Scan barcode
makahakat's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
teaandspite's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It falls into the major trap nearly all "I wish this character had existed when I was a kid" type books fall into though: it talks down to children.
I cannot stand books talking down to children. Kids aren't stupid! They understand a lot more than adults give them credit for. They can handle complex topics and difficult issues without being spoon-fed. This book spoon-feeds. Painfully. The anxiety/acceptance plot is so trite I can't imagine most kids being willing to put up with it. I know I wouldn't have at nine or ten.
It's too bad because the book starts off great. Kiki is fun and engaging when she's allowed to simply exist as a child with anxiety. It's when the book tries to insert fan-ish conversations about fantasy worlds and representation that everything falls apart. For instance, Kiki repeatedly beats herself up about not giving her made-up band of child heroes parents or guardians. This is not something most kids ever notice or care about. They're aware enough to understand that if Peter Pan had adult supervision they'd tell him that pirates are dangerous and to get away from that crocodile. Adults are the ones who write meta about parents in fantasy stories being criminally incompetent.
There's also a major plot hole in that Kiki, upon being taken into a world created by her own drawings, never stops to ask if she can just go back to her proper world and draw her band of heroes defeating the bad guy. It's a clear indication of Mandanna having no concept of how children think because that is literally the first question every child I know would ask. Give a reason it can't be done if you want, but you have to rule out the simplest, most obvious solution before moving on to the rest of the story. Especially in books for kids. There is no group of critics more capable of ripping apart an overly-complicated plot than 8-12 year old children.
That plot hole, combined with the overly didactic portrayal of anxiety and a cast of characters that never fully came to life, made the book slow to read. I like the idea. I like the intentions. But good intentions and a fun idea are not enough to make a book worth reading.
I cannot stand books talking down to children. Kids aren't stupid! They understand a lot more than adults give them credit for. They can handle complex topics and difficult issues without being spoon-fed. This book spoon-feeds. Painfully. The anxiety/acceptance plot is so trite I can't imagine most kids being willing to put up with it. I know I wouldn't have at nine or ten.
It's too bad because the book starts off great. Kiki is fun and engaging when she's allowed to simply exist as a child with anxiety. It's when the book tries to insert fan-ish conversations about fantasy worlds and representation that everything falls apart. For instance, Kiki repeatedly beats herself up about not giving her made-up band of child heroes parents or guardians. This is not something most kids ever notice or care about. They're aware enough to understand that if Peter Pan had adult supervision they'd tell him that pirates are dangerous and to get away from that crocodile. Adults are the ones who write meta about parents in fantasy stories being criminally incompetent.
There's also a major plot hole in that Kiki, upon being taken into a world created by her own drawings, never stops to ask if she can just go back to her proper world and draw her band of heroes defeating the bad guy. It's a clear indication of Mandanna having no concept of how children think because that is literally the first question every child I know would ask. Give a reason it can't be done if you want, but you have to rule out the simplest, most obvious solution before moving on to the rest of the story. Especially in books for kids. There is no group of critics more capable of ripping apart an overly-complicated plot than 8-12 year old children.
That plot hole, combined with the overly didactic portrayal of anxiety and a cast of characters that never fully came to life, made the book slow to read. I like the idea. I like the intentions. But good intentions and a fun idea are not enough to make a book worth reading.
aotales's review
5.0
This is such an amazing middle grade fantasy, that although has all the “typical” fantasy elements - magic, new worlds, an eclectic cast of young characters, and a “big bad”, Kiki Kallira reads wholly new and unique.
The writing is smooth, smart, and the plotting is perfectly paced for a read that is very difficult to put down! With a strong focus and discussion on anxiety this middle grade elevates itself by bringing great insights and conversations to middle grade readers, many of whom are experiencing similar emotions to Kiki in these pandemic times. Kiki is relatable, flawed, kind, and you root for her every step of the way.
Imaginative, funny, and compelling this delightful middle grade features a great core group - The Crow Club - of extremely likeable, fully realized characters that shine with their own unique voices. From kindly, talking lions, magical palaces, Gods and beings of Indian mythology, Kiki Kallira Breaks A Kingdom is a gripping, exciting, and emotional read, with an ending that is pitch perfect - no more, no less than necessary. Easily one of my favourite middle grade reads of 2021.
The writing is smooth, smart, and the plotting is perfectly paced for a read that is very difficult to put down! With a strong focus and discussion on anxiety this middle grade elevates itself by bringing great insights and conversations to middle grade readers, many of whom are experiencing similar emotions to Kiki in these pandemic times. Kiki is relatable, flawed, kind, and you root for her every step of the way.
