ISBN: 978-0399549731
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, 2017
Genre/Format: Superhero, Action-Adventure/Paperback, Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Awards
YALSA Teens’ Top Ten Nominee, 2018
Reading Level Ages 14+ (NoveList)
Plot Summary: Teenage Diana, daughter of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, has never felt like a true Amazon because she was made from clay unlike the others. But one day, during a race that she is determined to win, Diana sees an explosion off the coast and hears a human voice cry out as pieces of the boat sank down. Knowing that exile is the consequence for bringing a human to Themyscira, Diana still jumps into the sea to save the girl's life. Almost immediately, unexplained events occur on the island: people are falling ill and earthquakes keep rocking Themyscira. Knowing this is her fault, Diana consults the Oracle who tells her that the girl, Alia, she rescued is a Warbringer, a descendent of Helen of Troy. Unless Alia bathes in the springs of Therapne, great wars will break out in the mortal world. And so, Diana takes Alia to escape from Themyscira to Therapne but instead they end up in New York City in the middle of the Hudson River. Dragging themselves to shore, with no shoes, no money and afraid to contact anyone, the two must contend with the streets of New York and beyond to complete their journey. This journey becomes a quest for Diana to prove herself as a true Amazonian and for Alia to bring peace to herself and those around her. This version of Wonder Woman is filled with fascinating details and interesting characters while including many tales and gods from Greek mythology, making it a unique re-telling of Diana's origin story.
Author Background: Leigh Bardugo is a New York Times bestselling author of other Fantasy and Sci Fi novels, including the books that inspired the Netflix series Shadow and Bone.
Critical Evaluation: Wonder Woman: Warbringer is a detailed character study of Diana's origins as a superhero. It delves into her psyche so deeply that the author created a very realistic, fully fleshed out Diana unlike any I've ever seen or read about in the past. Also, the human characters introduced are typically flawed, but they are also given their own heroes' quest. Because of this, all of the characters work together to help Alia and none of them are helpless bystanders simply watching a superhero save the day. The book is a bit long and sometimes gets bogged down in details without much action, but overall it well paced and will be a fun read for anyone who likes Wonder Woman, especially those who are interested in a feminist take on her origin story. Additionally, though Diana is white, Alia and friends bring much-needed diversity to the Wonder Woman universe.
Speed-Round Book Talk: Princess Diana will be exiled if anyone finds out she rescued a human and dragged her to shore. Can she sneak the girl off the island, save her home from total destruction and prevent war from breaking out all over the world in the short window of time the Oracle has given her? Or is she doomed never to see home again and watch the mortal war destroy itself because she wasn't good enough to succeed?
Library Program: Wonder Woman is the perfect theme for a Friday evening lock-in for teens. There will be stations all over the library for various Wonder Woman-themed crafts, such as make your own cuffs, and activities, such as a truth or dare like game with the Lasso of Truth, and etc… The evening will conclude with an escape room which our superhero teens will have to figure out in order to go home.
Potential Challenges: If challenges exist to this book then it must be by someone who is against all superhero stories. It should go without saying that superhero stories are important and meaningful to many in the community and that they already are in the library in various formats, therefore this particular version should not be excluded.
Reason for Inclusion: Wonder Woman is so popular that this book has to be included in the collection. The story revamps Diana and the new characters introduced in the book from a feminist perspective, which will appeal to teenagers, especially girls.
Note: This book was released as a graphic novel in 2020. See the book trailer below.
References
Bardugo, L. (2021). Bio. Leigh Bardugo. https://www.leighbardugo.com/about/
DC. (2019). Wonder Woman: Warbringer | Official Trailer 2020. You Tube.
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