Marcus Makes a Movie

Marcus #1

by Kevin Hart, David Cooper (Illustrator)

Marcus is NOT happy to be stuck in after-school film class . . . until he realizes he can turn the story of the cartoon superhero he's been drawing for years into an actual MOVIE! There's just one problem: he has no idea what he's doing. So he'll need help, from his friends, his teachers, Sierra, the strong-willed classmate with creative dreams of her own, even Tyrell, the local bully who'd be a perfect movie villain if he weren't too terrifying to talk to.

Making this movie won't be easy. But as Marcus discovers, nothing great ever is--and if you want your dream to come true, you've got to put in the hustle to make it happen.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Audiobook, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, African American

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Kevin Hart is an award-winning actor and comedian. His films, including Central Intelligence, Think Like a Man, Get Hard, Ride Along, The Wedding Ringer, and The Secret Life of Pets have earned over $3.5 billion at the box office. His stand-up comedy tours, including Let Me Explain, Laugh at My Pain, and What Now?, have sold out arenas and football stadiums, leading Forbes to name him the “king of comedy.” He is also the first comedian with a Nike sneaker line; a television producer, creating the BET show Real Husbands of Hollywood and the Laugh Out Loud Network; and CEO of Hartbeat Productions. Hart currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audio of this is fabulous. I loved Marcus and pals. Can’t wait to put it on my library shelf next fall. Won’t be there long!

[Samantha Kolber · Rating 5 out of 5]

HILARIOUS! First started listening to the audiobook on a road trip with my 19 year old and 5 year old and they both loved it! I finished on my own because I loved the story so much. The narration by Kevin Hart is just perfect and the story is so sweet, funny, and heartwarming. I highly recommend the audiobook. It’s available at LibroFM which supports independent bookstores.

[Kate Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed steps for making a movie written as a narrative. Great for kids/teens into film-making; maybe a little slow for those not so into it.

Audiobook felt like we were missing out on illustrations that were important to the storyline.

[Elizabeth Schwertfuehrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. I definitely feel Kevin Hart in this, and love how other big names are included with a slight but not unnoticeable name change. Also appreciate how emotions are handled and growth is seen when the work is put in. Feel like this would be a great bridge to kids who think they only like graphic novels and not fiction.

[Akintunde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is funny Kevin Hart motivating and encouraging children and teenagers to be the best they can be and never always listen to the 'NO' life throws at them.

Marcus makes a movie has all the signature Kevin Hart touch on it, you will know if you are a fan and if you aren't, you will enjoy the book as much as the young demography it targets. You will meet names like Taylor Berry, Spiderguy, MeTube, and Kevin Bart, amongst others- a myriad of famous characters and platforms with their names changed in the usual Kevin Hart comedic style.

Marcus is this young boy who is talented and sometimes annoying. He tries to make his comic drawings into a feature movie after joining an after-school film club. He meets beautiful Jazmin, cool Sierra, down to earth Darren and Trish, and a number of people that help bring his dream alive while also helping him learn to trust and believe in people.

I read this book with a mental narration of Kevin Hart in my head. I hear the audio book is beyond great as Kevin Hart got to do the reading himself.

There's a lesson or two for adults to learn here. The writing and narration were funny, uncomplicated, and easy to disgust. The illustration also lent a cool outlook to the reading.

I am sure children will enjoy reading this one, and adults who happen to pick it up won't be disappointed.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus Makes a Movie

I Picked Up This Book Because: it was written by Kevin Hart.

Media Type: eBook
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 8/14/21 - 9/6/21
Stars: 3 Stars

The Characters:

Marcus:

The Story:

This was very cute. The story line was great and I loved the humor. I loved that Marcus had flaws and I feel like he learned a lot during his time making his movie. I might have teared up a bit at the premiere.

The Random Thoughts:

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son chose this for us to read together each night because he thought it was cool Kevin Hart wrote a book for kids. It was a fun story and we both enjoyed it!

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to listen to! Kevin Hart narrated it perfectly.

Marcus must join an after-school club. He tries out a few and they just don't work for him. When he lands in the film-making group, he clashes at first, but soon makes friends with the other kids and sets out to make not one, but two great movies - one of which is based on his very own comic book.

I had a lot of fun listening to this one. Kevin Hart is just hilarious in general, and he really knew what he wanted his characters to sound like, how he wanted the humor to land, and it just worked so perfectly. That said, I'm sure this book would be hilarious in print too, especially for middle grade kids. Even if they know nothing about film-making, they will relate to wanting to do something so badly, wanting to create something for yourself. They'll also relate to the crushing feeling when it doesn't work out as you thought it would. When I was a kid, at least, I didn't think about how the finished product would appeal to others. It was mine and I wanted it to sound good to me. Marcus is the same. He loves his comic, just the way it is, but he soon realizes that with the help and feedback of others, it can be even better. It's still very much is creation and idea, but his friends and teachers help him expand upon his ideas and turn it into something so special.

