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floralfox's review
3.0
I really loved the drawings and the style, and Shira was a compelling character, but overall the story was a little generic and I didn't like the love interest (I actually thought he was kind of an asshole? And I felt like we were supposed to like him?)
I wish there was more exploration of her Jewish identity because that was advertised on the back of the book. I thought that might have a bigger role? And I thought she had a mixed ancestry of Spanish and Jewish, but it seems that really just Minerva was Spanish? And I wish their friendship was more developed and I knew the backstory of it? I guess I could feel in the pieces, but...
Also, Shira was sort of an average girl. Why did she have NO friends? I could have believed it if there was more said than "she had no friends," but it just seemed like we were supposed to understand that she had none because those two popular girls didn't like her? But there's not just a popular group and Shira in this school is there? There's always more groups. I dunno.
Overall, I loved the style and I'll seek out the illustrator again, but the story didn't have anything particularly special to recommend itself.
I wish there was more exploration of her Jewish identity because that was advertised on the back of the book. I thought that might have a bigger role? And I thought she had a mixed ancestry of Spanish and Jewish, but it seems that really just Minerva was Spanish? And I wish their friendship was more developed and I knew the backstory of it? I guess I could feel in the pieces, but...
Also, Shira was sort of an average girl. Why did she have NO friends? I could have believed it if there was more said than "she had no friends," but it just seemed like we were supposed to understand that she had none because those two popular girls didn't like her? But there's not just a popular group and Shira in this school is there? There's always more groups. I dunno.
Overall, I loved the style and I'll seek out the illustrator again, but the story didn't have anything particularly special to recommend itself.
maryehavens's review
3.0
I didn't get 1987 from this at all. Maybe the Woolworth's counter? But even then, I thought it was some Miami staple and not a 1987 thing.
The illustration was good and more in the style of a traditional comic book. I thought Kwitney captured a first crush very well - didn't understand the Mean Girl motivation. What was that about?
It's a little too sexual to share with my daughter, mostly because of the illustrations, honestly. With the way Shira was drawn, I expected her to get a lot more sexual harassment from her school mates and maybe even a bump in popularity vs. the bullying. Didn't make a ton of sense to the story line.
If more graphic novels by Kwitney appear in the library, I'll give them a shot.
The illustration was good and more in the style of a traditional comic book. I thought Kwitney captured a first crush very well - didn't understand the Mean Girl motivation. What was that about?
It's a little too sexual to share with my daughter, mostly because of the illustrations, honestly. With the way Shira was drawn, I expected her to get a lot more sexual harassment from her school mates and maybe even a bump in popularity vs. the bullying. Didn't make a ton of sense to the story line.
If more graphic novels by Kwitney appear in the library, I'll give them a shot.
saidtheraina's review
3.0
Miami girl's father gets a new girlfriend - and changes his attitude toward her.
Pretty standard coming of age title. Liked it better than some Minx titles, and that may have something to do with the fact that the creators are both female (not that I'm biased). I wanted a bit more resolution at the end - I'm a little bored of the plotline the romance takes in this (not that I'm spoiling). Enjoyed the relationship with the elderly women, but wanted more from this and the father issue. Also couldn't quite believe that she (as drawn) was disliked at school (there were only occasional reminders of the eighties setting).
Come to think of it, I think I would have focused more on the familial relationships and cut out the school, romance and klepto plotlines entirely. Touches on some unique issues (father jealousy, unique friendships), but doesn't quite go deep enough in this format/length.
Pretty standard coming of age title. Liked it better than some Minx titles, and that may have something to do with the fact that the creators are both female (not that I'm biased). I wanted a bit more resolution at the end - I'm a little bored of the plotline the romance takes in this (not that I'm spoiling). Enjoyed the relationship with the elderly women, but wanted more from this and the father issue. Also couldn't quite believe that she (as drawn) was disliked at school (there were only occasional reminders of the eighties setting).
Come to think of it, I think I would have focused more on the familial relationships and cut out the school, romance and klepto plotlines entirely. Touches on some unique issues (father jealousy, unique friendships), but doesn't quite go deep enough in this format/length.
kricketa's review
3.0
it's the 80s, and shira lives in south beach miami with her father, a lawyer who has just begun dating his secretary. also living in shira's building are her best friend minerva, an elderly would-have-been movie star, and her grandmother pearl. shira doesn't fit in at school and is hurt by her father's strange behavior as he falls in love. so when a handsome and dangerous stranger comes into her life, shira takes every chance to escape her ordinary boring life.
a fun fluffer of a graphic novel. not great, not bad. jones is much better at drawing female characters than males. this is part of the now defunct minx line. i miss it.
a fun fluffer of a graphic novel. not great, not bad. jones is much better at drawing female characters than males. this is part of the now defunct minx line. i miss it.
witchofthemountains's review
4.0
Kwitney keeps her characters unique but not obtusely so. Her writing is fresh and the artwork is fantastic. Her style reminds me a bit of Bechdel, which is a complete compliment!
whipcreamsucks's review
3.0
wowee my first pg-13 comic. i remember being really drawn to the story because of how 'risque' i thought it was.
abbeyjfox's review
2.0
oh, minx comics... i want to love you, but why do you always underestimate the multi-dimentional levels of teen girl's personalities? this comic is basically about shira chasing a boy, and being obsessed with material goods and old movies. WHAT IS NEW HERE?
first book read for thesis curriculum proposal. determined: not useful.
positive aspects: shira's relationship with her grandmother. and the illustrations were great.
first book read for thesis curriculum proposal. determined: not useful.
positive aspects: shira's relationship with her grandmother. and the illustrations were great.