‘Cuz even superheroes take personal days
I am not an authority on superhero comics in general, nor on Wonder Woman specifically, but I do know a thing or two about matching books to readers, and if Diana Prince ever hired me as her personal readers’ advisor, I’d be able to suggest some welcome bookish diversions from the stress of her hectic life. These books might also appeal to everyday heroines, so take a look!
The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World
An exhaustively researched book drawing from scholarship across the disciplines of history, mythology, and archaeology in order to answer the question: Were the Amazons real? Mayor’s answer is “yes,” but the posing of the question itself causes existential turmoil in Wonder Woman.
The Hero’s Closet: Sewing for Cosplay and Costuming
Because Wonder Woman’s a DIY kinda girl, and when you’re always cruising around in an invisible vehicle, it’s important to be at your sartorial best.
How to Be a Heroine: Or, What I’ve Learned from Reading Too Much
The Princess of Themyscira admires and appreciates all brands of heroines—from lasso-wielding supergals to the comparatively sedate strength Jane Eyre possesses. So this book, about a woman revisiting her childhood literary heroines as an adult reader and evaluating their influence on her life, is of particular interest.
Look, not every day is gonna provide an opportunity to save the world. And what’s a warrior supposed to do with all that pent-up righteous badassery? This book can be used as a map to locate all the d-bags disrespecting women, from nightclubs to public transportation to boardrooms, so it’s perfect for that slow day skull-cracking/sensitivity training road trip.
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics
This is a fun, illustrated book with an infectious energy celebrating over one hundred strong women throughout the history and mythology of the world. Some familiar faces here, but many deep track ladies worthy of wider acclaim.
Superheroines and the Epic Journey: Mythic Themes in Comics, Film and Television
Hey, if someone wrote a book about you and your most impressive gal pals, you’d read it, too. Wonder Woman sees you when you google yourself, so don’t even front.
The first of three volumes of short stories featuring powerful women on both sides of the heroine/villain divide. WW appreciates the perspective-blurred lines between “good” and “evil,” and short stories are the perfect reading length for the girl on the go.
The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Girl Geeks
Wonder Woman may not be a geek girl herself; she just doesn’t have time to be on top of all the memes and stuff, but her comic book icon status at least makes her geek-adjacent, and she’s pleased that the sisterhood is flourishing in even the most testosterone-soaked corners of pop culture geekery. (WW confesses she’s drawn to this author because her newest book is titled Wonder Women, and she’s chuffed at the nod.)
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy
Wonder Woman is a big fan of the Lumberjanes: supportive girls having wholesome adventures and eschewing traditional gender norms. Even though they don’t have any superpowers, WW considers them to be this generation’s most charming heroines.
The Secret History of Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman has a tangled heap of origin stories in her rearview, but this one is her ur-origin story. Which is redundant, yes, but so is “DC Comics,” so ppbblltt.