Content warnings: loss of a parent to cancer (past, mentioned a few times)

[Amy-Jo Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's start with this... I'm a HUGE Kevin Hart fan. This book was everything I was hoping for it to be. Light, funny and wonderful.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to the audio read by.... of course... Kevin Hart. Man did I laugh. He is as funny on audio as he is in movies.

It's a short read, the audio is about 3 hours. The dialogue is short, fast, witty, and FUNNY. Marcus is a great character as well as the supporting cast. Lots of funny references that are situational funny if you are connecting the fact that this is KEVIN HART who is writing it. Lots of wink wink kind of funny about Hollywood references.

There are great messages about going for your dreams, what happens when you run into obstacles, supportive relationships, even tips on writing.

I am only an hour into the book but I know I will be buying it for the library and recommending it to students. I hope Kevin continues to write and particularly with Marcus.

[Marilyn Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story with heart. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kevin Hart, which of course adds a whole lot of comedy and personality. I appreciate that everything wasn't easy and how Marcus had to learn and grow throughout the novel. I can see this being really appealing to kids. Can't wait to share it with them in September!

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer : I received e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Marcus Makes a Movie was fun and entertaining middle grade illustrated novel that revolved around Marcus turning his superhero comic into a movie and all the roadblocks he had to overcome.

The story was about teamwork, friendship, film making, and not quitting on your dream.

There were 2 or 3 drawings per chapter, making it more illustrated than a graphic novel.

I liked diverse, realistic and relatable characters.

We see gradual development in Marcus and how he became better person at the end.

It was fun, amazing and really realistic to read how many problems Marcus encountered while making his film.

I loved the message of not quitting no matter how many roadblocks you have to encounter, how many people say ‘no you cannot do it’, and how to keep up with hard work, at the end not forgetting purpose of doing something you love and enjoy it no matter what result you get.

Overall, Marcus Makes a Movie was fun, refreshing, realistic and uplifting illustrated novel with interesting storyline and great message for kids.

If you love middle grade or children’s fiction, concept of film making and great message to learn, I definitely recommend this book.

Full review- https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...

[KrisTina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that I'm not this book's demographic but listening to this read by Kevin Hart was amazing. Greg and I laughed and laughed and the kids LOVED it too. I just don't want to forgot all of us listening to the big shoot in the hospital and learning all about why he was so adamant about the hospital scene and I just was crying. It just was so sweet. I think your kids will like reading this book - but if you want to read it - do the audio version for the Kevin Hart over the top inflection - just funny funny funny.

[Donna - The Bookish One · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely a fun book fast-paced book for middle grades. Kevin Hart makes you laugh.

[Rissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun book about how to make your dreams come true. Spoiler: commitment and hard work. Great for kids who want to do any big project.

[Cara Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bra-VO. Especially loved all the name drops like “Tevin Bart” and “Taylor Berry.”

[Oliver Hearne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to read the next book. I never knew an 11-year-old could be famous.😱

[Addy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to African-American parents everywhere because it features a full black cast, is culturally African-American, and is light-hearted with no mentions of social justice or racism. Just a good old fashion story.

The characters speak in African-American Vernacular English and the humor is distinctly black-American making the book culturally African-American. I will say, I thought the book was very funny, which is surprising because I don't find Kevin Hart to be funny. I couldn't muster up a chuckle to his standup if I tried, but this book definitely made me laugh out loud, epically the ending.

The book does make reference to Christianity (there's a mention of church, heaven, and prayer), but it's not disrespectful. It would be a great way to re-enforce Christianity in black middle grade children.

My only negative thought was main character antics could sometimes be a little much. He sounds insecure, but he is a growing boy, so maybe that's why he can sound a little extra. Maybe the book was a little long winded with it's movie making descriptions, but that's about it.

All in all, I would recommend this to African-American parents because it's culturally African-American with it's vernacular, humor, and light mention of Christianity. It's contemporary setting, humor, culturally relevant themes is perfect for reluctant child reader.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid! Stellar illustrations, an all (or at least all depicted) Black cast of characters, and really good character growth, with lots of practical lessons (that don’t feel preachy) about working together, putting in hard work if you want to make something awesome, understanding give and take and that relationships can’t (or at least, here, they can’t) function if you’re always the taker or giver, and even the art of making a movie people will care about. Main character Marcus is almost too obnoxious to take for a little while there, but then he gets it; he grows steadily as a person throughout the book. It was good to see a successful single father and son family unit—I’m hard-pressed to think of another in middlegrade realistic fiction (Marcus lost his mom to cancer in the time before the book starts). The cover and illustrations throughout will appeal to reluctant (as well as other) readers—I think it will be a successful handseller (“sales” in my case means library kids will check it out, not dismiss at a glance). I’m not saying “Rush out—you must read this!” but I am saying, yeah, this is good.

