SO PUNK ROCK

Judaism, bass guitars and SAT scores: the ingredients for a band’s rise to fame—maybe. While his parents dream of elite Jewish colleges, Ari has visions of starting his own ska band. With his best friend’s help, Ari recruits Yossi, the most devout kid at their Jewish prep school, who has both a drum set and a vocalist sister. Once the Tribe hits the stage, however, friendships start to fray, and Ari’s band might only make the one-hit-wonder list. Ari’s malleable personality could be dull, but Micol Ostow works hard to go beyond mere wannabe-musician angst. The pitch-perfect dialogue pairs seamlessly with David Ostow’s black-and-white panels, which are dispersed throughout the text and pull the narrative threads together. Additional illustrations crop up in the text, introducing characters, places and moments of humor. The resolution isn’t as original as the artwork, but the glossary at the end makes it well worth finishing. Heavy on the Jewish humor, but without the vulgarity of Adam Sandler, the Ostows successfully balance culture with teen experience. (Fiction. YA)