Katana at Super Hero High

Gr 5–8—Based on the enormously popular web series, "DC SuperHero Girls," which focuses on the female students of SuperHero High (including Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Harley Quinn, and many others), this latest installment highlights Katana, a samurai superhero who has come from Japan to attend the prestigious school. Stephanie Sheh, who voices Katana in the series, knows her way around this character and gives her as much dimension as she can despite the limitations of the cookie-cutter plotting. Sheh uses every tool in her arsenal to imbue Katana's voice with strength and compassion. Her vocal interpretation is believably youthful, never coming off as forced or insincere. Sheh also voices a host of Katana's SuperHero High classmates, including those mentioned above and several male students, such as Beast Boy and The Flash. She pays close attention to their personality quirks and creates realistic voices for their teen incarnations. The story centers on 100 samurai swords Katana must protect that are linked to the mysterious death of her beloved grandmother.