Cover Image: Diana: Princess of the Amazons

Diana: Princess of the Amazons

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I thought this book was perfect for kids, and made you want to read more. I can't wait until it comes out next month so I can order it for the library and re-read it again.

Was this review helpful?

I received an electronic copy from DC Entertainment through NetGalley.
Graphic novel
Readers get a first hand view of a piece of Diana's childhood. Like any child, she feels neglected and ignored at times. Her mom is busy and everyone else is caught in their roles and routines. So, she creates a clay young girl to see if she can bring it to life as her mother did. This "works," and they enjoy adventures together. Slowly the tone of the adventures changes and Diana goes against what she knows is right to play with her new friend. This culminates in opening the door to Tartarus and allowing monsters to escape. Her friend's real identity is revealed, and Diana has to make decisions on her own to do what is right.
The strong, detailed illustrations bring the Amazon's world to life. Readers will be drawn in to see how Wonder Woman grew up. The dialogue is easy to follow and offers moments for readers to think about their own actions and relate to the situations. Middle graders will see a character who experiences many of the same emotions as they themselves are.

Was this review helpful?

This was honestly SO ADORABLE. I really loved the story and the art style. I liked getting to see a younger Diana and how she would have felt, being the only child in a world full of adults who have lived for hundreds of years. I liked seeing the conflict in her and how she chose the right path, even as such a young girl. This was just so pretty and adorable and I adored it <3

Was this review helpful?

Diana, Princess of the Amazons is a graphic novel that my students will love! I'm glad we don't have to wait long for its release. In this story, Diana is 11, and the only kid on her island. She loves the other Amazons but also doubts whether she truly is an Amazon. Feeling lonely, she shapes a friend out of clay, hoping it will magically come to life. When it does, she is thrilled to have a playmate - but soon her friend begins to pressure her to play mean-spirited tricks and the reader suspects that something about this friend is not right.
Although this book is about pre-Wonder Woman Diana, kids can relate to the loneliness, peer pressure, and guilt after getting pulled into dangerous behavior.
The illustrations are gorgeous and portray the characters' emotions so well. This will be a preorder for me, for sure!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic art and a heart-filled and interesting story that should delight middle grade readers. This story captures the feelings of growing up and seeming out of place, where everything is too young or too old for you, through the lens of an exciting Wonder Woman adventure! I hope DC continues to make beautiful, funny graphic novels for all ages.

Was this review helpful?

Perfect for young fans of Wonder Woman who aren't yet ready for Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman: Warbringer (also very good).

Full of the Hales' signature artwork and hopeful messaging. Diana is lonely as the only child on Themiscyra and decides to make herself a friend out of clay. But that friend is a prankster, urging Diana to do things she's not comfortable with and that harm her fellow Amazons/their work.

Strong messaging about friendship and peer pressure, without feeling like moralizing.


I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun, cute graphic novel about a young Diana aka Wonder Woman. She's feeling left out because she's the only child so she creates a friend for herself who gets her into all kinds of mischief and more. Diana learns a couple of valuable lessons by the end.

Was this review helpful?

When I found out Shannon and Dean Hale wrote this graphic novel, it took me back to the days when I would read their graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge over and over and over again. I was really excited to see their take on Diana, and It. Was. Fantastic.

Quick Thoughts
-The art is beautiful and kid-friendly. Bright colors, lots of scenery and background characters, but the focus never strays from Diana. I'm always interested to see how different artists depict Themyscira, and this version was beautiful and bright.
-I loved this depiction of Hippolyta. She's usually middle-aged or older, but in this rendition she's a younger woman, looks to be in her mid-twenties. This choice was interesting to me—it made her look like a softer mother, more distracted than stern.
-There are some great action scenes!

Lasting Impressions

Diana's struggle to fit in and be a good Amazon is so incredibly relatable. She's trying to be like her mother, but she's stuck in that place where she's too young to mess around much, but not old enough to train or take part in things grown Amazons do. Her desire to please her mom that conflicted with her desire to have a friend really made my heart go out to her. Diana's growth in realizing the kind of person she really wants to be was really wonderful to. When she makes mistakes, she learns that she can make up for them and still be the daughter—and the Amazon—her mother wants her to be.

The themes of friendship and peer pressure are woven throughout this tale as well. When Diana meets her new friend, she just wants to have fun, even if that fun isn't the kind she thinks is good. But eventually she learns to stand up for herself and for those around her.

I also want to note that this is probably the best pacing I've experience in the DC Zoom and DC Ink line yet. I've often found like the plots are slightly too rushed, or they end too quickly. But I didn't find this to be the case at all. The way the Hales handled Diana's growth along with the pacing of a short graphic novel was brilliant.

Overall Feelings

This is definitely one of my favorite graphic novels that DC Zoom and DC Ink has put out so far. It has wonderful themes, excellent pacing, and the art is beautiful. Reading this book was a fun experience, and I'm sure kids will really appreciate it as well.

This review will appear on www.allisawhitebooks.wordpress.com on Jan 7.

Was this review helpful?

