School Library Journal Review

Gr 3--8--Iconic female protagonists from books, movies, and comics are explored in this new hi-lo series. Each title takes a character and explores their backstory and character journey, then presents an "Epic-logue" about the actresses who have played them. The text, written at a second grade reading level, is highly readable and uses a controlled vocabulary. Layouts feature full-page photographs, mostly of movie depictions of the character, along with high-interest graphics and one short paragraph per page. At a slim 24 pages, the books do include a good amount of information on each character; however, there is little exploration of the important cultural impact of these seminal heroines. Additional online resources for each book are made available via QR code through ABDO's Booklinks website. VERDICT While light on context, these hi-lo titles will appeal to striving readers interested in pop culture at the upper elementary and middle school level.