Book Review: Kiki Strike, Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller

Ananka Fishbein is just an average, 12-year old girl living in current day New York City. Life seems pretty dull until two things happen. One, Ananka starts noticing a classmate named Kiki Strike, who, like Ananka, seems not to fit in well at school. And two: Ananka discovers a series of underground tunnels underneath the city that lead up into various key buildings. The underground tunnels are known as the Shadow City.

Once Kiki and Ananka forge a timid alliance, they both discover a mutual desire to explore the Shadow City below. They form a sort of tweeny bopper Ocean's Eleven with four other girls: Betty, a master of disguises, Luz, a master of everything mechanical, Oona, a lock picker, hacker, and forger, and DeeDee a chemist who can mix up potions or viruses, whatever you wish. They call themselves the Irregulars, and their common mission is to map out the Shadow City and explore its depths so they can seal off every potential entrance . . . at least, that's what they start out to do.

Along the way, the Irregulars must face dangers, such as underground rats, Chinese mafia, and attempted poisonings. And while she is working alongside Kiki, Ananka questions if she can really trust her new partner. Who is Kiki Strike anyway?

The writing is well done, characters are well-formed and fleshed out with good and bad traits for everyone. Readers also receiver a street-smart education, because the author (or perhaps Ananka) peppers the storyline with how-to tips ranging from how to lie to how to fight off an attacker who grabs you from behind. I also enjoyed the camaraderie in the book. If you want to extend your journey into this story, there is a fan website. See it here.

I recommend this book to readers who need a challenge. Suggested readers are girls, ages 11-13, boys of the same age who like Artemis Fowl or the Bartimeus trilogy, or anyone older who enjoys tales of espionage or movies like the Usual Suspects.