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Zebrafish
Vita is a purple-haired singing queen, and she has big dreams for her rock group, Zebrafish. But when she holds auditions for the back-up band, tryouts are sorely lacking in the musical ability department. Luckily her new bandmates—Walt, Tanya, Jay, and Plinko—have other talents. But lately Tanya has been missing a lot of rehearsals. When Vita discovers why, she realizes that the group can be about much more than one person, one band, or even one school. A concert won’t cure Tanya’s cancer or make her treatments any less painful, but, in their own way, Zebrafish can make a difference—and the tale of their unlikely success is sure to strike a chord with young readers looking to make their world a better place.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2010
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315 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
July 24, 2016
3.5 stars! This was a cute middle grade. It has a great message. The only thing is that it was a bit all over the place.
Vita is a teen? Maybe a Freshman, I can't tell and she is going to a new school. She lives with her older brother who is a Doctor at a local hospital doing research on the Zebrafish. The fish that Dr. Pablo (Vita's brother) is studying are mutants and they do not go from clear-see through fish to opaque fish when they grow up, so Pablo is able to study the way they make blood in hopes of figuring out a cure for Leukemia.
Vita meets Jay, Plinko, Tanya and her brother Walt. Vita decides she wants to start a band and all of her friends join. She is going to give a show to her school in order to raise money to help buy a PCR machine for her brother so he is better able to study the Zebrafish.
That is basically the book in a nut shell. The kids also have their daily lives that are still going on, so the book talks about that stuff too.
It was okay. I liked the illustrations and I liked the end message of the book. Even one person can change something and that you don't have to wait for others to do things for you. Get out there and do it yourself.
Vita is a teen? Maybe a Freshman, I can't tell and she is going to a new school. She lives with her older brother who is a Doctor at a local hospital doing research on the Zebrafish. The fish that Dr. Pablo (Vita's brother) is studying are mutants and they do not go from clear-see through fish to opaque fish when they grow up, so Pablo is able to study the way they make blood in hopes of figuring out a cure for Leukemia.
Vita meets Jay, Plinko, Tanya and her brother Walt. Vita decides she wants to start a band and all of her friends join. She is going to give a show to her school in order to raise money to help buy a PCR machine for her brother so he is better able to study the Zebrafish.
That is basically the book in a nut shell. The kids also have their daily lives that are still going on, so the book talks about that stuff too.
It was okay. I liked the illustrations and I liked the end message of the book. Even one person can change something and that you don't have to wait for others to do things for you. Get out there and do it yourself.
December 28, 2019
I like the idea of a group of people coming together for some reason, and they wouldn't otherwise be drawn together. That's good. And I like that the thing that brings them together is a band. But that points out the rather glaring lack of music in the story. And while the message is a good one (do something, change things, make the world better) the message is more prominent than characterization or anything else. So, good and bad.
Library copy
Library copy
May 14, 2015
I loved this book it was so mean because they saw a dark house and they wanted to go inside but they didn't know if it was scary so one of the boys sended his little sister to go inside a dark house and she screamed because their was a lot of scary things and then the boy and his friends went inside to get the boys sister and then they got scared because they saw scary things.
June 26, 2018
A light, but endearing concept that adds charming illustrations and fun dialogue. Perfect read for those who love any comics by Raina Telgemeier.
May 3, 2019
Cute book about starting a band and dealing with friends who are sick. I thought this one pretty good if really short.
September 16, 2019
It Was a little to short.
September 12, 2019
I love how diffint people with diffant personlys join in a band
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2015
Title: Zebrafish
Intermediate
Briefly evaluate the use of text and images for each book. Describe a possible application and audience for each book.
