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summergnc's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kristina314's review against another edition
5.0
What a great version for kids! It condenses 25 years of Harley into a small paperback. While it glosses over darker moments like abuse it does mention codependency and how toxic her relationship with the Joker was. An excellent way to get the facts and the attitude of Harley Quinn. It leads right into Amanda Conner's comics too!
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
Quick overview. I knew nothing about this character before but what I read here lined up with information from another source. I love this line of books for kids/teens who love superheroes/villains.
kerameia's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure how they would handle this story for younger readers, because Harley Quinn has some ... "colourful" history with the Joker. Plus, her outfits :) However, I was pleasantly surprised by the age appropriate tone and content.
Basically, the book weaves together Harley Quinn's life story and provides an overview of the major periods in her life: family life in Brooklyn, achievements in school and as a gymnast, academic development and interests in university and medical school, her time as Dr. Quinzel treating criminals, her friendships with Poison Ivy and the Joker, her relationship with the Joker and her ongoing efforts to prove herself ... etc. until her final release from Arkham when she receives the gift of a 4-story building in Coney Island from an anonymous donor.
Harley's exploits are told in engaging detail but minimal violence (along the lines of "she had no trouble knocking him down" pg. 81), and the story highlights her strong friendships with Poison Ivy and Catwoman. It also handles the twisted psychology well by explaining in an accessible way the motivations behind the transformation into "Harley Quinn". Moreover, the story emphasizes Harley's recognition of her mistakes, specifically concerning the Joker.
Neat features include a timeline of Harley Quinn's life, Harley's scribbled comments throughout the book, mini profiles & backstories of the various characters, and a glossary (to explain words such as "countertransference" and "harlequin").
A possibly objectionable aspect of the book (for younger readers) is its portrayal of female villains, who are drawn with stereotypical voluptuous curves.
Basically, the book weaves together Harley Quinn's life story and provides an overview of the major periods in her life: family life in Brooklyn, achievements in school and as a gymnast, academic development and interests in university and medical school, her time as Dr. Quinzel treating criminals, her friendships with Poison Ivy and the Joker, her relationship with the Joker and her ongoing efforts to prove herself ... etc. until her final release from Arkham when she receives the gift of a 4-story building in Coney Island from an anonymous donor.
Harley's exploits are told in engaging detail but minimal violence (along the lines of "she had no trouble knocking him down" pg. 81), and the story highlights her strong friendships with Poison Ivy and Catwoman. It also handles the twisted psychology well by explaining in an accessible way the motivations behind the transformation into "Harley Quinn". Moreover, the story emphasizes Harley's recognition of her mistakes, specifically concerning the Joker.
Neat features include a timeline of Harley Quinn's life, Harley's scribbled comments throughout the book, mini profiles & backstories of the various characters, and a glossary (to explain words such as "countertransference" and "harlequin").
A possibly objectionable aspect of the book (for younger readers) is its portrayal of female villains, who are drawn with stereotypical voluptuous curves.
jslocum18's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
erinthevampireslayer's review
4.0
I got this from Archive.org without knowing anything about it, and was surprised to see that this is writing like an actual book, with illustrations and annotations "from Harley" throughout. This is actually a super cute, quick way to learn Harley's entire backstory in less than an hour. If you aren't usually a comics fan but liked Harley from Birds of Prey, this could be a fun simple read for you!
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