was still very inspiring and made me remember how important art is to me and to us as bunnies / humans. It is a relatively easy book to read and you can read it pretty quickly. But just because it is short and sweet doesn’t mean that its story isn’t significant; sometimes remembering that ‘childish’ sense of imagination is just what you need to recall that same passion and joyful outlook on life!
Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.
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