I love Zebrafish! The illustrations will appeal to the 10-15 year old students this book is geared towards. The text is laid out in speech bubbles, but some times the bubbles are missing and the text is simply floating on the page. This might be confusing to some readers. I let my 9-year-old daughter read it and she simply said “I had to read a little slower than I normally do, so I could get everything, but it wasn’t too hard.” (and she still finished the book during her brother’s 30 minute drum lesson.) She was able to tell me which character was which (something I thought might be confusing because both female characters are depicted with purple hair), and an accurate synopsis of the story. I would use Zebrafish to illustrate to students how they can make a difference in the lives of others and the world even if they think their “small” contribution won’t matter. These students banded together for a cause, never gave up, and made it work. It could also be used to show tolerance, compassion, and acceptance of someone that has an illness or disability. The girl with leukemia doesn’t look sick in the pictures, which would lead to great discussion about not judging others because you never know what is going on that you can’t see.
Share positive attributes OR cautions/concerns for educators to be aware of for each book.
Leukemia is a focus in this book, which may be upsetting to some students/families. It is presented in a non-threatening, non-scary way and I feel the message is too great to pass up because of it.
Intermediate
Briefly evaluate the use of text and images for each book. Describe a possible application and audience for each book.
I love Zebrafish! The illustrations will appeal to the 10-15 year old students this book is geared towards. The text is laid out in speech bubbles, but some times the bubbles are missing and the text is simply floating on the page. This might be confusing to some readers. I let my 9-year-old daughter read it and she simply said “I had to read a little slower than I normally do, so I could get everything, but it wasn’t too hard.” (and she still finished the book during her brother’s 30 minute drum lesson.) She was able to tell me which character was which (something I thought might be confusing because both female characters are depicted with purple hair), and an accurate synopsis of the story. I would use Zebrafish to illustrate to students how they can make a difference in the lives of others and the world even if they think their “small” contribution won’t matter. These students banded together for a cause, never gave up, and made it work. It could also be used to show tolerance, compassion, and acceptance of someone that has an illness or disability. The girl with leukemia doesn’t look sick in the pictures, which would lead to great discussion about not judging others because you never know what is going on that you can’t see.
Share positive attributes OR cautions/concerns for educators to be aware of for each book.
Leukemia is a focus in this book, which may be upsetting to some students/families. It is presented in a non-threatening, non-scary way and I feel the message is too great to pass up because of it.
January 7, 2017
Story: 3 stars
Art: 3 stars
Graphic novel about a group of kids who start a band to raise funds for a hospital to buy some equipment needed for leukemia research. I assumed the kids were in middle school, but there is a mention of "junior year," so I guess these characters are in high school. They act too young for high school students. I think this book would appeal to middle schoolers. The art style is also geared to that age group.
It's a good idea for a book, but the story needed to be fleshed out more. Two of the characters have a guitar but we never see them practicing any music. It's not even clear how musically inclined they are. Vita's brother graduates from a university but we don't know what he studied or what level degree he earned. Throughout the book we see him working in a lab, but I had assumed he was a graduate student or research assistant. At the very end of the book we learn that he is a doctor, which was a surprise to me. But how is he doing un-funded research? And then how is he supporting Vita since their mother is dead and no father is ever seen or mentioned?
The characters of Jay and Plinko are under-developed. I'm not really sure what their deal is or what part they play in the band. The stories of Vita and Tanya & Walt are both interesting and intersect well. But the scene shifts feel abrupt.
Just to be clear, Peter Reynolds did not write or illustrate this story. I believe his name appears on the cover because he acted as a book packager.
Art: 3 stars
Graphic novel about a group of kids who start a band to raise funds for a hospital to buy some equipment needed for leukemia research. I assumed the kids were in middle school, but there is a mention of "junior year," so I guess these characters are in high school. They act too young for high school students. I think this book would appeal to middle schoolers. The art style is also geared to that age group.
It's a good idea for a book, but the story needed to be fleshed out more. Two of the characters have a guitar but we never see them practicing any music. It's not even clear how musically inclined they are. Vita's brother graduates from a university but we don't know what he studied or what level degree he earned. Throughout the book we see him working in a lab, but I had assumed he was a graduate student or research assistant. At the very end of the book we learn that he is a doctor, which was a surprise to me. But how is he doing un-funded research? And then how is he supporting Vita since their mother is dead and no father is ever seen or mentioned?
