Rebis: Born and Reborn

Gr 10 Up–Martino, a boy born with albinism, learns at a young age that being different can be dangerous. There will always be those who desire to stamp out differences in their community. But in spite of this, communities made up of those different people are born, and they learn to support each other through thick and thin. When Martino’s community forces him to run away, he finds solace in the woods with a woman named Viviana who had been shunned by that same community years before. As years pass, Martino discovers a new identity and life with Viviana, begins to wear dresses, starts going by Rebis, and transitions to female. Rebis attempts to stay connected to her sisters back in the village, but her father threatens to burn her at the stake if she tries to return. Torn between worlds, Rebis must find happiness elsewhere. Dicataldo and Marchesini form a cohesive mood for the tale by mixing dark and light in both word and color. However, as beautifully as this is illustrated, the story feels rushed toward the end. Specifically, the time between the fiery climax and the ending is a jump. On the whole, however, the buildup is excellent, keeping readers eager to find out how it will all unfold.