Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Review of Wonder Woman at Super Hero High



Book #20. Wonder Woman at Super Hero High, by Lisa Yee. Hardcover.

I have become a big fan of the DC Superhero Girls universe. So when I saw this YA novel at the library, I knew that I wanted to pick it up. The story involves Wonder Woman arriving as a new student at Super Hero High, trying (often failing) at fitting in.

She arrives at the school as a typical overachiever, joining every club and wanting everybody to like her. One of the many hard lessons that she learns is that you can never get everybody to like you. Her drama includes her roommate Harley Quinn, who in her spare time runs the web-channel HQTV, a channel which doesn’t always show the heroes at their best. And of course Wonder Woman develops a crush on Steve Trevor, the boy at the ice cream shop.

The overall plot of the story involves the 100th occurrence of the major tournament that pits the students of Super Hero High against the best young heroes from schools around the planet. And in a few cases, from off the planet. If you are thinking that this seems like the Super-powered equivalent of the Tri-Wizard Tournament from Harry Potter, then you are correct.

One of the strengths of the book is the liberal use of DC Comics characters of all stripes. The large list of “Easter Eggs” includes Cheetah, Poison Ivy, Lois Lane, Captain Cold, Golden Glider, and Star Sapphire. The staff at the high school includes Principal Amanda Waller, PE teacher Wildcat, and costume-design teacher Crazy Quilt.

The story is exciting, and Wonder Woman learns many important lessons along the way. And it leads into what I’m sure is the next book in the series. The book ends with the arrival of a new girl in town: Supergirl!

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