The characters of Jay and Plinko are under-developed. I'm not really sure what their deal is or what part they play in the band. The stories of Vita and Tanya & Walt are both interesting and intersect well. But the scene shifts feel abrupt.
Just to be clear, Peter Reynolds did not write or illustrate this story. I believe his name appears on the cover because he acted as a book packager.
August 27, 2015
I thought Zebrafish by Peter Reynolds was a good book. In the book, four kids go to a band audition who have no musical talent. The person who wanted to form a band (Vita) is really mad, but the other kids grow on her and they become friends. They decide to do an event to help others. In Zebrafish the main character is Vita. Vita is short, has purple hair, plays guitar and lives with her brother Walt. She also really wants a dog and to be in a band. At the beginning of the story, she doesn't have many friends. This book is a graphic novel and the pictures are really nicely drawn. The author has a cool drawing style. I liked how the characters make the band work by using everyone's strengths to help each other. I'd recommend this book to those who like sadness and true friendships. I also read the second book in the series, and it’s good too.
January 9, 2015
i thought this comic was amazing, especially because of the idea of seeing someone achieve there goal even if its not for there own benefit, but for the benefit of the well being of others weather you know them or not. the art in this is very cartoon like, but it has enough detail in it to get there message across. i would recommend this book to anyone, because the story was told so well and with such a demanding presence. there is nothing that could make this book better. i would say that this is definitely a must read.
March 8, 2013
Ah, the intentions are good, and the characters and story are appealing, but...there isn't actually enough plot or characterization for this graphic novel to be truly engaging. Also, the concert at the end, which is supposed to be the climax, is simply flat - obviously one can't hear the music, and the video art in the background never shows up, so that leaves us with the lyrics: "Stick to it!/Success don't happen quick/Stick to it!/ Shake it up!/Give life a kick!"...Um, no.
September 29, 2010
Group of kids create a "virtual band" in which one kid plays an instrument and the others contribute to a short film to play behind her. A little strange, and a little shallow. But I appreciate the efforts toward encouraging kids to contribute positively to the world. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. Just didn't fall in love.
April 15, 2013
I appreciate the premise of this "music saves cancer" graphic novel, but the execution is a little fuzzy. The cartoon artwork fits the mood, but some sections are confusing to follow as the action quickly jumps from character to character.
May 31, 2016
A sweet and unusual graphic novel that's a bit hard to follow, but not less a good pick for young readers. The illustrations are charming and sometimes surprising, the cast is multi-cultural, and the storytelling is sparse, clever, and funny. Nicely done.
September 4, 2020
I don't read a lot of comic books, so Im glad that I enjoyed this one. Zebrafish is another easy read, but I love the ending, and how the main character evolves throughout. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!!!!
February 6, 2017
I like how it's about friendship.
September 20, 2018
sad at the end
December 16, 2011
Zebrafish as written by Sharon Emerson & drawn by Renee Kurilla
recommended ages 7-10.
Welcome to a before-during-and-after-school special where we learn that “we can’t always get what we want,” friends and family are our greatest resource for getting what we need, and we can change the world in various and creative ways. Yep, a middle-grade offering driven by a message. But it isn’t all bad.
Zebrafish begins with the establishment of the three pairings of the six main characters whom all intersect in different ways before five of the six meet afterschool for the Vita’s band auditions. This culturally diverse cast must then find a way to pool their diverging interests for a cause. At first it is just an activity to do together as Vita still wants to rock and the others want to help her. As Vita learns more about her older brother’s medical research and new friend Tanya’s cancer, the band’s existence takes on greater meaning.
Zebrafish works hard to quickly solidify personalities and honor them with a consistency throughout. Each have their troubles (some more mild than others) but they each also have triumphs. In essence, while each character has individuality (if not some caricature) these are normal kids. The pairs are quietly disentangled so as to form solid connections with other members of the “band.” None of this character development feels unnatural, especially in limiting the story to an accessible length for young readers. By book’s end, the once “randomly” intersecting sets of two successfully become a singular party of 6+.
