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kaatiba's review against another edition
i remember reading this and i think i liked it but it was...so long ago.
barbarianlibarian's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the narrator. Very girl empowered plot. A really good book for tweens - though it is extremely long, and I found it a little boring b/c of it's length because I'm used to more action in my adventure books. I'm a little curious about what happens in the next few books, but not enough that I am willing to do another 400 pages per title, but I'll totally recommend these to youngins at the library.
mimothysmall's review against another edition
5.0
As a 30 year old woman, at first I was hesitant to read Kiki Strike, succumbing to the classic mistake of judging a book by its cover, I thought it would be an average middle grade book full of clichéd tropes about female friendship, crushes and high school drama. Within a chapter this book has proven my prejudices to be completely unfounded. The Irregulars are a group of girls assembled by Kiki Strike for their skills and intelligence, each has a talent essential to exploring mapping New York’s Shadow City: inventing, knowledge of chemistry and dangerous substances, forgery, engineering and architecture. The adventure they go on is highly original, involving real danger and plenty of twists which feel organic and unforced. The characters are faced with moral dilemmas which aren’t patronisingly tailored to an adult perception of what teenage preoccupations are. It was a highly enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
lizzydennyreadsabook's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great children's book with lots of adventure, plot twists, and diverse female characters! I thought it was especially cool that each chapter ended with historical facts about New York, self-defense tips, or need-to-know tips for all things detective. I can't wait to read the other two books in the trilogy!
kappareads's review against another edition
5.0
God, this book felt like coming home, reliving all the good memories while being reminded of that weird stain behind the sofa that you blocked from your mind.
Basically, I love this book, but it definitely has moments that show off how "early 2000s" of a book it is. There are comments about a characters weight, many, many descriptions of outfits, and surprise, a Chinese girl written by a white woman isn't the most accurate/good portrayal out there.
So there are obvious problems that wouldn't fly today (and shouldn't have flown back then), but I can also appreciate the overall themes of empowering girls and truly being a middle school girl's fantasy of "you get selected by an elite group of other girls to go on kick ass missions."
And now I'm going to round out the review with a list of ships that came to me while reading, because the fact that there are no gay characters in this is a travesty. The main characters are all middle school girls, that's prime "questioning my sexuality" time!
-Ananka/Kiki (take a shot every time Ananka comments on how pretty Kiki is)
-Ananka/Betty (remain friends even when the Shit Goes Down)
-Luz/Dede (see above)
-Kiki/Oona (they have a History)
Is this book truly a 5 star read? Probably not, but I'm a grown adult (ha!) and can admit when I'm letting nostalgia get the best of me
Basically, I love this book, but it definitely has moments that show off how "early 2000s" of a book it is. There are comments about a characters weight, many, many descriptions of outfits, and surprise, a Chinese girl written by a white woman isn't the most accurate/good portrayal out there.
So there are obvious problems that wouldn't fly today (and shouldn't have flown back then), but I can also appreciate the overall themes of empowering girls and truly being a middle school girl's fantasy of "you get selected by an elite group of other girls to go on kick ass missions."
And now I'm going to round out the review with a list of ships that came to me while reading, because the fact that there are no gay characters in this is a travesty. The main characters are all middle school girls, that's prime "questioning my sexuality" time!
-Ananka/Kiki (take a shot every time Ananka comments on how pretty Kiki is)
-Ananka/Betty (remain friends even when the Shit Goes Down)
-Luz/Dede (see above)
-Kiki/Oona (they have a History)
Is this book truly a 5 star read? Probably not, but I'm a grown adult (ha!) and can admit when I'm letting nostalgia get the best of me
celinececilia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
elliebailey's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great YA mystery. It was a nice page turner, and was enjoyable to read.
kayu99's review against another edition
5.0
Perfectly paced and plotted. I loved how distinct each member of the Irregulars is, and I enjoyed the big reveal.
sandraagee's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of my favorite reads for the summer! A tale of action and suspense, this book documents an ordinary 7th grader's introduction to a secret city hidden underneath the streets of New York. She soon teams up with Kiki Strike, a girl of mystery who also seems to have an interest in this Shadow City. The two go on to recruit a team of delinquent Girl Scouts, each with their own special talents. This group, known as the Irregulars, seeks to map out and control the Shadow City - as well as protect it from those who would use it for evil. Filled with advice on how to kick butt, enough intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat, and some beautifully drawn characters who are each strong in their own way, this book is high on my list of all-time favorites. A sequel is also available: Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb.
catherine325's review against another edition
Will probably start over in further just not in mood now