A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything

by Kirsten W Larson (Author) Katy Wu (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A behind-the-scenes look at the creation and evolution of Wonder Woman, the iconic character who has inspired generations of girls and women as a symbol of female strength and power.

Perhaps the most popular female superhero of all time, Wonder Woman was created by Bill Marston in 1941, upon the suggestion of his wife, Elizabeth. Wonder Woman soon showed what women can do--capture enemy soldiers, defeat criminals, become president, and more. Her path since has inspired women and girls while echoing their ever-changing role in society.

Now a new group of devoted young fans enjoy her latest films, Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984, and await a third installation being planned for theatrical release. This exceptional book raises up the many women who played a part in her evolution, from Elizabeth Marston to writer Joye Hummel to director Patty Jenkins, and makes clear that the fight for gender equality is still on-going.

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School Library Journal

Gr 3-5--Focusing on the ups and downs of Wonder Woman's status as a role model, Larson begins with the superheroine's origins in 1941. The author details changes through the years as Wonder Woman went from capturing enemy soldiers and even serving as president of the United States (in the far future) to, in the 1950s, just angling to retire and marry before being revived as a feminist icon in subsequent decades and becoming the strong, independent TV and movie star of today. Skipping over seamier details (Wonder Woman's creator William Marston was a real piece of work, by other accounts), the author names and pays tribute to the women writers and editors who played prominent roles in the predominantly white male world of comics publishing to create the WW stories and, later, films. In a personal afterword preceding the generous list of further resources, Larson also connects Wonder Woman's long fight for social justice to real-world struggles for civil and equal rights. Possibly for licensing reasons, Wu steers clear of clear or conventional depictions of Wonder Woman--and covers her cleavage with discreet swirls of bunting to keep censors at bay, too--but fills the illustrations with images of proud, active fans, mostly (but not entirely) girls and women, of diverse races. VERDICT References to Diana Prince's actual adventures and feats are scattered, so readers will have to look elsewhere for her background and exploits, but this picture book tribute provides a strong motive for doing so.--John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

★ "[I]nspiring and entertaining, much like Wonder Woman herself....A lively exploration of recent women's history as well as the creation of an iconic female superhero."—Kirkus, STARRED review

★ "This story about Wonder Woman, the iconic comic book, comic strip, TV show, and blockbuster superhero movie persona, splendidly parallels the history of women in America over the past 80 years....This is an engaging addition to the superhero canon and packs quite a punch for everyday women heroes."—Booklist, STARRED review
Kirsten W Larson
Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. She is the author of Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane and A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything, along with several forthcoming titles. She lives near Los Angeles, California, with her family.

Katherine Roy is the award-winning author and illustrator of many science-based books for kids, including her Sibert Honor book Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands and How to Be an Elephant: Growing Up in the African Wild. She is also the illustrator of Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere and of Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars. She lives with her husband and sons in Oregon, where she loves gazing up at the stars.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780358238423
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
September 28, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF025210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/20th Century
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
JNF023000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Girls & Women
JNF062010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Biography
JNF062020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | History
JNF006010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | Cartooning
JNF062040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Social Topics
Library of Congress categories
United States
History and criticism
Comic books, strips, etc
Superheroes
Women superheroes
Comic strip characters
Wonder Woman
Women heroes in literature

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