Laurie Halse Anderson puts her keen eye for emotional depth and understanding of what it's like being a teenager grappling with a difficult world to work in this first contact story with a young Wonderwoman. The optimism and logic that Diana tries to approach the heavy themes of refugee settlements, human trafficking, and child hunger makes them approachable for younger readers. Middle school grades and up will enjoy this social justice packed story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laurie Halse Anderson, and DC Entertainment for the opportunity to read Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, I really wanted to read this because I greatly admire Laurie Halse Anderson as a writer, and I was not disappointed.

This comic reimagines the origin story of Wonder Woman, known as Diana. While some of the beginning is similar--an exclusive island of all females, Amazons, hidden by a barrier from the rest of the world--the twist this takes highlights very serious and real issues in the world today.

This volume contains some historical elements as well as exploring issues such as human trafficking, homelessness, war, and immigration. I found the way this was written to be quite educational and appreciated the course our sixteen-year-old protagonist went in this new Wonder Woman beginning. This book also explores important topics to a teenage audience, such as family, friendship, and finding one's place in the world.

Also, the art is pretty darn amazing.

This is a lovely fresh start!

This phenomenal Wonder Woman story feature a rather satisfyingly clumsy Diana, who we have the pleasure of seeing (literally) grow into herself as the story progresses. Anderson's top notch writing deftly weaves teenage coming of age with immigrant justice, and Del Luca's art hearkens beautifully to the original WW comics, with a modern spin on color and contrast. The story features a cast that is diverse in race and (not quite as much) body type, and has some LGBTQIA+ representation. The serious aspects of the story are levened with Diana's misunderstandings of the modern world. Over all a tender, but hard hitting Wonder Woman story that leaves you ready to fight and ready for more. I would expect nothing less.

I really enjoyed this book. We really need more realistically people out there like Diana. I loved the illustration in the story. It was very powerful in my opinion.

Oh crap I freaking loved this and honestly I needed some wonder woman in my life right now

Diana is always my favorite her bravery and kindness always inspire me and right now the world could use
some Diana Prince

Everyone needs to read this the moment it comes out!!

The art in this comment was absolutely beautiful and I absolutely loved the story it shows off some things that are actually wrong with our world at this time and Wonder Woman totally kicks ass!

Loved this modern take on the origins of Diana. The connections to modern day events are great. The naivety of Diana presents information in a way that is appropriate for younger students.

I am a huge fan of Laurie Halse Anderson's writing and was excited to pick up this graphic novel. I don't know much about Wonder Woman but found that this was very accessible to read without a lot of background knowledge. The bold art and color choices really complimented the story. Overall, this was a great read, even if you aren't super well versed in DC comics prior to.

I loved this story!!! What a powerful statement!!!! I loved the characters, setting, and plot! My attention was held the entire time!!!!! I couldn’t put the book down. 5/5 ⭐️

Unfortunately, I couldn't access this book to read it, due to technological difficulties and not having access to my office computer b/c of the COVID19 shutdown. The cover looks amazing and I love Laurie Halse Anderson's work so I'm sure it's going to be great. Can't wait to get it for my library!

When I initially read the description, I was entirely on board with a young, teen activist trying to make a difference within her community. But when I started reading, I became worried that the story was quickly going to become a political jab disguised as a progressive teen book. I was utterly wrong.

This comic touches on subjects such as immigration, child trafficking, homelessness, and child hunger. The characters have to explain each topic to Diana in a way she will understand. Her naivety reminds us that these complicated and challenging topics still need to be talked about and addressed. All too often, they get overshadowed in the media. My only issue was that there were so many topics. It almost seemed like there was a checklist of every societal issue going on right now. I wish there were more of a central focus on one of two issues.

Anderson also writes these topics in a way that young readers will understand how serious each issue is, without being too graphic. As the story progresses, a new societal problem appears for Diana to learn about for the first time. At some points, this got to be a bit monotonous, because I already know the seriousness of these issues.

These issues also give rise to the fact that Diana is not from New York. She is from an island with wisdom and strength. I thought that most of the world-building would consist of Themysciran, not NYC. For most of us, New York doesn't need an explanation, but it was a stark reminder of some of the living conditions in a city. I only wish that I got to spend more time on Themysciran to see more of Diana's childhood and backstory.

The reader won't be able to help loving Diana. Her optimum, spirit, and determination are contagious as she attempts to tackle every issue in front of her.

Overall, Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed is an excellent empowerment novel for any young reader. I highly recommend this one to any YA reader looking for a strong female character and story.

Diana of Themyscira is about to turn 16 years old and is a changeling. At 16, her strength and training are supposed to kick in, but when she goes to do the trials, she utterly fails. When a ship crashes and children are drowning beyond the barrier of the island, she goes to save them and can’t get back. Ending up in a refugee camp, she gets sent off on a Visa to America to attend college. Living with her exchange family, she doesn’t quite hit it off with her exchange sister. When children start disappearing, she begins to see the wrongs of the world and longs to fight for justice. Will Diana discover her inner strength and save the day? Can she become the Wonder Woman she is supposed to be? Characters are well-developed and engaging. The plot is well-written. The detailed, comic book-esque illustrations work well with the text to tell the story. Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and DC Comics will enjoy reading this graphic novel.

Please note: This was a complementary review copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

#WonderWomanTempestTossed

The colors and images are stunning (REALLY GORGEOUS). I don’t typically read graphic novels, so take this as a grain of salt, but I wish there had been more connection about the realities if teens see these things happening, even maybe as notes at the end or a place where Diana learns about resources that can be helpful. I’ve worked with an organization that helps victims of sex trafficking and I work with teens who don’t see that reality as something that can happen to them. I think more teens need the wake up call of the realities of what some people do that are bad things and what to look for, where to go, how to keep themselves safe and a graphic novel like this can easily put a few lines in to educate while entertaining.

