ANOTHER BAND'S TREASURE

In this graphic novel inspired by actual events, a love of music blossoms unexpectedly in a small Paraguayan village surrounded by garbage.

What do the children do when their parents go to work? The village of Cateura has no school, so young people find other ways to fill their time. Frustrated at seeing some of the kids doing drugs, Mr. Diego, a local musician, decides to offer music lessons. The other adults are skeptical: “Music is for rich people!” Nevertheless, Mr. Diego posts flyers around town, welcoming anyone interested in learning. And many children appear, including siblings Daniel and Ada. As the class grows, Mr. Diego faces another issue: no money to buy instruments for all the students. Enter his carpenter friend Nicolas, who builds instruments out of pieces of scraps he finds at the dump (sometimes with help from the kids). Even the other adults begin to have hope in the music class. Soon, the mayor of the nearby capital of Asunción invites Mr. Diego’s budding orchestra for a performance. Translated from French, this spare, slightly fictionalized account of the story of Favio Chávez and La Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados de Cateura is infused with optimism. The muted, sober artwork foregrounds the subtle environmental message, with small bursts of color appearing during a crucial scene. All in all, it’s a story retold with evident admiration.

A gentle reminder of music’s might.