Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City -- Kirsten Miller

Whoever wrote the teaser on the back of the book is brilliant:

Five delinquent Girl Scouts,
a million hungry rats,
one secret city beneath Manhattan,
and a butt-kicking girl superspy--welcome to the world of
KIKI
STRIKE

I was hooked from the first paragraph.  Our narrator is Ananka Fishbein:

Until the age of twelve, I led what most people would consider an unexceptional life. My activities on an average day could be boiled down to a flavorless mush: I went to school, I came home, I took a bath, and I went to bed. Though I'm certain I didn't realize it at the time, I must have been terribly bored.

As she tells it, one morning, she looked out of her bedroom window at the park across the street. Well, she looked at what used to be the park across the street. Overnight, the park had disappeared into a (what looked to be) bottomless sinkhole. As if that wasn't strange enough, she saw what looked like a "highly intelligent monkey or a troll of some sort" haul itself out of the hole, wave at her (with a cupped hand like British royalty) and scamper off into the mist:

Looking back, it's hard to imagine what my life might have become if I hadn't shoved my bare feet into a pair of furry pink snow boots, and run outside for a closer look. I've found that such opportunities are few and far between. If you miss them--or like most people simply fail to recognize them--there's no guarantee that another chance will ever come your way.

It doesn't take long for Ananka to team up with Kiki Strike and her band of delinquent Girl Scouts: Oona, the forger and lock-picker; DeeDee, the chemistry/explosives expert; Luz, the attitudinal electronics queen; and Betty, the team's mistress of disguise. (Are you thinking of Uma Thurman's monologue about "Fox Force Five" in Pulp Fiction?  Because that's what I thought of -- except of course, these girls are twelve.  Which just makes them that much cooler.)

Their adventure involves a secret network of tunnels and rooms under Manhattan, a bank robbery, very hungry (and murderous and huge) rats, loads of skeletons, a Chinese smuggling ring, a princess, kidnappings, explosions, a sack of gold doubloons, and a leader that they aren't sure they can entirely trust.

After my recent fun with Nancy Drew, this passage was especially welcome:

She handed Mrs. Young a business card. I almost laughed when I saw that it read: Kiki Strike, Detective.

"So you're a detective now?" I teased Kiki once we were inside the creaking elevator. "Like Nancy Drew?"

"Nancy Drew was just an amateur," Kiki sniffed, as if insulted by the comparison. "I'm the real thing."

It's super fun. The story is peppered with passage from Ananka's secret diaries -- there are instructions for everything from dealing with snakebites and frostbite to recognizing when someone is lying and how to actually lie effectively to planning an escape route to getting away from a kidnapper. With good reason, the publisher covers their butt on the verso page with a (strangely hilarious) disclaimer:

The advice given in this book, including first aid information, is meant as a literary device and an amusing sidebar. The author and publisher are not responsible for any accidents or injuries that may occur by following it. Refer instead to the American Red Cross.

Comments

[Little Willow]

Hurrah! I have been awaiting this title - based on the summary alone - for months, and now, it just needs to make its way to me...

[Jac]

I too, am intrigued with this book. However, while reading the beginning of your review I was suddenly reminded of that Avi graphic novel-type contraption. What was it called...er... City of Light, City of Dark. I doubt there's much similarity, but all the same, that's what came to mind.

[Leila]

I don't know that one -- I probably saw the name Avi on it and immediately avoided!

[emo girl aka danielle]

i love this book it rox!!!

[Lydia]

I love KIKI STRIKE!!! It's one of the best books ever........ when I was at the bookstore, I didn't see it. It was in the back. But, as I walked past it three times, it kept falling off the shelf. So, I finally gave in and bought it, and it's good I did!!! Is it based on a true story? Because I can sense things, and last night I had a dream (one that comes true) and it had a picture of KIKI STRIKE and on the top it said "TRUE OR FALSE?" and "TRUE" popped out at me.... wierd huh? Well, I love this book, and I hope to see it with a reward.

[kelsey]

I love the book! It’s one of the most interesting stories that is have ever read. Is this based on a real life because I went to Manhattan and I saw what was like a secret grave Yard like the Marble Cemetery. But I'm not for sure. It’s a really grate book I can't watie until the next book comes out this October.

[grace chapman]

This book is awesome!!!! Its my favorite book ever!! I just finished it this moring and i want the next one so bad!!

[Pinkprincess343]

Kiki Strike is a suspensful that well not allow you to put down!

[Danielle]

I absolutley love this book!!! I am supprised that it hasnt made it into most librarys and hasnt been extremely popular. I was at my closest library one day and the young adult section is extremely small. So I was walking around and I had already read (or had no intrest in) most of the books that I saw. Then I saw this one sticking out (because it was the only hard back book there)and I picked it up and checked it out. I started reading it the next week at camp and I fell in love with it. Every chance I got, My head was burried in it. Its one of the best books that I have ever read. In Language arts, I am doing this paper. We are supposed to be writing to Steven Speilberg and telling him about a great book that should be turned into a movie that he should direct/produce. I chose this book. As I am typing, my mother is going out to buy the book (and pre-order the 2nd one!!!). I am so excited. I really do hope it gets turned into a movie. And wouldnt it be wonderful if Steven Speilberg made it. It would be its best!

[Alex]

I really love this book the VERY BEST I've ever read!

[lauren]

i wuv that book soo much ps. i did it for a book report and got a REALLY good grade and it is such a good book

[gg]

Kiki strike is the best book i have read in my life

[kikiskool]

im doing my book review on this book. i must find a good quote.

ps the second one's fabulos 2!

[J.V.]

This Book Rocks! I readit and the sequal!
I have to say, though, it did remind me of "The City of Ember"

[Kat]

Does anyone know if there's going to be a new Kiki Strike after the Empresses Tomb? If you know please tell!!!!! I finished both of the books a while ago, but they were soooooooooooo good!

[Jasmine]

guys its been 2 YEARS! will there be another BOOK????????????? kiki strike is so cool but i've the books like four times!!!11111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! does anybody know?