This was an interesting version of Wonder Woman's start off story. It didn't go so far back as creation even though they do briefly touch on her being made out of clay and being fired upon by her mother. We do have Steve but Steve is not a love interest. Steve is actually married to another man and acts as a stepfather if you will. After she escapes her home and escaped baby the wrong word but kind of fits she gets stuck in our modern world. She has to learn to navigate this world and she's a teenager and the way they say things in the book to describe teenagers in her home is on she's a changeling. Where is we all know that's standard. She come to the u.s. as a refugee and starts getting involved with some nonprofit organizations feeding children excetera. She's amazed and not in a good way the way modern society works as compared to her home. You don't see a lot of action and when you do it's really fast not really well explain and and all I'm seeing what they just left it out. You get just a touch of the Wonder that is Wonder Woman. Overall I did like the story I think it's a great first step. However I wasn't completely wowed. I loved the world that Anderson has built for Diana and I want to see explored more. I want to see more of Diana Prince as a teenager as she learned how to navigate modern American society. I liked that there was no love interest. I love the artwork. All in all the book works and we'll find many fans.

A great graphic novel about Wonder Woman as a teen and how she ends up in America. As always, Laurie Halse Anderson tackles some tough topics with a 15-year old Diana in the streets of NYC.

Wonder Woman and Laurie Halse Anderson is honestly a perfect match. This beautiful, touching story about home and justice is incredible, and everyone should read it.

Quick Thoughts
-I have zero quick thoughts for this book. I just want to delve right into the nitty gritty of this amazing book. So let's get into it :)

Lasting Impressions

This is probably the most relatable version of Diana I've come across yet. At sixteen, she's dealing with... puberty! She is still struggling with it, but as the only teenager on Themiscyra, no one understands what she's going through. It's honestly kind of funny, since we've all been there. I also loved how the art didn't portray her as a super model—she's tall and gawky with so many flyaways that I know my sixteen-year-old self would have adored this version of her (not that I don't now).

Despite these differences in character design and development, Diana's big heart is still there. I love how her empathy shows, how her worry shows, and I was right there with her. The secondary character and fellow teenager Raissa is a good foil for Diana, and their friendship is a beautiful thing.

Anderson did an incredible job handling the themes of refugees, war, child trafficking, and more. It was wrenching to see Diana unable to do anything for her friends as she also finds herself a refugee from Themyscira.

Overall Feelings

I would love to see more of this version of Diana. Period. I could not get enough of this story.

From Wonder Woman’s origins story to her new life in present day NYC, Anderson seamlessly brings Diana Prince into the 21st century in this graphic novel. We start on Themyscira and Diana’s longing to be like the other Amazon warriors. But when 21st century Syrian refugees wash up on the beach, 16 year old Diana plunges into the ocean to save drowning children. When she comes up for air, the island has disappeared, and Diana is forced to become a refugee alongside those she’s rescued. When they land in Greece, Diana quickly puts her multilingual skills to use, earning the attention of a UN delegate and his doctor husband. They take Diana to NYC to live with this friend Henke and her teenage granddaughter. With Raissa, Diana helps feed the underprivileged children of Queens, learns about the travesty of homelessness, and uncovers a human trafficking plot. The ending nicely ties it all up and leaves the door open for future installments.

I’m not familiar with the original DC Wonder Woman comics, so I’m not sure how close Anderson has kept to the original origins story of Diana, but in this adaptation, it is clearly presented for the newbies and draws them in to the compassion that Diana embodies, and which is clearly still necessary in 2020.

This is a wonderful addition to the Wonder Woman Universe! Story and art combine for a modern, evocative coming of age story that perfectly captures the essence of Wonder Woman. Absolutely loved this!

Leave it to Laurie Halse Anderson to make the most relevant version of Wonder Woman I've ever seen. Perfectly deals with the confusion that comes with puberty and becoming a teenager, and pairs it with the plight of refugees, injustice, trafficking, and so many other topics important to today's world. Would highly recommend for classrooms!

It was okay. Although the artwork was good, I felt that the story was a little rushed and was jumpy all over the place. I did like the empowerment message about accepting your flaws and not letting it get the best of you, a similar statement that could be said about the view of the rest of society. The story targeted a lot of important issues: homelessness, refugees, immigration, gentrification, issues that will appeal and be understood by the younger audience. And it was great how Anderson tied it in with a different telling of Wonder Woman's origin story. I just wished it was better executed.

This graphic novel covers Wonder Woman’s formative years and her experience as a teenager who is very different from others her age in the world outside Themiscyra. When she tries to rescue drowning adults and children in the ocean outside of Themiscyra’s protective bubble, Wonder Woman loses her way and ends up in a refugee holding facility. When she is released, she goes with her new friends to New York City, where she finds that life is much harder and uglier than she thought. Experiencing injustice and watching abominable acts firsthand, Wonder Woman is outraged and frustrated when her attempts to stop the smuggling of children are thwarted over and over again. Will Wonder Woman prevail over gross injustice and heinous crimes? Will she find her way home again?

I enjoyed this graphic novel very much. The dialogue and the illustrations pair very well together and the storyline is heartbreaking and compelling. Though I prefer the Marvel characters and storylines, I do like to read Wonder Woman adaptations. This is a quick read, but it also packs a bit of a punch. I can’t say that I was overly thrilled about the political overtones of the story, but I also believe the story addresses a very real problem that is present in the world today that needs to be tackled. I didn't care for the profanity used, but other than that I believe this graphic novel would be a great read for anyone who enjoys comics, likes Wonder Woman’s strong character, and doesn’t mind the story being inherently political in nature.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.