Customer Reviews

Kiki Strike:Inside the Shadow City

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
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Pretend you live in Manhattan, across the street from a little park. Now pretend you wake up one night and the park has sunken into the ground and left a big hole. Wait, it gets weirder! Pretend you see a mud-covered creature climb up out of the hole using a rope, and it waves at you. What would you do? If you're twelve-year-old Ananka Fishbein, you sneak out of the house and climb down the hole. Once down the hole, you might find a secret room. (I say "might" because I'm not sure which park you're imagining, but for the sake of argument let's assume you live across from the same park.) In that room you would find a trap door that leads to what appears to be a never ending hallway of closed doors. This, my friends, is the Shadow City.

The Shadow City is entirely underground. No one knows how far it runs, how many rooms there are, or even where it all leads. Most people don't even know it exists, except for Ananka, and the mud-covered thing that waves like British royalty. Ananka has about a million questions about the Shadow City, the mud creature, and the new girl in school that no one has ever seen before, the one and only Kiki Strike.

Who is Kiki Strike? She's not about to tell. But she has put together an amazing assortment of girls. The Irregulars are misfits, borderline delinquent, unappreciated, Girl Scout rejects, and they've never met until Kiki came along. Ananka is curious and courageous, and has access to a vast peculiar library that her parents call home. Luz Lopez is a mechanical genius, she can design pretty much anything and make it work. DeeDee Morlock is a chemistry whiz, explosives and poisons are her specialties. Betty Bunt is a master of disguise who hasn't been seen, as herself, in four years. Oona Wong is the best hacker and forger in Manhattan. Kiki Strike is, well, Kiki; no one ever seems to get around to figuring out why or what she's masterminding. Together these girls will explore, map, and ultimately control the Shadow City.

I loved this book! After awhile, you get so wrapped up in the intrigue and adventures you forget, like the rest of the girls, to ask why all of this is happening. It's exciting, confusing, and completely absorbing. I didn't want to put it down, and my sister kept getting mad at herself for falling asleep while she was reading, even though she was completely exhausted. One of the most fun parts of this book, aside from the story itself, are the interesting and surprisingly useful lists at the end of each chapter. They include things like "How To Take Advantage of Being a Girl," "How to Catch a Lie," "How to be a Master of Disguise," and "How to Kick Some Butt." It also includes information about other underground cities, various New York City landmarks, and more. KIKI STRIKE is definitely geared towards girls, but far from too girly for a boy to appreciate.

The story, while complete in and of itself, is still a bit open-ended. I hope that means we get to see more adventures from Ananka, Kiki, and the rest of the Irregulars. Kudos to Kristen Miller, and can I join?

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

I think this book is wonderful. The appeal of the story and the characters goes far beyond the age level of the target audience. The author creates very interesting complex characters and puts them into a wonderful world of reality mixed with crime and fantasy. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Harry Potter series but doesn't like the fact that the characters deal in magic. Kiki, Ananka and the other "Irregulars" deal with science and technology while fighting foes and "mean girls." This is a wonderful story I am sure everyone can enjoy. I hope this is just the beginning of the adventures the girls will share with us.

Imagine you live in a big city, across the street from a little park. Picture that one night when you wake up, there is a giant hole in the center of the park. You gaze further, and can't help but notice a muddy creature trudging out of the sunken ground. But wait, there's more! If you are Ananka Fishbein, curiosity will probably get the better of you, and you will find yourself climbing down the hole into an underground passage, with closed doors lining the hallways. This, reader, is the Shadow City. Then appears a mysterious girl called Kiki Strike, who materializes into Ananka's classroom. Our main character is determined to find out more about her new classmate. Kiki, on the other hand, drags her pursuer into the shadow city, along with some Girl Scout rejects. Their unusual talents - mechanical genius, chemistry whiz, best computer hacker in Manhattan, and master of disguise - help Kiki carry out her plan to control the deserted underground city. No one knows what she plans to do, but when Kiki disappears, Ananka grows suspicious when in that time, many robberies are committed through forgotten underground passages. The Irregulars know that they are the only living humans that have knowledge of the Shadow City.

