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the_immortal_library's review against another edition
4.0
Title: Diana and the island of no return.
Author: Aisha Saeed
Rating 4 ⭐️
This story follows Diana of Themyscira in her younger years while she is still living with the Amazons. During the most busy week on the island Diana and her best friend get “dragged” into a quest to save two islands. An evil entity has taken over Saz an island protected by the gods, and he has his sites set on Diana. Can Diana defeat this evil and save her island or will her strength shine through?
I really enjoyed this book. It is middle grade and I would recommend for higher elementary and middle school. It was a very different take on Diana as we usually see her once she has already become Wonder Woman. She is smart, strong and determined. She kind, caring and loyal. Her relationship with her best friend Sakina is wonderful and sisterly and I am here for it!
I received this book from the publisher via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
#dcbooks #dccomics #wonderwoman #dianaofthemyscira #themyscira #middlegrade #aishasaeed
Author: Aisha Saeed
Rating 4 ⭐️
This story follows Diana of Themyscira in her younger years while she is still living with the Amazons. During the most busy week on the island Diana and her best friend get “dragged” into a quest to save two islands. An evil entity has taken over Saz an island protected by the gods, and he has his sites set on Diana. Can Diana defeat this evil and save her island or will her strength shine through?
I really enjoyed this book. It is middle grade and I would recommend for higher elementary and middle school. It was a very different take on Diana as we usually see her once she has already become Wonder Woman. She is smart, strong and determined. She kind, caring and loyal. Her relationship with her best friend Sakina is wonderful and sisterly and I am here for it!
I received this book from the publisher via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
#dcbooks #dccomics #wonderwoman #dianaofthemyscira #themyscira #middlegrade #aishasaeed
wombat_88's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
kathryn_fletcher's review against another edition
4.0
This book is set when Diana was a preteen (estimate). Her mother won’t let her train but Diana has watched warrior women train her whole life. She was finally given a sword the previous summer, but it is not THE sword. The lasso of truth does make an appearance in this book and plays a role.
In the beginning of this book, Diana is eagerly awaiting her friend’s arrival for the festival. Her friend lives on a secret island with people who are keepers of knowledge. (I want to live on THAT island!)
Then during the festival Diana discovers a boy. Of course, she’s never seen a boy before so she is curious. She isn’t sure if she can trust him when he warns her of great danger.
Who will like this story?
Island of No Return is a quick, easy read perfect for preteens. A strong 3rd grade reader could enjoy this book. The writing style is utilitarian and straightforward which is good for this kind of book.
If you like a fast-paced superhero stories about friendship, trust, and bravery, you’ll love this story. I teach kids age 11-13 and I see them struggling to navigate friendships. In middle school their friend circle expands as they meet new people and with that comes a prioritizing of time that they didn’t have to do as much before. With this sometimes comes a feeling of betrayal when their friends don’t make them a priority.
Kids struggle with who they can trust with which secrets and dreams. Sometimes they trust the wrong friends and learn difficult lessons. There is a lot in this story about trust which will resonate with readers in this age group.
In the beginning of this book, Diana is eagerly awaiting her friend’s arrival for the festival. Her friend lives on a secret island with people who are keepers of knowledge. (I want to live on THAT island!)
Then during the festival Diana discovers a boy. Of course, she’s never seen a boy before so she is curious. She isn’t sure if she can trust him when he warns her of great danger.
Who will like this story?
Island of No Return is a quick, easy read perfect for preteens. A strong 3rd grade reader could enjoy this book. The writing style is utilitarian and straightforward which is good for this kind of book.
If you like a fast-paced superhero stories about friendship, trust, and bravery, you’ll love this story. I teach kids age 11-13 and I see them struggling to navigate friendships. In middle school their friend circle expands as they meet new people and with that comes a prioritizing of time that they didn’t have to do as much before. With this sometimes comes a feeling of betrayal when their friends don’t make them a priority.
Kids struggle with who they can trust with which secrets and dreams. Sometimes they trust the wrong friends and learn difficult lessons. There is a lot in this story about trust which will resonate with readers in this age group.
emperor_e's review
4.0
First I would like to say that if I was rating the cover art I would give it a 5/5. I love the colors, the art style, everything.
The characters are well done, with noticeable development. I especially enjoyed Sakina’s character. Plus bonus points for having a cat, although I definitely would not have complained if the cat was in it a bit more.
It had a pretty good plot, although I didn’t exactly think the plot twists were great, but then again I don’t often think plot twists are great. Not because I don’t like plot twists, I love plot twists, but because they are typically not a shock to me. This one had more minor plot twists, and then one bigger one, which I guessed early on.
This was a pretty quick read that was written well. I would recommend it for Wonder Woman fans, or just those who like a good fantasy adventure novel.
The characters are well done, with noticeable development. I especially enjoyed Sakina’s character. Plus bonus points for having a cat, although I definitely would not have complained if the cat was in it a bit more.
It had a pretty good plot, although I didn’t exactly think the plot twists were great, but then again I don’t often think plot twists are great. Not because I don’t like plot twists, I love plot twists, but because they are typically not a shock to me. This one had more minor plot twists, and then one bigger one, which I guessed early on.
This was a pretty quick read that was written well. I would recommend it for Wonder Woman fans, or just those who like a good fantasy adventure novel.
nutmegandpumpkin's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
A lighthearted, fun, and entertaining middle grade read ♥︎
Some of the plot was cliché and the conflict was a bit too easily solved / wrapped up but this didn’t take away from the enjoyment factor.
