June 1, 2018
Gr 9 Up-Selina Kyle is back in Gotham two years after giving up everything to see her sister safely out of the city's slums. She is no longer the desperate, starving gang member. Now she is Holly Vanderhees: rich, beautiful, and cold. Holly has no sister, no family, no ties. She pretends to enjoy public fundraising galas in the evenings as Holly, while executing high-stakes clandestine heists after hours as Catwoman. She is an undefeated fighter and meticulous schemer. Best-selling Maas expertly brings DC's classic super-villain to a modern-day Gotham City. The action-packed writing and intricate world-building will both satisfy die-hard Batman fans as well as entice new readers. Maas's Catwoman has the perfect amount of talent, cunning, and drive to make her a delicious protagonist surrounded by strong, well-known characters like Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Batwing. VERDICT Containing light romance, feminism, and a diverse cast, this is a delightful and welcome addition to the franchise and an solid addition to any library.-Ariel Birdoff, New York Public Library
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 1, 2018
"When the Bat's Away, the Cat Will Play."A child of Gotham City's slums, almost 18-year-old Selina Kyle has a rap sheet that includes robbery, gambling, and maintaining her title as the undefeated champion fighter for the Leopards, a girl gang. But everything she does is for her younger half sister Maggie, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Apprehended by Talia al Ghul, leader of the infamous League of Assassins, Selina agrees to go with her to Italy on the condition that Maggie is well cared for. Fast-forward two years. Selina returns to Gotham as Holly Vanderhees, a blonde-haired billionaire socialite, and moonlights as Catwoman, the city's newly-christened Queen of the Underworld. Cue Luke Fox, son to Wayne Industries' CEO, a semipro boxer and an ex-Marine suffering from PTSD. He protects the city as Batwing and is determined to prove himself when Catwoman teams up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn while Batman is out of town. Maas (Tower of Dawn, 2017, etc.) has a gift for crafting fierce female protagonists. Selina is physically skilled, wickedly smart, and inhabits morally gray areas, making her a complex yet admirable antiheroine. Action-packed fight scenes, racial and sexual diversity (Harley and Ivy have history, Luke is black), and a dollop of romance will engage current and soon-to-be Catwoman fans.An epic shoutout to all the bad girls who know how to have fun. (Superhero fantasy. 12-18)
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