Another Band's Treasure
A Story of Recycled Instruments
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
In a small village in Paraguay, Diego dreams of giving music lessons to the children he sees each day. The only problem: there aren't enough instruments to go around.
But when he and Nicolas, a carpenter, look to a nearby landfill, they see instruments in the making. Soon, a paint can, a wooden plank, and a faucet knob become the start of a violin—and their recycled instruments give the kids in town new ways to express themselves.
Inspired by the true story of La Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados de Cateura, Hua Lin Xie's first graphic novel is a big-hearted ode to the power of music.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Based on the true story of a Paraguayan orchestra whose instruments were made from repurposed objects, Xie's slim debut dips into the experience of finding joy and community through acts of creative expression. With no school in their village to attend, siblings Ada and Daniel spend their days dodging bullies and combing a landfill for toys. To give local children something creative to look forward to, guitarist Mr. Diego starts offering music lessons. The siblings long to enroll, but their mother believes that they should "find some real work" instead. Other villagers also deride Mr. Diego's efforts, claiming that "music is for rich people." But the lessons thrill the children, and when there aren't enough instruments to go around, Mr. Diego's friend, landfill worker Nicolas, fashions some from bottle caps, twine, oil drums, and myriad other paraphernalia, launching the youths toward new opportunities. Rough-hewn b&w illustrations and lean text convey a linear story that prioritizes a collective journey over individual character arcs. By rendering the recycled instruments in full color, Xie adds a welcome burst of verve while spotlighting the story's unique hook. A brief note about the book's inspiration, Favio Chávez and the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, Paraguay, concludes. Ages 8–12.
