Zebrafish

May 3, 2010
This slow-paced and melancholic graphic novel for children opens to kids goofing around with musical video games and ends with them actually making a difference with music. This is in part thanks to Vita, a girl who dyes her hair and wants to have a rock group named Zebrafish, thus explaining the name. One member of the group is a girl who announces she has leukemia, a proclamation that spins Vita's thoughts to dark and sad places. Rather than take the news lying down, Vita wants to see if her music can raise awareness and funds for a children's research hospital. Surprisingly, it takes a while for this part of the story to come in, but once it does, it's quite powerful. The rest of the book is taken up by the usual hijinks and fun of keeping the band together. The sketchy art has the stylized look of a cable cartoon, which is fitting since the characters are also being adapted as a Web cartoon. The lack of backgrounds and details keep the focus squarely on the characters and their motivations. Ages 1014. "(May)" .

May 1, 2010
Gr 5-9-Vita is having a hard time making friends and meeting people at her new school until the day she holds auditions for her rock band Zebrafish. While she has big hopes and dreams for the group, she's disappointed with the kids' musical talents. However, she finds skills and abilities in these new bandmates, and they all work together to create a music video. As the band plans and strategizes, Vita can't help but be disappointed that one member continually misses meetings. Then she learns that Tanya has leukemia, and Zebrafish holds a fundraising concert to help the hospital get the medical equipment it needs. Illustrations vary greatly in size and color; some are full page, some are full spreads, and others appear in panels. All are uncluttered and easy to follow. Clear and sharply inked, the color art makes a fine contrast between light and dark scenes and creates balance and tone throughout. This book will speak to children about fighting for a cure/treatment for cancer and shows the value of involvement in this important issue."Janet Weber, Tigard Public Library, OR"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2010
Grades 5-8 Several friends, led by the purple-haired Vita, try to figure out how to make their band work despite the fact that no one knows how to play anything. But when Vita, whose older brother is a cancer researcher, learns that band-member Tanya has leukemia, she begins to wonder how their upcoming performance might be put to a greater good. Emersons graphic novel (developed with Peter Reynolds FableVision media company) succeeds on several levels: the characters are credibly diverse in personality and appearance, and their individual stories are carefully twisted into a full and complex story arc. Additionally, information about leukemias physical toll on a young patient and research methods to combat it are integrated cleanly and without didacticism. Full-color panels vary in size and shape, with scenes moving from the stage to a soda shop to the back corridors of the hospital. Gentler and for a younger crowd than Judd Winicks Pedro and Me (2000), this bouncy cartoon story nonetheless mines equally serious territory, and stands a good chance of finding wide popularity to boot.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)