Reviews

I think this might have worked a bit better as a graphic novel, it was so heavy on visual description, but overall it was still an engaging and propulsive story with good anxiety representation.

showell's review

Go to review page

4.0

I was not expecting the humor. Or the main character’s crippling anxiety. A fun action packed fantasy with a mostly happy ending.

oxiegen's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced

5.0

Kiki is a 12-year-old girl who struggles with anxiety. She is able to find some reprieve in sketching a richly imaginative world based on stories from Indian mythology. Adventure and chaos ensue when her imaginary world collides with the real one. In the end, Kiki discovers that she’s much more powerful than she thinks she is. This is a perfect middle-grade novel filled with action, friendship, and self-discovery.

Sangu Mandanna always does such a wonderful job with writing found family; I’ll never stop recommending her!

fancifulreader's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

alongreader's review

Go to review page

4.0

This is one of those reviews that's hard to write. Not because I didn't enjoy it - I really did! - but because I'm pretty sure this is just going to be an incoherant ramble about the BRILLIANT and the FUN and the HEART BREAK and the MUST READ!

In fact, in case I forget later, here is my very favourite quote; I've already put it on Twitter, but I think it's worth highlighting again.

Suki was the last one to go. With her hand on my doorknob, she stopped and looked back at me.
'Try to remember, ok?'
'Remember what?'
'Little girls can beat big bad wolves. We have teeth, too.'

What a fantastic message to give to young readers! Suki gets a couple of lines like that and they fall so beautifully. If this book had nothing else going for it, I'd still love it just for those words.

But it has plenty of other things going for it; a fabulous main character (PARENTS NOTE, she suffers with anxiety and children may have questions or want to discuss it after reading) a brilliant setting, a background in myths that are neither GrecoRoman nor British, amazing descriptions, really clever twists and turns...really, this book has so much going for it. It's one of a few due out this year featuring the basic idea 'someone draws things that come to life' and if they're all this amazing, we're in for a fantastic treat.

I loved the way Kiki uses everything she's learned from everyone to fight her battles. I love how simple and clever her final solution is. I love - though I don't know why, other than the lovely image - the way she keeps referring to the city as her 'golden kingdom'. And I really hope there's more to read in this world. I'll be eagerly waiting to see what else Kiki and her friends are going to get up to. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to brush up on my Indian myths...

tiffani_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

More...