August 12, 2022
Gr 9 Up-In a future version of Gotham City, the Court of Owls has taken over the city and superheroes have disappeared. Women have many restrictions on them, including how they dress and being banned from singing. Those who disobey get sent to Arkham Asylum, a place of horrors. Dinah Lance's mom died somewhere around the time of Penguin's takeover. Her dad is an overprotective cop. She is obsessed with her inability to sing and the restrictions on women ever since. When something fateful happens and she discovers she's inherited her mom's superpowered singing voice, she knows that she has to take up her mom's old mantel and save the women of Gotham. Will she succeed? Narrator Kathleen McInerney's unique voices bring to life the complex characters of Dinah's world. Her narrative style complements the engaging, well-written plot. Although the story is slow to get going, the worldbuilding will hold listeners' interest. The appearance of some popular superhero favorites will delight fans of Batman. Main characters are presumed white, with diverse supporting characters. VERDICT Listeners who like superheroes, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Recommended for libraries where alternate superhero worlds are popular.-Kira Moody
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