Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom

 

Release date: July 6, 2021

My Thoughts:

This book is kind of a cross between Inkheart and Harold and the Purple Crayon with Indian mythology and a mental health/self care theme. 

This is a great tween adventure for readers who love girl power stories. What makes this more cheer worthy is that the "heroine, Kiki feels that her anxiety and OCD has taken over so much control of her world that she truly believes that her brain is broken and nothing can help her. Her self shame keeps her from reaching out for help, so the only way she feels she can quiet her mind is by drawing another world filled with the kids who know how to be brave and heroic for her. 

But when an ancient Indian demon that she drew starts creating havoc in her created world and in her own world, Kiki can no longer hide behind the heroes she created. In order to keep both worlds safe, she needs to conquer her brain and find her own source of strength. This sliding glass door story will also be a mirror for young readers who need to see beyond their own anxiety to the potential and strengths that they always possessed.

From the Publisher:

A rich fantasy-adventure that sees a girl's drawings of Indian mythology spring to vivid life--including the evil god who seeks to enter the real world and destroy it.

Kiki Kallira has always been a worrier. Did she lock the front door? Is there a terrible reason her mom is late? Recently her anxiety has been getting out of control, but one thing that has always soothed her is drawing. Kiki's sketchbook is full of fanciful doodles of the rich Indian myths and legends her mother has told her over the years.

One day, her sketchbook's calming effect is broken when her mythological characters begin springing to life right out of its pages. Kiki ends up falling into the mystical world she drew, which includes a lot of wonderful discoveries like the band of rebel kids who protect the kingdom, as well as not-so-great ones like the ancient deity bent on total destruction. As the one responsible for creating the evil god, Kiki must overcome her fear and anxiety to save both worlds--the real and the imagined--from his wrath. But how can a girl armed with only a pencil defeat something so powerful?