by Kevin Hart
First published 2021
Marcus gets assigned to after-school film class and feels miserable about it. Then he realizes he can transform his cartoon superhero into an actual movie. The problem is he knows nothing about filmmaking. He recruits his friends and teachers to help. Sierra, a creative classmate with her own artistic ambitions, joins the project. Marcus even considers approaching Tyrell, the school bully who would make a perfect villain, though Tyrell intimidates him too much to ask directly. The movie production faces constant obstacles and setbacks. Marcus learns that achieving big dreams requires serious effort and persistence. He discovers that creative projects demand collaboration and that asking for help takes courage. As problems mount during filming, Marcus must decide whether to abandon his vision or push through the difficulties to bring his superhero story to life.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Audio CD · Listening Library