Some of the plot was cliché and the conflict was a bit too easily solved / wrapped up but this didn’t take away from the enjoyment factor.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping
zarafray4's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley, Aisha Saeed, and Random House Children for allowing me to read this book.
What if I told you that the world was in danger, and it was up to a master potions maker, a scholar, and a warrior to save it? How about if I told you that those three were just kids? That is what happens in Diana and the Island of No Return.
This book is a fun Mid-grade story that follows Wonder Woman herself, well, more like Wonder Girl, as Diana is still a kid. She and her friend Sakina find a mysterious boy hiding on the island. He pleads for their help and they agree. This follows the three kids and their adventures in learning to trust each other and themselves and saving the lives of those they love in the process.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a fun, fast paced adventure that I think kids and adults alike would enjoy. We all know who Wonder Woman is, but this story gives us a glimpse of what she was like before she donned the boots and lasso. It was a story of trust, friendship, and finding your inner strength.
This book was definitely action packed and so there was never a lull in the story. The one thing that I did notice was a times the author was a bit redundant. The same information that I had just read, would be said again a few sentences later. This could be to remind the intended audience, of 8-12 year olds what was going on.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to follow Diana in her next adventure.
#NetGalley #DianaandtheIslandofNoReturn
What if I told you that the world was in danger, and it was up to a master potions maker, a scholar, and a warrior to save it? How about if I told you that those three were just kids? That is what happens in Diana and the Island of No Return.
This book is a fun Mid-grade story that follows Wonder Woman herself, well, more like Wonder Girl, as Diana is still a kid. She and her friend Sakina find a mysterious boy hiding on the island. He pleads for their help and they agree. This follows the three kids and their adventures in learning to trust each other and themselves and saving the lives of those they love in the process.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a fun, fast paced adventure that I think kids and adults alike would enjoy. We all know who Wonder Woman is, but this story gives us a glimpse of what she was like before she donned the boots and lasso. It was a story of trust, friendship, and finding your inner strength.
This book was definitely action packed and so there was never a lull in the story. The one thing that I did notice was a times the author was a bit redundant. The same information that I had just read, would be said again a few sentences later. This could be to remind the intended audience, of 8-12 year olds what was going on.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to follow Diana in her next adventure.
#NetGalley #DianaandtheIslandofNoReturn
the_fabric_of_words's review
5.0
We love Wonder Woman (ok, maybe not that second movie, we'll just pretend like that never happened) and really loved Leigh Bardugo's Warbringer, the YA novelization of the first movie, so we dived right into these two MG books.
In the first book, the island of Themyscira quakes and a -- gasp -- boy arrives on a ship that docks with Diana's best friend, Princess Sakina, and Sakina's family. He tells Diana he's being used as a servant, a near-slave, by Sakina's mother, who is one of Queen Hippolyta's close friends, fellow leader and trusted confidant.
Diana is plagued by doubt. Would another Queen do this to a boy, a child no less? Then, every woman on the island falls mysteriously asleep -- all except for Diana, Sakina and the boy. She nicks the Lasso of Truth from the armory and learns from the boy he's snuck onto her island under entirely false pretenses.
A demon is trying to capture Diana for his own nefarious purposes, and the boy poisoned everyone to get to Diana. He did so under duress, however. The demon is holding all his loved ones hostage until he returns with Diana.
Diana will do whatever it takes to save the Amazons. But the cure is not on the island, it's on the boy's, with all the demon's hostages. Diana must leave her protected oasis, defeat the demon and come back with the cure to save her family and every Amazon she loves.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
In the first book, the island of Themyscira quakes and a -- gasp -- boy arrives on a ship that docks with Diana's best friend, Princess Sakina, and Sakina's family. He tells Diana he's being used as a servant, a near-slave, by Sakina's mother, who is one of Queen Hippolyta's close friends, fellow leader and trusted confidant.
Diana is plagued by doubt. Would another Queen do this to a boy, a child no less? Then, every woman on the island falls mysteriously asleep -- all except for Diana, Sakina and the boy. She nicks the Lasso of Truth from the armory and learns from the boy he's snuck onto her island under entirely false pretenses.
A demon is trying to capture Diana for his own nefarious purposes, and the boy poisoned everyone to get to Diana. He did so under duress, however. The demon is holding all his loved ones hostage until he returns with Diana.
Diana will do whatever it takes to save the Amazons. But the cure is not on the island, it's on the boy's, with all the demon's hostages. Diana must leave her protected oasis, defeat the demon and come back with the cure to save her family and every Amazon she loves.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
emilyyjjean's review
4.0
I adored this book. It was a fun and thrilling read. I loved reading about Diana when she is younger, before she knows her true power. She had to problem solve situations with her friends, and had to work as a team.
This would be a great book for younger people getting into DC or Wonder Woman. It's also a great read for older DC fans as well! I'm excited to read the upcoming books in the series.
This would be a great book for younger people getting into DC or Wonder Woman. It's also a great read for older DC fans as well! I'm excited to read the upcoming books in the series.
beeostrowsky's review
4.0
A rip-roaring adventure tale in which tweens .
I’m well above the target audience’s age, so what felt to me like a tutorial-level puzzle in a mobile game () is probably more exciting for middle grades readers.
The most satisfying emotional moment by far was the older gentleman towards the end who said “” — some MG/YA protagonists don’t get that kind of affirmation.
Spoiler
outwit a bounty-hunting demon in order to save two civilizations from ruinI’m well above the target audience’s age, so what felt to me like a tutorial-level puzzle in a mobile game (
Spoiler
We need to make a new potion! Here’s a complete list of ingredients and where to find them.The most satisfying emotional moment by far was the older gentleman towards the end who said “