Within Zebrafish, Family is represented in different ways and to great significance. Vita and her elder brother Pablo with whom she resides are orphans. Or at least, there is no mention of a father and their mother has died of cancer. There is also a reference to social services and a move. I’m not completely sure what that is all about. But you have a brother supporting his still-in-school sister, and they rescue a stray dog. The first pair you meet is Plinko and Jay and you get that Jay is the best friend adopted into the family. He goes out to dinner with them, is comfortable in their home. Walt and Tanya are siblings, and Walt is very attentive to his sister. Zebrafish, of course, becomes a kind of tribe. Notably these relationships are strongly steeped in empathy; as if the basis of what makes people family is our formation of a strong empathic connection.
The title, Zebrafish, comes from an actual fish called zebrafish, and they are used by Pablo in his laboratory. He uses a mutant form to help him “watch cancer cells metastasize in real time” (40). So you not only gain insight into the lives of these children (of indiscriminate age/grade)–Tanya and Vita in particular–you get some interesting science information as well. Zebrafish is not subtle with its “teaching points.” The reader will learn interesting and important facts and they will gain insight.
I mentioned accessible length. I’m not sure Zebrafish had time to be subtle; that or it underestimates its critical audience. The book is 120 pages, but many of the panels are full-page, full-page with ~2 insets, or double-page; panels are large print, essentially–Child-friendly. Marjane Satrapi’s Embroideries came to mind in turns because of the occasional removal frames and the stacking of speech bubbles. There were times I was a little confused in a conversation’s progression, but I could see the form of each page/panel trying to mind the young audience. It was fun and flexible, playful.
Combined with the bright and warm colors, the book finessed a lot of movement and energy. The clipped chapters also kept the ambitious level of content moving. 120 pages and 19 chapters, it felt stilted at turns. The pacing was awful actually (i.e. yes, dogs are cute and inclusion of animals in elementary school fare feels necessary, especially purple ones, and to include them in your song at the end—aww!—& for Vita to actually get what she wants for once. However, proportionally speaking, the pages dedicated to this venture…). I didn’t understand the chapter titles (even on the second try). And the segues were time stamps, “One week later,” etc. There were also a lot of illustrated time lapses to a single page and those were cleverly done. Necessarily, we had to get to know the characters, their situations, and then Zebrafish couldn’t come together in a week. Zebrafish had a lot to do in a short amount of time. Vita has lessons to learn; the constant drumming of “you don’t always get what you want”, but “you sometimes get what you need.” Vita’s life is all about that lesson; and so are all the other characters’ lives to some extent. But Vita is the one with whom the reader is to identify.
Zebrafish should also be fun and culturally resonant. The cartoon styling is familiar for a reason, an attractive choice for its intended audience and their teachers. The humor is suitable and dispersed liberally, keeping the reader engaged. Plinko and Jay are comic relief; which works to balance out the weightier situation with Walt & Tanya–Tanya who is a vibrantly drawn character who when not getting treatment, or is sick, is the “average” girl, replete with crush. I guess she counterbalance her story line on her own.
There is the “Afterword” on page 120 by Peter H. Reynolds encouraging the book’s close to function as an actual beginning. I can, of course, get behind being creative, and applying our creative interests toward a cause (see: TalyaWren). Zebrafish would be a book that could inspire, the “Afterword” is a mere punctuation mark. Big projects for causes for which we are passionate take creativity, organization, multiple talents, perseverance, cooperation… Zebrafish models this while providing the reader with the why. You get to use your gifts, your passions; you make friends; you learn the importance of/benefit from collaboration; you help people!—you could help people you know and love! Zebrafish does not go off without a hitch but it all works out. These children are capable, they are gifted and loving and determined—something with which the readers should identify. As Kevin Hodgson at “The Graphic Classroom” writes, “If you have students who are itching to do some community service project, ZEBRAFISH might be a nice companion story about how even young people can change the world for the better.” I think in a setting where you know you are in for something educational, Zebrafish will be more digestible treat. –or will it?
