SAVA, Scott Christian. The lab: hey ... test this! The Astonish Factory. 120p. illus. c2004. 0972125930. $14.95. J

The Lab features the adventures of Livingston the Mole and Esteban the Weasel, who work at the Burns and Itchez Testing Lab. Livingston is the company's chief armpit sniffer, and Esteban is an intern who has been sent to "assist" Livingston in the drug-testing part of his job (translation: he's the guinea pig). For some reason Esteban is hypersensitive to drugs, which makes him the perfect candidate to test Product X, the lab's miracle drug. Product X still has some side effects; these include making Esteban shrink, float in midair and dance uncontrollably to bad song lyrics.

This is suitable for younger teens (it could also go in the children's section); anything past 7th grade and you're pushing it. The art gives this graphic novel a unique look; Sava's background is in 3-D animation, and he uses computers to create the characters and backgrounds (think Pixar). The Lab was originally meant to be a children's cartoon, and you can tell--the first story reads like a pitch to whatever studio the author was trying to sell the concept to. The second story reads more like a comic book--the storyline is smoother, the art better, and the (presumably) funny accents the characters are sporting are gone. The Lab also features Esteban's collection of bad jokes, and fun science experiments you can do with your parents. An optional purchase; of more interest if your collection caters to younger readers. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale PL., Montvale, NJ

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescent and their teachers.

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