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Jul 17, 2008

Emma rated it:

I had very ambiguous feelings about Kirsten Miller's first Kiki Strike book Inside the Shadow City. Although I loved the cover art and most of the characters, I felt like the book didn't live up to its full potential. Despite my misgivings (and the fact that no one shared them), I remained optimistic about Kiki Strike #2, feeling confident that it would be better than the first since Miller would have had more time with the characters she was writing about and to iron out her writing voice (whic More...

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Jul 31, 2010

Braden rated it:

I liked this book more than I liked the first one. I felt the characters grew a bit in terms of not just being girl-power superhero stereotypes. I was also glad to see a secondary hero introduced who is a male.

Miller definitely can tell a great story, and I felt like she started to hit her stride. There seemed to be less editorializing and commentary this time and more unbroken attention to the narrative.

I'm not sure how I felt about the heroine's conflict with her More...

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Oct 19, 2010

Aiyanna Eileen rated it:

Loved this one just a bit more than the first one. I feel like Kirsten Miller grew a bit more with her own writing skills as well as in terms of developing The Irregulars. Really glad to see a male figure enter the group it definitely makes the story a bit more rounded and not just all about girl power. Don't get me wrong girl power and feminism is always something to stand for but there really wasn't even one male lead in the first book, plus now there's a love interest for Betty! Anyway, I tho More...

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Apr 22, 2011

Samara rated it:

Okay look:
You're in a special all girls group full of smart "irregulars" all of them are your friends and not only are you one of them, you go on special adventures and you all just really cant get enough. It can't get any better right? wrong. This book is even more action packed and kick butt than the last one!
There's "Giant squirrels" romance, new perfumes and of course, the butt-kicking group of irregulars. With the amazing leader- Kiki Strike. I thought the fi More...

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Sep 28, 2010

Darlene rated it:

I just realized I never reviewed this one. I thought I had bought it but I never registered it on BookCrossers so maybe it was a library copy I read? Anyway, I loved this series. Thank you, Kay, for introducing me to Kiki.
****
After a bit of research I found this review from BookCrossing.com:

I originally received the Reader's Advanced Copy of book 1 Kiki Strike. I have been amazed at how much fun these two books have been. Kirsten did a lot of research into the undergro More...

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Aug 07, 2010

Amanda rated it:

This was another great installment in the lives of the Irregulars, as they call themselves. It seems like everyone has their own secrets and they're not sure whether to share them or not. All six members have problems in this book. Kiki is still in danger from her evil aunt, obviously, Oona's father has suddenly showed up on the scene, Betty seems to be falling for the wrong guy, Ananka could be sent to a far-away boarding school with COWS, and, well, you get the jist. Giant squirrels have seeme More...

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Jul 03, 2011

Allison rated it:

The Irregulars have a new member as well as a new mystery to solve. Iris comes in handy because she's smart, quick on her feet, and looks innocent, not to mention she has a entrance to the Shadow City in her basement. Unless you're a member of the Fu-Tsang, because if you are, I have never heard of the Irregulars or Iris so there, um heh heh... Anyways, we learn the head of the Fu-Tsang, Lester Liu, is Oona's dad who's out to get her. He tells her the ghost of her mother is in the house but it's More...

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Nov 20, 2008

MJ rated it:

This review also for Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City

Ooooo I like these mysteries for some reason. The story is told from Ananka’s viewpoint. She’s a poor student living in New York city with perpetual student parents who basically pay her no mind and attending a girl’s school for gifted, mostly very rich, students. Then one day something interesting happens—The ground collapses across the street from her apartment building and she see’s a gnome-like being exit. Ananka herself More...

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Mar 02, 2009

Noemi claudine rated it:

This is the second in the Kiki Strike series. This book is focused mostly on Oona Wong, one of the Irregulars. She finds out that her dad is a leader of the Fu-Tsang gang. Oona falls into his trap and goes to live with him. the other Irregualrs go spy and find out that he is going to kill Oona in front of everyone. they crash his plans and add one more member of the Irregulars.
I can not really relate to this book. But it is very similliar to the first Kiki Strike. There is still the shad More...

