[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Cassandra Cain was a trained assassin with no friends, no language and many questions about her past.
When her latest target pleads for his daughter, the word catches Cassandra’s attention and she runs. She finds refuge in a noodle shop and then at the library.
A red-headed young woman in a wheelchair named Barbara leads sessions at the library with some kids, talking about Batgirl and what she meant to the city. Her stories grab Cassandra’s attention. As her literacy skills grow, she starts to seek out the woman’s lessons, reading what she can from articles about Batgirl. She also starts to see her early life in a whole new light. The question is what does she do with this new insight – and her shame over the things she has done?
Review
This was fantastic!! The art style isn’t my favorite – it’s beautiful, but not a style that I gravitate towards – which distracted me at first. But I was obsessed with watching this furtive, skittish girl warm up to the two women in this story who could help her so much if she gave them a chance. And of course I loved the library setting for this!
I did some research on the history of Cassandra Cain in DC Comics. (I’m more familiar with the Barbara Gordon version of the character of Batgirl.) I like the choices made in this with her language development and the relationship with Barbara and Jackie. The developing friendship between the three of them was one of my favorite parts of the story.
There’s a small romantic storyline in this and tons of identity exploration. Who is Barbara now if she is not Batgirl? What is Erick going to choose for his life – will he be the man he wants to be or the one his parents expect him to become? Can Cassandra choose to be something other than the assassin she was created to be? I was here for every one of those questions. It was all amazing.
DC continues to impress me with their non-comic graphic novels for kids and teens. You can read my thoughts about the DC book universe here. You can also read some of my recent DC reviews – Black Canary Ignite, Diana Princess of the Amazons, Teen Titans: Raven, Wonder Woman Warbringer, Mera:Tidebreaker. And there will be more this spring – I can’t wait to tell you about them! But this one just might be my favorite of all of them. I hope you will check it out! (Some language)
DC Entertainment graciously shared some of the interior art work with me so I could show you what’s in store for you with this terrific story!