Imaginative, funny, and compelling this delightful middle grade features a great core group - The Crow Club - of extremely likeable, fully realized characters that shine with their own unique voices. From kindly, talking lions, magical palaces, Gods and beings of Indian mythology, Kiki Kallira Breaks A Kingdom is a gripping, exciting, and emotional read, with an ending that is pitch perfect - no more, no less than necessary. Easily one of my favourite middle grade reads of 2021.
readingthroughtheages's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This one took awhile for me to get into. There was a big cast of characters and I had trouble remembering them and remembering traits. I needed to start a map of characters to help me. Once I had a handle on them, I was better able to enjoy the story. The last 100 pages went by quickly, just wish I had been able to fall into the story before that.
This one took awhile for me to get into. There was a big cast of characters and I had trouble remembering them and remembering traits. I needed to start a map of characters to help me. Once I had a handle on them, I was better able to enjoy the story. The last 100 pages went by quickly, just wish I had been able to fall into the story before that.
books_plan_create's review
5.0
Oh my heart. I loved this book so so much. Kiki Kallira is just your normal London girl who has fears that a goose is going to burgle her home and murder her mom....yes you read that correctly! Kiki has severe anxiety and to help her brain stop fixating on things that could go wrong, she draws. Starting a new sketchbook, she draws out scenes from an Indian mythology tale her mother told her, but there's just one problem with that...It becomes real! Now Kiki has to defeat the now real mythological bad guy in her imaginary mythological world with a group of rebel kids before he enters Kiki's world.
I enjoyed this book because it dealt with anxiety issues in a way that makes it easy to understand for kids, and adults. There is also apparent growth of all of the characters in the book, and it was just a fun ride.
I adored the audio narrator Zenia Starr-she has a lovely accent to bring life to Kiki, even though for some reason I kept wanting her to speak like Moaning Myrtle from the Harry Potter movies lol. But seriously, she brought a lot of exasperation and emotion to the story in a wonderful way.
So, if you or someone you know is a fan of Paola Santiago or Aru Sha they will enjoy this book! And now I have to go look into more books by Sangu Mandanna whilst waiting for (hopefully!!) a 2nd Kiki book.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc! And thank you Penguin Random House audio for the review audio.
I enjoyed this book because it dealt with anxiety issues in a way that makes it easy to understand for kids, and adults. There is also apparent growth of all of the characters in the book, and it was just a fun ride.
I adored the audio narrator Zenia Starr-she has a lovely accent to bring life to Kiki, even though for some reason I kept wanting her to speak like Moaning Myrtle from the Harry Potter movies lol. But seriously, she brought a lot of exasperation and emotion to the story in a wonderful way.
So, if you or someone you know is a fan of Paola Santiago or Aru Sha they will enjoy this book! And now I have to go look into more books by Sangu Mandanna whilst waiting for (hopefully!!) a 2nd Kiki book.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc! And thank you Penguin Random House audio for the review audio.
kaylasonlyheart's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
pomegranateseedpress's review
2.0
I'm conflicted.
I wanted to love this book so much - heroic girl featuring fantastical Mysore? Indian mythology? Drawing comes to life? Artist main character? I loved all of these things. Even an unexpected turn of events that I didn't see coming.
Still - something about the story fell flat. We read this aloud at bedtime and it took 7 long MONTHS for us to finish. We literally read dozens of books in between it because the story lagged so much- we lost interest - my son didn't enjoy it at all - but we persevered. In the end, I'd really rate it 2.5. It was an Owl Crate book for us - and I had high expectations -but to be honest - both Owl Crate books we've read so far haven't been that great.
What was it about the story that fell so flat? I think there were a lot of holes in the world building that made it hard to believe (couldn't she just draw her way out of everything? with the power of her pencil creating things - seems like there was a lot of potential for alternate stories here)... the character herself I found hard to get into her head, her viewpoint. So much telling and information dumping that I wasn't lead into the world with wonder - we were just told tons of details and how everything worked, which took away the magic of discovering it as a mystery...
I'm not sure if the high expectations are what made it fall flat, but it just didn't work for us, despite wanting to love it. Yay for diversity though.
I wanted to love this book so much - heroic girl featuring fantastical Mysore? Indian mythology? Drawing comes to life? Artist main character? I loved all of these things. Even an unexpected turn of events that I didn't see coming.
Still - something about the story fell flat. We read this aloud at bedtime and it took 7 long MONTHS for us to finish. We literally read dozens of books in between it because the story lagged so much- we lost interest - my son didn't enjoy it at all - but we persevered. In the end, I'd really rate it 2.5. It was an Owl Crate book for us - and I had high expectations -but to be honest - both Owl Crate books we've read so far haven't been that great.
What was it about the story that fell so flat? I think there were a lot of holes in the world building that made it hard to believe (couldn't she just draw her way out of everything? with the power of her pencil creating things - seems like there was a lot of potential for alternate stories here)... the character herself I found hard to get into her head, her viewpoint. So much telling and information dumping that I wasn't lead into the world with wonder - we were just told tons of details and how everything worked, which took away the magic of discovering it as a mystery...
I'm not sure if the high expectations are what made it fall flat, but it just didn't work for us, despite wanting to love it. Yay for diversity though.
georgiahutchinson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
meg_mazzaferro's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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? N/A
4.75