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Hart for the win with this book!
Marcus is sure he is the greatest movie maker of all time when he realizes his comics can turn into a movie. Well, he has a lot to learn and discovers that making a movie is WAY harder than he thought.
I like this book for the relationships developed, the challenges and trials Marcus overcomes, but also that the reader gets to see that nothing comes easy and everything takes work and lots of it.
This book does a great job of covering processes of movie making, writing, designing and so much more. This book will bee incredibly valuable for classrooms!

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose this book: I chose this book because it's on my library's list for Battle of the Books. I was also curious about it because of the author!

Brief summary: Marcus is a kid with anger management issues, but he has to learn to cope as he gets involved in an after-school group to make a movie. He learns that he will have to work with a team of people because making a movie is a lot of work and takes a lot of different skills. Will Marcus learn to manage himself and work on a team in order to finish his movie?

What I didn't like about this book: I didn't like the ending because Marcus's movie ends up getting shared, by a celebrity, online. I just didn't really like the message that this might give to kids because prior to his movie blowing up on the internet, he'd had a viewing party with friends and people in his community, and they all were happy and proud for him and they had fun, and I thought that ending had a better message to a kid, which is that you don't have to go viral to feel successful.

What I like about this book: I listened to the audiobook version of this, which Kevin Hart himself reads, and it adds a lot to the humor of the story. I like that this book is both funny and serious at the same time, just like Marcus struggles to accomplish with his movie - that balance of seriousness and humor. Marcus has real-life challenges, like the grief of his dead mother and the anger he has to manage, but he works through these issues with a supportive dad and his friends. I also like that the book highlights the challenges of making a creative work and how it requires so much time and effort. Especially with the amount of children saying they want to be YouTubers when they grow up, I think it's refreshing for a book to feature a YouTube-like site (the book calls it MeToo) but show how much work it is to film and edit and post, as well as how much work, but also luck, goes into going viral.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus Makes a Movie is a novel about just that. Middle-schooler Marcus Jenkins is a kid who just wants to be left alone so he can make comics about Toothpick, a superhero of his creation. When he’s forced into a filmmaking class as part of his afterschool program, Marcus realizes that he actually has the perfect opportunity to turn his beloved comic book character into a real film! There’s just one thing though: Marcus has no idea exactly how to make a film, nor does he realize just how much work goes into the filmmaking process from start to finish. Encountering one new obstacle after another, Marcus faces myriad challenges as he works to create his magnum opus (so far), Toothpick Fights the Doom!, but he also has a new cast of friends to help him realize his dreams.

This novel is full of author Kevin Hart’s style of witty humor, excellent characterization, and excellent illustrations from David Cooper. These things working in combination together make for a real page-turner of a story; you can’t help but keep reading as you travel with Marcus along his filmmaking journey. This novel also serves as a great book for a young reader who’s interested in the film industry and wants an accessible explanation of the core aspects of the filmmaking process, from outlining to editing and everything in-between. Marcus Makes a Movie also lets readers in on some of the realities of the filmmaking and screenwriting processes; there will almost always be rewrites of the script you thought was pure genius the first time, and something will inevitably go wrong during the actual filming of the script. This novel reminds readers that these things are okay, and what’s important is to push forward, remain adaptable, and never forget why you started making your movie in the first place.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

MARCUS MAKES A MOVIE by Kevin Hart, with the collaboration of author Geoff Rodkey and illustrator David Cooper, is an inspiring and humorous middle-grade novel. It follows Marcus, a determined young boy striving to turn his cartoon superhero into a blockbuster movie. Kevin Hart's comedic brilliance shines through, making the story engaging and relatable. This narrative beautifully captures the essence of creative ambition, the journey of pursuing one's passions, and the significance of teamwork and resilience. The book encourages young readers to follow their dreams and persist, even when faced with challenges. Hart's humor and Cooper's illustrations create an enjoyable experience for middle-grade audiences. MARCUS MAKES A MOVIE is an inspiring tale of creative aspiration and determination.