1 comment like

Jun 07, 2009

Andrea rated it:

Kiki Strike The Empress's Tomb was another mystery featuring Kiki Strike and the Irregulars. I loved the first book in this series, Kiki Strike Inside the Shadow City, but I wasn't sure what to expect with the second, as it was much harder to get my hands upon.

Everyone has secrets. The girls' bonds are stretched to the limits as they discover that they haven't been completely honest with one another, and some of the things that they've held back can have a profound effect on their More...

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May 20, 2010

Alice rated it:

Ugh, I just could not get into this book at all. Like I wrote on my review of the other Kiki Strike book, it has all the elements of something I'd love, but they just don't gel into anything good. Miller is not good at characterization, and I kept mixing up the various spunky young women. They're also kind of bitchy to each other, which I don't really like. Not really surprised Miller never wrote a third one.

Also, this took me FOREVER to get through and for light YA fiction that's u More...

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Oct 16, 2011

Stephanie rated it:

I’m an unabashed pusher of middle years and young adult books with feminist themes and characters, and Kirsten Miller’s work epitomises the sort of girl-power stuff I might hide beneath my bookish jacket. “Jonesing for some strong, well-rounded female characters eh, eh? A plot that doesn’t revolve around a boy? I can hook you up right here.”

Read the rest of this review here. More...

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May 06, 2008

Jennifer rated it:

Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

Get ready for the next adventure... The Irregulars have returned! On the agenda this time around are the following things:

Finish mapping the Shadow City. Since Livia and Sidonia Galatzina, (supposed) Queen and Princess of Pokrovia, and Kiki's mortal enemies, managed to get an incomplete copy of their map, it's more important than ever that The Irregulars finish what they started.

Stop Lester Liu. He got away las More...

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Nov 23, 2007

Roxanne Hsu rated it:

The second installment in the Kiki Strike and the Irregulars of Bank Street series is every bit as fun (actually, it seems MORE fun to me) as the first one and finally some of the ill-tempered banters between the girls (especially Oona and the rest) are being addressed by the girls themselves. This time, when loyalty and secrets are the focus of the story, how they treat each other becomes an integral part of the story. I did find the many supposed "facts" not quite accurate -- it re More...

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Apr 20, 2009

Kate rated it:

'To old for Brownies? Join the Irregulars.' This book is really good. A sequel to Kiki Strike: into the shadow city, it follows the path of a group of friends called the Irregulars. This book includes a mysterious room, a haunted house, vandalism, a missing boy, and a breaking friendship. On top of all this, the main character, Annaka Fishbein, might have to move away from NYC, and her friends. What will she and her friends do to change the fate that it seems she is destined for? Read to find ou More...

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Jul 31, 2010

Beth rated it:

This was a very strong sequel to a great first novel. (Also: Trixie Drew = win.) The writing is strong, the characters are still extremely likable and entertaining. And I've decided that Ananka's voice most reminds me most of Veronica Mars, she of the endless, clever quips. Although this book is comprised of the same "ingredients" as the first novel in the series, nothing felt reused or old; it was fresh and new and fascinating. It's a laugh-out-loud pageturner. A must-read.

2 comments like

Mar 05, 2010

Lisa rated it:

This book is great for young teens. Kiki and her friends, known as the irregulars, solve crimes and mysteries in Manhatten. This time there is an ancient mummy from a Chinese Dynasty that Lester Lui is planning on donating to the local museum. Of course, he is not doing things quite legally. His daugher, OOna who he gave up on his wifes death and didn't want because she is a girl, is one of the irregulars.

Lots of fun. Fortunately Kiki isn't driving her scooter around everywhere.

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Nov 23, 2008

Katy rated it:

I think I liked this one better than the first. I hated how the irregulars were constantly fighting and not trusting each other, but the mystery is a bit better this time.

This is a series I would have loved when I was younger. Especially the helpful hints at the end of most of the chapters. Fabulous advice.

The ending leaves little doubt that a third book is coming. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

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Jan 06, 2011

Sam rated it:

Ok this book was an amazing book that took a completly diffrent turn from the first one with the mummies and squirls. Oh how I have missed those squirls. But it deffinatly was just as great as the first one and also leaves you feeling all around waiting for book 3 that has yet to come out.
this one focused alot on oona, and her past. But its an amazing story line that will keep you reading.

