Diana: Princess of the Amazons

Indigo-haired Diana, “too old or too young for everything,” gets more than she wishes for when she succeeds in breathing life into a clay figure she hopes will be her friend. Diana’s the only child among the Amazons, female warriors who never age—and her mother is their queen, with little attention to spare: “Not yet, Diana,” she snaps after being asked to play, then turns to a colleague: “Senator, I understand your concern.” By contrast, Mona, Diana’s clay creation, offers her loyalty and warmth: “We’re birds of a feather,” she tells Diana. But Mona has no scruples, and making trouble amuses her: “Don’t be a wimp,” she taunts in one scene. “Aren’t Amazons supposed to be brave?” In this smartly paced adventure, the Hales (the Princess in Black series) create a persuasive portrait of a girl torn between her need for companionship and her inner doubts about Mona’s demands. Ying (Meow!) draws Diana with polished lines and facial expressions that make her conflicting emotions plain. A suspenseful climax offers action on a supernatural scale, and with an all-female cast of warriors, there’s no shortage of role models. Ages 8–12. [em](Jan.) [/em]