Zebrafish

Zebrafish, by Peter Reynolds, was the first of my ALA freebies that I sat down to read. My primary interest in picking up the title was that included in my registration materials was a coupon for a prize pack of promotional materials for the book. Once I read the blurb on the back cover, I knew I had to read it right away.

Zebrafish is about Vita, a self-declared indie girl who lives with her cancer researcher brother and wants to start a band. None of her friends have any musical talent, but with the help of a little computer animation, everyone can be in the band, named Zebrafish after the clear-skinned fish that help researchers study cancer. And what do bands do but put on concerts? In this case, a computer-animated, one song benefit concert. But instead of saving the pandas like band member Tanya wants, Vita decides to help something a little closer to home--the local hospital where her brother works and Tanya goes for chemo treatments.

The book is a fast read (it took me less than half an hour), with only 19 short chapters written in graphic novel style. The illustrations are great, and definitely suitable for middle-grade readers. And I can't think of a single middle schooler who wouldn't think a book about kids starting a band and making a difference was totally awesome.

Where this story finds its heart is in the deepening friendships between the band members and their decision to do something to help a friend in need. And the best part? This heartwarming conclusion encourages kids to think about ways in which they can make a difference. The prize pack was full of items promoting generationcures, a program based at Boston Children's Hospital.

This book is set for a release date of May 2010. I highly suggest keeping an eye out for it if you are or know anyone who enjoys entertaining and heartwarming middle-grade books.