As you become totally absorbed in the book, Kirsten Miller's fantastic description puts you into the story itself. While reading, every painful, scared emotion or sorrowful feeling she describes is your own emotion too. The beginning is a bit confusing, but give the book a chance and you will learn to love it as I do. Late at night, I would find myself with a flashlight, sneaking in a chapter past midnight. As Kirsten's fiction novel wraps you up in adventure, there is also useful information at the end of each chapter. Some examples: other underground worlds, how to catch a lie, how to follow someone without getting caught, how to catch someone eavesdropping, how to prepare for adventure, and other useful, strategic facts and advice.

This book is perfect for a middle school girl to read. There is a limited amount of girly girl talk, and the rest of it is solid adventure. I assure you that after the first chapter, any girl from ages 9-14 will be captured by the plot, and enter the Shadow City and Manhattan, not returning until every last detail is revealed. Happy readings!

Amanda G.
Grade 6
Ms. Kawatachi

I had to read this book for my college English class, and I have to admitt that I wasn't thrilled about reading a children's book. My class started reading the book last Tuesday, and I had it finished by Thursday. Even though it was a kid's book, normally I wouldn't be able to finish it in two days unless I had both days off, which I didn't. This book was so good that I couldn't put it down! I almost missed my bus stop because I was reading it on my way home. It was written so well, and had a better plot than most Adult novels. I am about to order the second book even though it is a hardcover, and I don't have any place for it.

I loved Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller so much that I added it to my Top Picks for 2006 (so far) list before I had even finished it. I want to buy it for all of the 12-year-olds I know, especially the girls. I flagged some dozen pages for possible quotation (and that was holding back, trying not to flag too many). I can't wait for there to be a sequel.

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City is told by Ananka Fishbein, looking back at the age of 18 on events that she participated in six years earlier. The mysterious Kiki Strike invites her to be part of the Irregulars, a group of six 12-year-old girls, each with special skills, who solve crimes and undertake adventures. In addition to the leader, Kiki (who aspires to be dangerous), and the bookish Ananka, there is also the inventor Luz, the chemist DeeDee, the master of disguise Betty, and the forger and thief Oona.

Their first adventure is to conquer the Shadow City, a mysterious region located deep beneath the streets and buildings of New York City. They discover a secret entrance into this hidden world, one that hasn't been visited in 100 years. They prepare for their trip, developing maps and equipment and special outfits, and a means of staving off the rats. They find skeletons and treasures, and many entrances from the Shadow City back into day-to-day New York. The Shadow City is way cool!

Soon, however, things take an unexpected and dangerous turn, and Kiki disappears, along with some gold. For two years, Ananka and the others wonder what happened to her, as circumstances suggest that their "friend" Kiki is much more dangerous than they ever imagined. Eventually Kiki returns, and further dangers ensue.

What's great about this book is how strong all six girls are. They each special strengths, they form a team, they look out for each other, and they take down bad guys. The other tremendously fun thing about the book is that Ananka ends each chapter with a short how-to section for would-be girl spies and adventurers. These are hilarious as well as practical, and they repeatedly counsel taking advantage of the hidden benefits to being a girl in this sort of situation. For example:

"The Benefit of the Doubt: Most people are willing to give young girls the benefit of the doubt. Girls are too sweet and innocent, they think, to be up to no good. A clever story--generally one involving a missing kitten--can get you out of trouble in nine out of ten situations. Remember, a tear or two will make any tale more believable." (page 16)

"Duct Tape: Take a roll with you whenever you travel. It can be used to immobilize criminals, fix essential equipment, and make a cute skirt if you're in a bind." (page 86)

It's unusual to have the book be told looking back from six years ahead, but I think that it works. Ananka's voice is confident and humorous, and she's able to slip in plenty of tidbits that suggest that her life has remained interesting. Here are two more of my favorite quotes:

"Confidence is the force that runs the world. Mixed with a dose of charm, it has the power to produce everything from prom queens to presidents." (page 87)

"Simply put, women's intuition is the little voice inside your head that whispers that your new boyfriend may be bad news, that you shouldn't take the shortcut through that dark alley, or that your sister has been snooping through your stuff again." (page 232)

All in all, I can't praise this book enough. It's funny, and yet filled with adventure. The characters are strong, but likable, too. It's well-written and fun to read. I'm not sure if boys will like it, since all of the main characters are girls. But I'm certain that middle school girls will love it.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on September 14, 2006.

