The Darkness Dwellers

December 1, 2012
Kiki Strike and the Irregulars are finally back, in their third (and seemingly final) adventure. This time, the adventure involves an evil twin, a World War II mystery, Upper East Side zombies (of the well-mannered sort), the catacombs of Paris and a possible resolution to Kiki's lifetime fight to prove that her evil aunt killed her parents. Plus some romance, both successful and hopeless. Whew! It's a good thing Ananka Fishbein is there to lead the Irregulars in New York while Kiki and Betty take Paris by storm, even if Betty's perfect boyfriend proves distracting for Ananka. Like the previous entries in the series, this girl-power mystery/adventure is tongue-in-cheek but full of heart. Miller's motley crew of heroines can take on anything, and by the tale's end, it looks like their breed of awesome is poised to take over all of New York City. Thematically, this volume is all about being true to oneself and recognizing that genius comes in many forms. Happily, this "lesson" comes wrapped in sheer delight. Here's hoping that this latest volume attracts droves of new devotees for some of the coolest girls in fiction. (Adventure. 12-16)

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February 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-In this latest installation in the series, the Irregulars, a secret group of girl geniuses, are older and a little wiser. While Ananka Fishbein does the majority of the narration, Kiki Strike (aka Princess Katarina of Pokrovia) and Betty Bent also play major roles. Kiki jets off to Paris, where she is kidnapped by her evil Aunt and cousin. Meanwhile, Betty, armed with a special invention designed to secure Kiki's release, ventures to the City of Lights alongside the headmistress of an exclusive school that turns naughty girls into proper ladies. There, both Betty and Kiki become involved with an underground organization called the Darkness Dwellers, who live beneath the streets of Paris. Meanwhile, back in New York, the other Irregulars are busy cracking secret codes and tracking down the errant sister of Oona Wong. One need not have read the previous books to immediately be drawn into this fun and exciting story. A fast-moving plot and wonderful dialogue keep readers smiling while turning the pages. Chapter endings sometimes offer words of wisdom from Ananka's guidebook on essential skills (e.g., a lady "Knows how to defend herself-in an argument, a sporting match, or a dark alley."). A must-have for libraries that own the first two titles.-Melissa Stock, Arapahoe Library District, Englewood, CO

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2012
Grades 5-8 Kiki Strike, aka Katarina, Princess of Pokrovia, is headed back to Pokrovia to give up her crown since the country can now be deemed a democracy. But her spoiled cousin and evil aunt have other plans. In a second, equally strong plot, Betty Bent is accompanying the elderly, straitlaced head of L'Institut Beauregard to Paris to uncover the remains of her former lover. It's another subterranean adventure for the Irregulars, once again narrated by Ananka Fishbein, who this time is struggling with the mantle of leader while Kiki is overseas. Crushes, tragic love lost, and real danger make for a strong third entry in the Kiki Strike series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
The titular Kiki, well-read sidekick Ananka, and the rest of the aggressively quirky, criminally gifted team of adolescent girls set their sights on Kiki's parents' killers, which takes them from New York to Paris and the underground conspiracies therein. The third caper has girl-power panache, but the characters are cloyingly twee and broadly written. Ananka's snarky chapter-ending etiquette guides remain a highlight.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)