Diana and the Underworld Odyssey (Wonder Woman Adventures #2)

Gr 3-6--Diana, Princess of the Amazons, battles Hades to rescue her friends Sakina and Imani in the second action-packed installment of Saeed's "Wonder Woman" collection. The mysterious Zumius has roped Hades into a scheme of kidnapping children who have special powers. If the scheme succeeds, the children's powers will be harnessed and used to take over the world. While one battle scene after another will keep most readers engaged, the suspense in the first third of the story is somewhat hindered by heavy-handed summaries and references to the first book in the series, Diana and the Island of No Return. Sharp-eyed readers may want more details about the armor and weapons Diana is able to effortlessly carry with her throughout her odyssey, while those without knowledge of Greek or Wonder Woman mythology will find this a broad but thin introduction. However, young Diana, who doesn't yet know her power, is relatable enough to carry the story, which has its moments of rollicking good fun. VERDICT Sure to be popular with Wonder Woman fans and "Percy Jackson" readers, though it may lack in detail and emotional depth for some.--Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles P.L.