Miller, Kirsten 1973-

PERSONAL:

Born 1973; married; husband a writer.

ADDRESSES:

Home—New York, NY.

CAREER:

Writer. Works in advertising in New York, NY.

WRITINGS:

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, Bloomsbury Children's Books (New York, NY), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

In her first book in a projected new series, Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, author Kirsten Miller features fourteen-year-old Kiki Strike, an adventurous and heroic orphan whose goal is to be "dangerous." The story is narrated by Kiki's newfound friend, the meek Ananka Fishbein. When Ananka discovers a secret entrance to catacombs below New York City, Kiki sees an opportunity for adventure and to have access to all parts of the city. Along with four other Girl Scouts who have a variety of skills, such as forgery and computer hacking, Kiki and Ananka begin exploring the Shadow City, finding gold and other riches, as well as cadavers. In a review of Kiki Strike in Publishers Weekly, a contributor wrote that "the author's love for New York's nooks and crannies shines from every page, making this a rare adventure story." Frances Bradburn, writing in Booklist, noted: "First-time author Miller has created a fascinating, convoluted mystery-adventure." Sue Giffard commented in the School Library Journal that the novel "celebrates the courage and daring of seemingly ordinary girls, and it will thrill those who long for adventure and excitement." A Kirkus Reviews contributor wrote: "All in all, an absurdly satisfying romp for a disaffected smart girl."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July 1, 2006, Frances Bradburn, review of Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, p. 56.

Girls' Life, June-July, 2006, review of Kiki Strike, p. 34.

Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2006, review of Kiki Strike, p. 521.

Publishers Weekly, March 6, 2006, review of Kiki Strike, p. 37; June 12, 2006, review of Kiki Strike, p. 53.

School Library Journal, June, 2006, Sue Giffard,review of Kiki Strike, p. 162.

Vanity Fair, June, 2006, Elissa Schappell, review of Kiki Strike, p. 62.

ONLINE

Kiki Strike Web site,http://www.kikistrike.com (January 1, 2007).

TeenReads.com,http://www.teenreads.com/ (June 1, 2006), "Kirsten Miller," interview with author; (January 1, 2007), Chris Shanley-Dillman, review of Kiki Strike.