*********
—noted: “a portion of the proceeds from this book is being donated to the Children’s Hospital Boston.”~inside cover and website. so, will this be coming to a classroom near you? Children, and likely many educators, are much more forgiving a reader than I am; the pacing may not even affect the younger reader the same.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
includes: images and links.
recommended ages 7-10.
Welcome to a before-during-and-after-school special where we learn that “we can’t always get what we want,” friends and family are our greatest resource for getting what we need, and we can change the world in various and creative ways. Yep, a middle-grade offering driven by a message. But it isn’t all bad.
Zebrafish begins with the establishment of the three pairings of the six main characters whom all intersect in different ways before five of the six meet afterschool for the Vita’s band auditions. This culturally diverse cast must then find a way to pool their diverging interests for a cause. At first it is just an activity to do together as Vita still wants to rock and the others want to help her. As Vita learns more about her older brother’s medical research and new friend Tanya’s cancer, the band’s existence takes on greater meaning.
Zebrafish works hard to quickly solidify personalities and honor them with a consistency throughout. Each have their troubles (some more mild than others) but they each also have triumphs. In essence, while each character has individuality (if not some caricature) these are normal kids. The pairs are quietly disentangled so as to form solid connections with other members of the “band.” None of this character development feels unnatural, especially in limiting the story to an accessible length for young readers. By book’s end, the once “randomly” intersecting sets of two successfully become a singular party of 6+.
Within Zebrafish, Family is represented in different ways and to great significance. Vita and her elder brother Pablo with whom she resides are orphans. Or at least, there is no mention of a father and their mother has died of cancer. There is also a reference to social services and a move. I’m not completely sure what that is all about. But you have a brother supporting his still-in-school sister, and they rescue a stray dog. The first pair you meet is Plinko and Jay and you get that Jay is the best friend adopted into the family. He goes out to dinner with them, is comfortable in their home. Walt and Tanya are siblings, and Walt is very attentive to his sister. Zebrafish, of course, becomes a kind of tribe. Notably these relationships are strongly steeped in empathy; as if the basis of what makes people family is our formation of a strong empathic connection.
The title, Zebrafish, comes from an actual fish called zebrafish, and they are used by Pablo in his laboratory. He uses a mutant form to help him “watch cancer cells metastasize in real time” (40). So you not only gain insight into the lives of these children (of indiscriminate age/grade)–Tanya and Vita in particular–you get some interesting science information as well. Zebrafish is not subtle with its “teaching points.” The reader will learn interesting and important facts and they will gain insight.
I mentioned accessible length. I’m not sure Zebrafish had time to be subtle; that or it underestimates its critical audience. The book is 120 pages, but many of the panels are full-page, full-page with ~2 insets, or double-page; panels are large print, essentially–Child-friendly. Marjane Satrapi’s Embroideries came to mind in turns because of the occasional removal frames and the stacking of speech bubbles. There were times I was a little confused in a conversation’s progression, but I could see the form of each page/panel trying to mind the young audience. It was fun and flexible, playful.
Combined with the bright and warm colors, the book finessed a lot of movement and energy. The clipped chapters also kept the ambitious level of content moving. 120 pages and 19 chapters, it felt stilted at turns. The pacing was awful actually (i.e. yes, dogs are cute and inclusion of animals in elementary school fare feels necessary, especially purple ones, and to include them in your song at the end—aww!—& for Vita to actually get what she wants for once. However, proportionally speaking, the pages dedicated to this venture…). I didn’t understand the chapter titles (even on the second try). And the segues were time stamps, “One week later,” etc. There were also a lot of illustrated time lapses to a single page and those were cleverly done. Necessarily, we had to get to know the characters, their situations, and then Zebrafish couldn’t come together in a week. Zebrafish had a lot to do in a short amount of time. Vita has lessons to learn; the constant drumming of “you don’t always get what you want”, but “you sometimes get what you need.” Vita’s life is all about that lesson; and so are all the other characters’ lives to some extent. But Vita is the one with whom the reader is to identify.
