Token (Minx Graphic Novels) [Paperback]

Alisa Kwitney (Author), Joelle Jones (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Minx line of girl-themed graphic novels ends with its best book. In 1987 Miami, 15-year-old Shira dreams of old-fashioned adult glamour. Her reality is a lawyer father distracted by a new relationship with his secretary, an outspoken Jewish grandmother and mean girl classmates. Shira's painfully aware of how uncool she is. Her best friend is her grandmother's contemporary, Minerva, a former actress who talks about the old days. While the story is alternately touching and thought provoking, Jones's art is simply astounding. Her characters' expressions and attitudes are perfect in every panel to convey the emotion underlying the text. People are attractive—you want to keep your eyes on them—without being glossy or artificial. The story, while following the life-changing turning point focus of the Minx line, is more subtle and mature than many others. Shira's learning to make her own choices and let go of her father to have his own life, and she comes out the stronger for it. (Nov.)
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From Booklist

Shira lives in a Miami hotel with her widowed father and her grandmother. When Shira’s father begins to date his secretary and their relationship turns serious, Shira has trouble accepting how he is changing. And, for his part, her father can’t communicate as well with an almost 16-year-old Shira as he could when she was just a little girl. Shira turns to petty shoplifting and the arms of a mysterious Spanish boy to cope with her feelings. All the ingredients of a standard—and credible—YA problem novel are here, but Kwitney’s script and Jones’ expressive black-and-white art make the story fresh and worth the quick reading time. Relationships are authentic, and both adults and teens evidence a true depth of character. The sadly soon-to-be discontinued Minx line again upholds its standard of well-crafted and original work, and readers of Token will want to look to Re-Gifters (2007) and Good as Lily (2007) for similarly well-told tales about the emotional hardships of growing up through accepting others as well as oneself. Grades 8-10. --Francisca Goldsmith

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Minx (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401215386
• ISBN-13: 978-1401215385
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and recall the days when there were fewer strollers and more trannies on roller skates in Riverside Park. I have an MFA from Columbia University (though only a dim recollection of what I did to get it).

I have worked as a veterinarian's assistant, a Hebrew teacher, and a comic book editor for Vertigo/DC comics. I have also written some comic books. And I still have all my old Shanna the She Devil issues.

Somebody at Vera Wang once called me "the stupidest receptionist we've ever had." I only worked there for one day.

I currently live in an old farmhouse two hours from Manhattan, with my husband, two kids, two burmese cats and a big Chinook (the dog, not the helicopter).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite good, March 25, 2009

By 

Denny Dukes (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Token (Minx Graphic Novels) (Paperback)

The Minx line has several good books, and this is one of them. Family dynamics are a big part of it; it's interesting to watch Shira's relationships with various family members grow and change. The art is good and some panels are wonderful. I really enjoyed it, and recommend it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A glamorous time, November 9, 2011

By 

Brittany Moore "Reading Nook" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Token (Minx Graphic Novels) (Paperback)

Shira lives with he father and grandmother in some weird apartments on Miami Beach. Her best friend is eighty-year-old Minerva. She really doesn't fit in at school and at nearly sixteen, she has never been kissed. When she meets a boy in her pool, she is instantly drawn to him. He would be a better obsession than her new past-time of shoplifting. Things never work out the way you expect, but all Shira wants is her glamourous movie kiss. Shira feels like she isn't getting love from her family anymore so she will seek it out elsewhere.

Shira was a Daddy's Girl, which makes since considering her mother is dead. This was a very interesting novel about love and loss and life. Shira has so much to figure out and it's made more difficult by the fact that she has no one her own age to talk to. This was yet another life that I would no little about. The life of a Jewish girl in the 80's with a father trying to remarry. Shira was a fairly like-able character until she started going a bit rebel. I did like how glamorous parts of this were and Minerva was fantastic too. There were also so swoon-worthy and giggly parts. Make sure you pick this one up soon and was a fantastic read.

First Lines:

"Miami Beach. Maybe this is your idea of paradise. Sun, sea, sand. A little socially sanctioned exhibitionism."

Favorite Line:

"So you fantasize about latin lovers?"

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, September 1, 2010

By 

Steven R. McEvoy "MCWPP" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Token (Minx Graphic Novels) (Paperback)

This is the story of Shira Spektor; it is 1987 and all she wants is for things to be the way they were. But her father is dating his secretary; her best friends are her Grandmother and her friend. And then she meets a strange guy. She could use some advice but her mother passed away when she was three. Between the conflict with her dad at home and the other girls at the Jewish school, Shira needs an outlet and she finds shoplifting. Yet she realizes that her life is spiraling out of control but does not know if she wants to put the brakes on.

Wonderfully written and illustrated, this is another example of a great graphic novel geared for girls. The MINX line was announced with much fanfare but DC Comics canned the line in less than two years and now has even removed the webpage supporting these great books.