Review

Tokyo Heist

Common Sense Media says

Manga, art, and life lessons in topnotch mystery adventure.
Age
12
Quality
 
  • Educational value4
    Readers will pick up useful phrases of Japanese, lots of knowledge about modern and older Japanese culture, art, and the art world, and the ins and outs of manga (Japanese comics).
  • Positive messages4
    Like most 16-year-olds, Violet doesn't always make ideal choices, and in low-level matters there are no real consequences -- as when she and her friend Reika pig out on the contents of a gift basket intended for their hosts. But in most respects, both Violet and those close to her have a strong sense of responsibility, and they all learn a lot about seeing things from one another's point of view. The power of love and friendship comes through, as well as a few lessons about not jumping to conclusions about people too soon.
  • Positive role models4
    Even the positive characters are complex enough to be believable. Violet is smart, brave, and talented, but that doesn't keep her from being completely wrong sometimes. Her pal Reika is a true, dependable friend, when she isn't losing her mind because there's a cute guy in the room. Her dad, who's childish and self-absorbed at the beginning of the story, comes through as an artist and as a father when there's a crisis. And the mysterious innkeeper turns out to be a lady of hidden qualities.
  • Violence2
    Early on, Violet's dad gets in a brief, comical fist fight with another guy over a girl they're both interested in. There are various robberies, burglaries, and break-ins, as well as a kidnapping. The Japanese art collectors are being threatened with violence to property and people's lives over a missing painting. Decades earlier, the last person to possess the painting committed suicide -- or was he murdered? Now thugs are after Violet, her dad, and their Japanese friends. There's one scene with a lot of gunfire, but nobody dies.
  • Sex1
    Some brief, nonsexual discussion of nudity in the (same-sex) public baths in Japan. There's also a scene in which the girls glimpse the tattooed back of a bathing yakuza, but his back is all they see. Some kissing between Violet and her love interest.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism1
    Anyone who's ever been to Japan will get a kick out of Violet's discovery of brands like Pokkari Sweat, electronics heaven in the Akihabara, and fractured English slogans.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Adults, especially Japanese men, smoke. Drinking by adults, and there's one scene in which the girls are happy to get away with drinking sake at a dinner party. Violet is quite wobbly getting down the hall on her way back to her room afterward.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that teen heroine Violet and her friend Reika are sometimes in real danger in Tokyo Heist, since they've gotten mixed up with a missing Van Gogh painting sought by the yakuza (an organized crime syndicate in Japan). There's a comical fist fight, various robberies, burglaries, and break-ins, a kidnapping, and Japanese art collectors are threatened with violence to property and people's lives over the missing painting. There's one scene with a lot of gunfire, but nobody dies. Along the way, both the girls and young readers learn a lot about art, Japanese culture, people, and the ways your loved ones can surprise you.

This review of Tokyo Heist was written by

Most useful reviews by all members

Teen, 13 years old
July 19, 2012
12
OK for kids & up
 
Tokyo Heist: Amazing, you wont be sorry
I have not yet read the whole book but so far this story is a pleasant story told from the 1st person point of view, while there are some occasional mistakes with the caps lock and one typo the book is amazing,the pages are filled with magnificent detail and how she describes every corner the main character turns the authors descriptive words jump out of the page and give me great visualization of what is happening in the story.
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (10) | Read my mind (18)
Parent of 9 and 12 year old
July 5, 2012
12
OK for kids & up
 
Read this in one day.
My 12 year old daughter loved it. I did not read it.
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was this review useful?
Helped me decide (11) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (17)
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