Zebrafish should also be fun and culturally resonant. The cartoon styling is familiar for a reason, an attractive choice for its intended audience and their teachers. The humor is suitable and dispersed liberally, keeping the reader engaged. Plinko and Jay are comic relief; which works to balance out the weightier situation with Walt & Tanya–Tanya who is a vibrantly drawn character who when not getting treatment, or is sick, is the “average” girl, replete with crush. I guess she counterbalance her story line on her own.
There is the “Afterword” on page 120 by Peter H. Reynolds encouraging the book’s close to function as an actual beginning. I can, of course, get behind being creative, and applying our creative interests toward a cause (see: TalyaWren). Zebrafish would be a book that could inspire, the “Afterword” is a mere punctuation mark. Big projects for causes for which we are passionate take creativity, organization, multiple talents, perseverance, cooperation… Zebrafish models this while providing the reader with the why. You get to use your gifts, your passions; you make friends; you learn the importance of/benefit from collaboration; you help people!—you could help people you know and love! Zebrafish does not go off without a hitch but it all works out. These children are capable, they are gifted and loving and determined—something with which the readers should identify. As Kevin Hodgson at “The Graphic Classroom” writes, “If you have students who are itching to do some community service project, ZEBRAFISH might be a nice companion story about how even young people can change the world for the better.” I think in a setting where you know you are in for something educational, Zebrafish will be more digestible treat. –or will it?
*********
—noted: “a portion of the proceeds from this book is being donated to the Children’s Hospital Boston.”~inside cover and website. so, will this be coming to a classroom near you? Children, and likely many educators, are much more forgiving a reader than I am; the pacing may not even affect the younger reader the same.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
includes: images and links.
July 16, 2018
One star means «I didn't like it». And I really didn't like it.
I mean, the message's ok but the graphic novel itself is extremely poor. It doesn't seem to tell a story: they're just random episodes put together that casually have a sort of narrative between them. The first pages were the worst: I didn't know what I was reading - I rarely re-read synopsis when I order a book on the internet - and I couldn't figure out where it was heading. Why the dog at the beginning? It only plays a teeny tiny role at the end. Even the characters were presented in a confused fashion.
I mean, the whole plot didn't make any sense. OK, she moves to another town. Buys a guitar. Form a band where no one can play an instrument. Really, I'm all for the suspension of disbelief but this war ridiculous!
And the part about the hospital seems to have been taped to the plot with a strip of one of those big brown tapes.
The art was just OK. It's not really my cup of tea, if I have to be honest about it. The colors are too dark. I kind of like the layout of the pages, though.
Big disappointment!
I mean, the message's ok but the graphic novel itself is extremely poor. It doesn't seem to tell a story: they're just random episodes put together that casually have a sort of narrative between them. The first pages were the worst: I didn't know what I was reading - I rarely re-read synopsis when I order a book on the internet - and I couldn't figure out where it was heading. Why the dog at the beginning? It only plays a teeny tiny role at the end. Even the characters were presented in a confused fashion.
I mean, the whole plot didn't make any sense. OK, she moves to another town. Buys a guitar. Form a band where no one can play an instrument. Really, I'm all for the suspension of disbelief but this war ridiculous!
And the part about the hospital seems to have been taped to the plot with a strip of one of those big brown tapes.
The art was just OK. It's not really my cup of tea, if I have to be honest about it. The colors are too dark. I kind of like the layout of the pages, though.
Big disappointment!
March 13, 2021
Very cute - I can see why it is such a big deal with my grade 6s. It has an excellent message, and I felt like it emphasized finding a cause you care about personally, rather than just championing any ol' cause just for fun (not that I'm against that, personally!). A great way to introduce conversations of responsibility and using your talents/passions to help others as well as yourself. The characters were all excellent as well, very easy to root for!