I have been on the Diana Prince train ever since the new Wonder Woman movie came out and I have no plans on jumping off any time soon! This graphic novel was adorable. The writing was quick and easy and the illustrations were great. The story was fun and I loved seeing Diana as a little girl. We definitely get to see a glimpse of the women Diana will eventually become, but this was a fun peek into her childhood. I would definitely recommend this graphic novel to anyone whose a fan of the movies, original comics or just WW in general!

Was this review helpful?

ARC via Netgalley. ADORABLE. What a perfect middle-grade take on Wonder Woman! Diana, as the only child on an island of immortal warrior women, is lonely. She's too old for the games she used to love, but too young to take part in adult life, and she feels like her mother isn't making time for her like she used to. When her attempt to make a friend out of clay (like her mother made Diana) succeeds, it seems too good to be true! ...and maybe it is, since her new friend's games are a little mean. Can Diana stand up to her friend? Victoria Ying's art is a gorgeous match for the story, and all in all I would love to hand this book to any young superhero fan.

Was this review helpful?

What a great story of a young Diana that will resonate with kids. You don't need any outside knowledge of the Wonder Woman comics to be able to follow it, though fans will find a lot to be excited about as well. Loneliness, not being good enough, and vying for parental attention are some of the themes that are just as relevant to kids as the young Amazon. Handled with appropriate seriousness and weight, it's not too dark or violent for its intended middle grade range.

Was this review helpful?

The Hales have done it again! Their latest creation centers around Diana, the Amazon princess better known as Wonder Woman, as she grows up the only child on the female warriors' mystical island. Diana is so desperate for a friend her age that she forms one out of clay--but trouble ensues when Diana starts to suspect that Mona doesn't have the island's best interests at heart. What follows is a sweet but suspenseful story about peer pressure and self respect. Readers will relate to Diana's loneliness and thirst to be treated like an adult, and of course Diana will appeal to fans of superheroes and Greek mythology alike. The illustrations, while not groundbreaking, are bright and engaging and help bring the Amazonian paradise (with just a hint of danger) to life. Ages 8 to 12.

Was this review helpful?

Diana: Princess of the Amazons is just too cute. My nine year old daughter would love this story and the drawings are fun and colorful. As the only child among the Amazons, Diana's life is lonely without any playmates. Her mother, Queen Hippolyta and her endless number of aunts spend their days training and dealing with adult responsibilities. Diana is bored with all the studying she does and tired of spending her time alone. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Diana finds herself a playmate but things are not all hunky dory. Life lessons come fast and hard as Diana is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions. I really enjoyed the story and I would happily pass it on to my children to enjoy knowing that it has a moral to the tale. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Diana has never felt like she has fit in on Themyscira. Being the only kid on the isle makes it impossible to find a friend to play with and lately her mother and all her aunties have been way to busy for her.

That changes when Diana makes herself a friend named Mona out of clay and sand…the biggest surprise is that Mona actually comes to life! But Diana soon learns that having a friend is a lot harder then you would think!

This was such a cute read! It’s perfect for younger fans of Wonder Woman. The art work is super adorable and the story was really good too. It had a lot of important life lessons. It would be perfect for middle schoolers as well as older elementary students!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!*

Was this review helpful?

What a fun graphic novel! The plot and illustrations were appealing. Kids will definitely relate to Diana's feelings of frustration and wanting to prove herself, as well as enjoy the bright, adorable illustrations.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute story for middle-grade readers. I am a big fan of Shannon Hale, and I couldn't wait to read her take on Wonder Woman. Older readers might find the plot predictable and simplistic. Fans of Hale and Telgemier will enjoy this light-hearted story. I was disappointed that there wasn't much action. Also, I would love to see Diana use her powers. However, this is a good story, and younger graphic novel readers will enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, the illustrations are great. With the success of Wonder Woman in theaters this is a great follow up piece for the elementary age group. I can see many girls reading this, especially because there is another movie coming out. I hope we see more books about Diana from this duo.

Was this review helpful?

We are such big Wonder Woman fans that this was an easy review for us. Diana: Princess of Amazons is such a fun combination of mischief and magic. Kids who like superheroes, graphic novels and adventure will love Diana.

It's funny. It's full of adventure. The characters are fun and authentic. It felt like Diana was a girl we could relate to. Readers who like DC Comics Super Hero Society, Raina Telgemeier, and Shannon Hale's previous books should grab this right away.

The two graphic novel readers in my house are very excited to find out if this is a series!

3rd and 5th grader approved!

Was this review helpful?

This was a great telling of young Diana full of adventure and beautiful artwork. The themes touch on much one would expect for a child all alone without other children and a mother just wanting to keep her precious gift safe for as long as possible. I have and will continue to recommend Hale's work to young and older readers alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Diana, Princess of the Amazons is a cute graphic novel following an 11-year-old Diana A.K.A Wonder Woman as she struggles with being the only child on the entire island of Themyscira. This book was such a fun time, and I imagine that for the right age range, it would be even more incredible! I truly don't have too much to say about this one. It probably won't be one of the more memorable things I've read, but I enjoy reading any kind of take on a superhero, and this one was no different!

Was this review helpful?