This book is the greatest book! It has so many twists and turns it's unpredictable!! You may have noticed my title is "IT'S IN THE BOX!!!!" Well you see I have a small blue box that holds my very two favorite books I have ever come upon, and this book is #1 on all terms!!!!!!!!!!

Despite the fact "Kiki Strike" is marketed as a Young Adult title, "Kiki Strike" is a book you can safely give to any girl ages nine and up. (Boys may enjoy "Kiki Strike" as well, but it's very much a girl power book, with nary a positive boy character in sight.)

"Kiki Strike" is written from Ananka Fishbein's point of view and begins when Ananka, at the time only twelve years old, spies an unusual sinkhole from the window of her Manhattan apartment. No one else is awake, so she leaves her home to take a closer look. On one side of the hole, just below the street's surface, is a perfectly preserved room. Before morning, the sinkhole is gone.

But Ananka had seen it and sets about investigating the Shadow City, a city built beneath the streets of New York. Fortunately for Ananka, her parents are perpetual PhD students and, as such, have a huge library devoted to a variety of arcane subjects. Before long, Ananka is exploring New York City with a copy of Glimpses of Gotham in her hands. She's soon noticed, at school, by a mysterious girl with white hair. Kiki Strike. Suddenly Ananka sees Kiki everywhere.

When Ananka is accused by the school bully, Princess Sidonia (of Pokrovia)* of stealing a diamond ring, Kiki comes to her rescue. And, invites her to (of all things) a girl scout meeting. Kiki has gathered a group of tween girls together, each with a special talent, in order to explore the Shadow City. There's Oona (hacker/forger/genius), Luz (engineer extraordinaire), DeeDee (chemist and explosives expert), Betty (fashion designer and master of disguise), Ananka (who doesn't know why she's there), and, of course, Kiki herself, who's a master spy and kung fu artist. The girls call themselves The Irregulars and hit the tunnels beneath NYC.

Many exciting things happen after the girls begin exploring the tunnels. There's an explosion, Kiki disappears, only to reappear a few years later when a mystery heats up. "Kiki Strike" is a plot-heavy book in a good way: it's always interesting and keeps you guessing. I didn't know what would happen until the very end. Kirsten Miller's characterization skills are especially adept: each girl has a strong, recognizable character; we don't know Kiki's motives or, indeed, whether she's "good" or "bad" until the final chapter; and Ananka is a hard-headed, reliable narrator with whom the reader empathizes from the first page. Here's what Ananka has to say, for example, about being a girl:

"I've always found that one of the biggest benefits of being a girl is that most people refuse to take you seriously. While boys must be constantly monitored and are always the first suspects when anything goes wrong, everyone expects girls to do what they're told. It may seem a little insulting at first, but low expectations can be a blessing in disguise. If you're smart, you can use people's foolishness to your own advantage. It's amazing what you can get away with when no one bothers watching."

"Kiki Strike" is highly, highly recommended for readers ages nine to ninety nine. It's the perfect book for a long trip or a snowy afternoon. And, "Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City" is Kirsten Miller's first novel. Here's hoping we'll see more of Kiki and friends in the future.

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* The fall of the Soviet Union has been a boon for Young Adult authors. Need a kingdom? Look no further! Everyone from Pokrovia speaks Russian in "Kiki Strike."

I am a grown man- however, since like many adults I love the Harry Potter series, and I remember the C. S. Lewis books from my youth, I am always looking for good action, adventure, science, history, and anything to do with NYC (especially old NYC).

This book was exciting, and the characters were diverse and heart warming. I would reccomnd this for any tween/teen boy or girl who loves a fantastic, funny, and sometimes scary book.

This one almost crosses over into superhero terriory. A+!!!

I bought this book for my daughter who is nine years old and a very avid reader. She just loves it. Not only is there a great plot, character development, and thoughtful writing but a female lead character! One to put Harry Potter in his place. This book is highly recommended and please lets hope that there will be more Kiki Strike books to come.

I read this book before it came out as an advanced edition, and it captivated me. Before long, I had read it from cover to cover. This was one of the best books I had ever read and probably ever will read.