Follows a young, ragtag group of kids as they try to create a band (and then, discovering few *musical* talents, just a music video) in time for a showcase, pledging the proceeds to various causes along the way. In the end, despite some misunderstandings and a few minor disputes within the group, the money goes to a local hospital to help in a much more personal way than originally intended! Happy-ish ending for all :)
Follows a young, ragtag group of kids as they try to create a band (and then, discovering few *musical* talents, just a music video) in time for a showcase, pledging the proceeds to various causes along the way. In the end, despite some misunderstandings and a few minor disputes within the group, the money goes to a local hospital to help in a much more personal way than originally intended! Happy-ish ending for all :)
April 25, 2023
Zebrafish is a comic that centers around Vita Escolar, a high school freshman (?) who gets a cool electric guitar and decides to form a band with some other kids who are framed as being equally-as important. The book really focuses one one of these other kids though, but I found her story to be interesting as well. Also, despite being for young readers, I found some parts a little hard to comprehend at times because it alternates quite a bit between using and not using text bubbles. awesome character design!!! :3
August 3, 2018
ZEBRAFISH is a cute book with fun illustrations and a great message. However the execution felt off for me -- the book was a little all over the place and I found it difficult to track the dialogue and action of the story. However, I think my middle schoolers might enjoy this book so I think I'll still purchase it for my collection.
March 13, 2017
Zebrafish by Peter H. Reynolds isn't your typical story about teen drama where, after reading, you feel like you spent the day running the middle school gauntlet (how exhausting!). Rather, it's a story with a purpose. And that purpose is cancer research awareness. But, unlike some other over-dramafied cancer books with uber-tragic endings, this one isn't in-your-face about it. And it's not sad either.
Actually, I didn't even know it was a cancer book when I picked it up to review. That awareness came in the reading.
The story centers on Vita, a girl who dreams of becoming a famous musician. She's got the guitar, she's got the rock star hair, and she's got a band name. All she needs is a band. Recruiting turns out to be easier said than done when the only people who come to band tryouts are the non-musical types who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket...although a couple are obsessed with a Rock Band/Guitar Hero-type video game called Strings of Fury. But even so, slow friendships are forged within the group. And Vita plans to carry on with the band regardless. Virtually, at least.
Then Vita learns a secret about one of her "band mates" that could change everything.
And it does.
While Zebrafish was no Lumberjanes (or Jem and the Holograms, for that matter), it was still a cute story about friendship (to the max!). The artwork is colorful and fun, and the storyline, while a little After School Special, was engaging. And it had a good message without being preachy.
A worthwhile read.
Actually, I didn't even know it was a cancer book when I picked it up to review. That awareness came in the reading.
The story centers on Vita, a girl who dreams of becoming a famous musician. She's got the guitar, she's got the rock star hair, and she's got a band name. All she needs is a band. Recruiting turns out to be easier said than done when the only people who come to band tryouts are the non-musical types who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket...although a couple are obsessed with a Rock Band/Guitar Hero-type video game called Strings of Fury. But even so, slow friendships are forged within the group. And Vita plans to carry on with the band regardless. Virtually, at least.
Then Vita learns a secret about one of her "band mates" that could change everything.
And it does.
While Zebrafish was no Lumberjanes (or Jem and the Holograms, for that matter), it was still a cute story about friendship (to the max!). The artwork is colorful and fun, and the storyline, while a little After School Special, was engaging. And it had a good message without being preachy.
A worthwhile read.
July 31, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cute middle grade graphic novel about a group of friends who form a band. Very quick and easy read. I enjoyed this read but it is a little all over the place- it tries to follow the plotlines of a bunch of different characters and it does some well and others leave a bit to be desired.
Cute middle grade graphic novel about a group of friends who form a band. Very quick and easy read. I enjoyed this read but it is a little all over the place- it tries to follow the plotlines of a bunch of different characters and it does some well and others leave a bit to be desired.
March 20, 2021
Cute story with definite hard topics. It’s always off my shelf in my classroom, and I can see why it’s a YA hit. The story-telling pacing was kind of jarring from scene to scene, but that probably makes rereads enjoyable as more and more makes sense.
June 20, 2017
Felt very thin and flat for the topic and the opportunity it could have had....
August 25, 2017
Liked this comic and message but was totally confused what was going on in the beginning. I thought I had started a series part way through.
August 30, 2017
Nice story, I wish there was more of it so I would get to know the characters a little better.
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