THE EMPRESS’S TOMB

The return of Kiki Strike and the Irregulars has the girls tackling an intricate series of seemingly unconnected mysteries that would baffle average teens. Ananka Fishbein narrates their adventure as the New York City friends venture underground to the Shadow City, but only for a brief visit. More pressing problems are afoot. Oona’s father, Lester Liu, wants to end his gangster ways and become legit. Oona is thrilled to connect with her father, but other Irregulars view her joy as betrayal and it threatens to drive a wedge in the girls’ camaraderie. Miller stirs up a wicked brew of Taiwanese illegal immigrants, Russian criminals, stolen artwork, a hottie guy prowling the park, angry squirrels, a haunted Victorian mansion and the mummified corpse of an ancient Chinese empress. Leave it to the can-do girls to dig deep for the common denominator to this mix and solve the puzzle. These characters are sassy, spirited and smart, and their adventures will appeal to young readers cut from the same mold. (Fiction. 11-14)