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Jun 03, 2009

Rachel rated it:

Loved it, loved it, better than the 1st one, which is saying alot because I LOVED the 1st one!!!!!!!!! This had a more dramatic and revealing plot line than the 1st one. This one also had more twists. I loved it. The last sentance (and I don't mean to give away any spoilers, but)is so shocking. This is a great series and Kirsten Miller is an excellent adventure writer for teens.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 21, 2008

Allanna rated it:

The Irregulars are a group of six girls in New York City.

This is the sequel to Kiki Strike and the Shadow City, where you're introduced to each of the six girls.

Anaka is still the protagonist. They're still working on secret projects. They're now fourteen.

Strange things are happening -- Giant squirrels are mugging citizens. There are mysterious graffiti squirrels showing up around town ... and the girls aren't behind them.

Some secrets come into the More...

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May 31, 2009

Ruben rated it:

Ah, Kiki Strike. Another one of my guilty pleasures. Should a thirty-two year old dude be reading this? Probably not. But it's good. So good. I wish I were a fourteen year old female spy. I wish I were a member of the Irregulars. I wish I could break out of my room, go down the fire escape and roam the streets of New York with my six best friends in a concerted effort to outsmart the bad guys. But instead I live in the East Bay, California, with my wife and baby. I hardly ever stay up More...

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Jun 25, 2008

mira rated it:

This book was very interesting and I loved reading it. Kiki Strike-The Empress's Tomb was full of adventure, excitement, and fun. It is about 6 girls who are all very unique and daring. In the first book they explore under Manhattan, New york in search of the Shadow City, underground tunnels filled with giant rat's and american history. They start a group called The Irregulars and there leader is Kiki strike. The Irregulars vow to protect this underground city. In the sequel one of the members More...

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Apr 28, 2010

Hayden rated it:

i am on page 69 of kiki strike. right now liz got the map so she could make motion detectors for the shadow city, but on the way to school she got mugged. she got away but the mape and detectors were gone. meanwhile Betty called Ananka when she was in class to tell her about liz and ananka got sent to the princapal. Ananka`s prinapal knows a lot more about ananka and her friends then ananka thought she did and ananka found out that kiki used to go to her school. So far i love the book i have th More...

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Jun 02, 2008

Kelly rated it:

The first of this series, Kiki Strike: Under the Shadow City, was one of my favorite books I read in 2006 after I picked up a prepub somewhere at a library conference. It featured 12-year-old adventurers set on a mission to uncover and map out a vast forgotten and abandoned city underneath Manhattan.

So I was eager to get into the second of Miller's Kiki books. But I found this one falls short of the first outing. It doesn't quite have the same draw. It takes nearly a full half of it More...

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Oct 05, 2009

Brendan rated it:

A tremendously enjoyable adventure story, complete with a secret city, ethical dilemmas, giant trained squirrels, daddy issues, human smuggling, and a very convenient perfume.

Lots of good-natured fun. The main character feels real, and there are some personal difficulties, but, overall, this is a really fun story that is almost completely, (and refreshingly) angst-free.

The book equivalent of a great summer popcorn movie.

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Apr 27, 2008

Annie rated it:

The plot thickens, in more ways than one. I was going over this book with a student for a book report she was working on and we had to struggle through creating a summary when a story has so many simultaneous plot lines that all converge conveniently and yet not totally arbitrarily. The girls once again are engaging characters and the further introduction to Iris is great. I realized, again, that the problem with having such a large cast of characters who are supposedly equally important is t More...

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Jun 11, 2011

Irvington Public Library rated it:

The mysterious Kiki Strike and a group of girls (each with a particular talent) who call themselves the Irregulars have unpredictable and dangerous adventures in New York City. Exciting and unique. -- Steve Fondiller, Teen Librarian

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Dec 02, 2008

dogluvers867 rated it:

This book had a great situation and the suprises were endless. I really love how everyone's mind's are spinning in the middle, But it all unravels in the end. And Kirsten Miller, hurry up with the next book!

~Audrey**

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Nov 21, 2008

Naomi rated it:

I love this book. It's great. This book focuses more on Oona Wong, (read Kiki Strike inside the shadow city to learn more) who's actually a pretty cool teenager. This book is awesome, I stayed awake for hours reading it!

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