Thursday, September 9, 2010

Garage Band by Gipi (First, Second, 2007)



Genre: Graphic Novel

Honors: none

Review: The minimal dialogue in this graphic novel does not speak as profoundly as the watercolor illustrations that tell the story of four young boys in rural Italy. They each have their own set of family matters and are unique in their disposition, but come together to start a metal band. Guiliano's father lends his bare garage for the boys to have band practice, but the making of a band has more ups and downs than they expect. When they have a chance at becoming signed to a label, the boys are on search for an amp to record a demo. This involves some sneaking and stealing from a church, which puts their band in turmoil.

Opinion: GiPi's graphic novel is appealing in two ways: it's a coming of age novel that focuses on a popular hobby of teens, which is creating a band and making music. The second is that it portrays how this yearning is universal, even though it differs by circumstances. For western culture, it's easy to grab a parent's credit card and go to the Guitar Showcase for equipment. When these means aren't available, a band finds their own ways to make music.

Ideas: A book recommendation or a title for display during library rec hours of Rock Band and the like.

No comments:

Post a Comment