[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
The Amazons were created by the Five Mothers – Athena, Aphrodite, Demeter, Artemis, and Hestia – to protect the world from great evil. As they wait to be called to duty, they train.
In the waiting, the queen of the Amazons longs for a child. And the Mothers grant her wish. Now it is Diana’s 16th birthday. For the last year she has had mood swings and fainting spells. But she’s hoping that is all over now that she is 16 because that would mean she can start training with the warriors.
During Diana’s birthday celebration, alarms sound. Refugees have broken through the barrier to their island. While the queen works to send the refugees away and repair the barrier, Diana defies her and dives into the ocean to save drowning children. Once she saves everyone, the barrier is repaired… with Diana on the outside. The island – her home – disappears.
Review
This was fantastic! It’s a great contemporary Wonder Woman story. Diana ends up in a camp with the refugees. Then she meets a couple of UN staff – a married couple named Steve and Trevor, who recognize her intelligence and her gift for languages and help her get to the US. There Diana gets to know her host family. She sees homeless people and gives food to hungry kids. Her sense of justice is strong and grows stronger. Then she takes on the issue of child trafficking.
All of the social issues covered in the book are age-appropriate (in my opinion) for teens. They are issues a lot of teens today are already concerned about.
I wasn’t clear if Diana’s “changeling” behavior is supposed to just be puberty or if there’s something more going on there. And the young woman from her host family runs hot and cold in ways that aren’t completely explained in the story. But in the end, the two of them fight side by side to care for the people who need help and a voice when no one will listen to them.
There are some unfinished story threads here, which makes me wonder if there might be a sequel. If so, I am here for it. DC continues to do an excellent job with the storytelling in their new graphic novels for kids and teens. You can check out more of my reviews here.
DC Entertainment has graciously shared some pictures of the artwork from the interior of the book.
