Yumi’s band

BOOK REVIEW

YUMI’S BAND

Author: J. Olloqui From the reader report by: Jule Irsch

By Yumi, his first book for children, Olloquoi succeeded with writing an absurd-ironic diary novel for children of the age of nine and older. Frequently he succeeds with liberating his description from any norm, be it gender stereotypes, assumptions concerning other cultures or disabled people. Completely without any moral pointing finger, he puts the ‘confessions’ of his protagonist into writing in such a way as to give the impression that we are actually presented with the diary of a preadolescent girl. His language is always credible and authentic, without being chumming up in any way. The text is eased by the author’s illustrations which illustrate individual aspects in a spectacularly comical way.

A frequently successful novel for children, which would also work very well as a series – definitely the text gives the impression that Yumi’s story is made for a sequel. This is a title which in my opinion would suit very well the programmes both of major trade publishers and of independent, smaller publishers.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS DE

DRAKUL EDITORIAL

Title YUMI’S BAND YUMI Y SU BANDA

Author J. Olloqui Genre Children and Youth Pages 184

ISBN 978-84949-237-91 Year of publication 2020 Number of editions 1 Language Spanish Spanish retail price 21.95 €

Author’s biography: J. Olloqui is the old guy who wrote this book. He’s over thirty! He loves popular literature, film, comics, and pop music, and maybe that’s why he’s always in a bad mood. Although his literary vocation started early, he left the path of literature when he discovered pop music in his teens. That was when he decided he didn’t want to be a writer, but a rocker. After all, he thought, rockers have more success with the girls than writers. (Unfortunately, this isn’t true, and both groups seem to have the same rate of success... none.) He’s recorded and produced records, and he’s played in several groups, but none as famous as Yumi’s Band. He’s written essays and articles in various types of media. In addition, he’s published two novels in Spanish: Damned Earth People and Betamax: a Comedy with Superpowers, but they’re for adults. Yumi’s Band is literature for children with good taste, as well as for adults who refuse to do anything as ridiculous as grow up completely.

Synopsis: My name’s Yumi, I’m ten, and I go to Infante Froilán de Móstoles public school. When I grow up, I’m going to be a drummer in a rock band. It’s a profession with a great future, and there’s no doubt that I’m going to be rich and famous. Right now I play the drums in a group with my friends. We’re not famous yet, and I don’t know why, because we’re amazing. Besides my band, there’s Vermin, who’s my best friend even if he’s not too bright. Then there are my parents, who spend all day yelling at me, my older sister who suffers from a disease called adolescence, and my little brother who is a criminal mind locked in the body of a two-year-old. I’m going to tell you about the incredible things that happen to me. No lie!

Publisher: Editorial Drakul Created in 2006, Editorial Drakul is an independent, privately-owned company dedicated mainly to the publication of novels and comics, although it also publishes children’s literature. In Spain, it is known mainly for publishing Star Trek comics under the Likantro label starting in 2009.

Publishing rights available from: Editorial Drakul, S.L. - CIF B84782630 Santa Gema 3, 2ºA, 28944 Fuenlabrada, Madrid www.drakul.es Contact: Javier Ortiz [editorial@drakul.es] Phone: (+34) 686 105 012

Comments: The book is similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but with a 10-year-old Spanish girl as protagonist. She lives with her family in the city of Móstoles, near Madrid, and she has a rock band. The book makes both children and adults laugh.