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[Matthew Meade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so much better than it has any business being. The only reason I read it is my kid likes Jumanji so he wanted to read this book together. I figured it would be some easy cash grab using Kevin Hart’s name to appeal to kids. I figured the best case scenario was that the book would be shallow and fun and harmless. I was surprised to find that it’s an actual book. I am not sure how much Kevin Hart had to do with the final product ( established YA author Geoff Rodkey is credited in the book) but this book is really well done.

First of all, the prose is sturdy, effective, and accessible without condescending to the reader. The story is simple and relatable to kids, with a group of middle schoolers trying to make a movie together. The real triumph, however, is the characters. They are fun, interesting, and emotionally complex. They are all deeply flawed with some being violent, some being petty, and others cruel , while some are all three. Somehow, though, the book makes you forgive / understand/ and root for all the characters through all of their squabbles and disagreements.

The book is about imaginative and creative kids learning to work together to make something they can be proud of. It portrays this in a realistic way. It never makes excuses for the bad behavior of its characters, especially the protagonist, but it also never stops giving them chances to atone, to achieve, to win. I wish more books, YA and otherwise, would treat its characters and its readers with this level of respect. It’s really refreshing.

[Kamrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kevin Hart's debut middle-grade book, Marcus Makes a Movie, is exactly what you would expect from a Kevin Hart book. First, you could basically read the entire book in Hart's voice in your head. If you're familiar with his stand up, then you are familiar with the cadence in which he tells jokes and stories. This book is no different. I loved that it shows kids the ins and outs of filmmaking, and it definitely has relatable messages for kids like on teamwork (even with people you don't think you like). The slang and made up websites like MeTube are relatable for young kids. I really think there is a lot of appeal for this book with students. It already has a big buy in just because of the author, but you throw in a diverse cast, good plot line, and character development? Gold. Hart is always a good storyteller, and this was no different! Definitely putting this in my classroom library!

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so clear that a talented comedian wrote this book because you are constantly laughing as you read it. Marcus is like many students I know. He has a hard time focusing and sitting still as well as a lack of engagement and interest in the school lessons. Once you can get his brain focused on something he's interested in, there's no stopping him. I think some of my students feel sometimes that they are not good students because they have some of these issues. When I can find something that interests them and they learn how great they are, I know I have fulfilled my mission as a teacher. I will definitely recommend this book to students as a great read to see that we all have great potential and to just have a really enjoyable read!

[Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid read! My little brother begged me to read this to him, as he loves Kevin hart. It’s a nicely paced book with great art and humor. It’s features a primarily black cast, which my little brother also enjoyed seeing characters that look and sound just like him.

As an adult I really enjoyed how the format of making a movie and attaining goals is so clear. Great themes for children to latch onto as well as a dynamic atmosphere. It’s a good read for elementary to middle grades! I personally restarted this book with the audio, which is really where it shines. Highly recommend you hear the audio book if you’re a Kevin hart fan!

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus has to do after-school programs because his dad has to work. This season, he has no choice but to take a film-making class after school. He's not excited about it.
Then, he gets the idea to make a movie out of the superhero comics he writes and draws. Now he just has to figure out how to convert a comic into a movie!

I found this really fun. It's clearly written by someone who knows the struggles and joys of making movies. Loved the distinctive characters and middle-school-developmentally-appropriate challenges!

Took this out to local elementary schools in May/June 2024.

[JL Salty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for Libro.fm for the ALC audiobook.

rating: g+ a little attitude, lots of emotions, no profanity, bullying mentioned, not described.
recommend: 5-7th grade; cc: mother died of cancer

Marcus: small, picked-on, comic book creator has a dream: to publish his super-hero who is DEFINITELY no himself: Toothpick. Instead, he makes a movie.
Good lessons: learning to like people you never thought you could, learning something new, being able to accept criticism / editing, chasing a dream.

Laughed out loud a couple of times, and was encouraged to know that Mr. Hart can tell clean jokes.

[Ay Dree · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was funny. I literally read it in his voice! Lol. Loved the personalities of the characters and the vibe of the story.

The book was upbeat and full of life. I loved the realistic aspects provided by the middle school kids and how he brought it to life. The illustrations were cool too.

I appreciated the simple knowledge given to readers who were completely unfamiliar with the how-it’s of creating a screenplay.

The storyline will be interesting to kids who are interested in writing their own movie and/or interested in comics.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny first person narration about Marcus, middle schooler, who joins the video club because nothing else was open. He loves to draw comic strips and has created a hero named Toothpick. Once he commits to making this movie, he is all in. We hear about the revisions, the friends who show up late to filming, and how he ends up befriending the only person who actually can help him.
Many students will relate to Marcus. He is funny, sincere, and although often in trouble at school, basically a good kid. Themes are friendship, cooperation, and not giving up on your dreams.