Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bold princess shines in African superhero adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As SHURI: A BLACK PANTHER NOVEL opens, 13-year-old scientific genius Princess Shuri is helping her superhero brother T'Challa to prepare for Wakanda's Challenge Day, an event that might cause him to give up the country's throne. Thrown together with needy sort-of-a-friend K'Marah, Shuri disobeys her own formidable mother to investigate the disappearance of a plant vital to Wakanda's global power. Her quest will take her to Kenya, London, and beyond, but will she be able to save the sacred herb in time and help her brother remain king?
Is It Any Good?
The comics boom has introduced a more diverse selection of superheroes, and this fast-moving solo adventure of a popular supporting player has plenty of appeal. Shuri: A Black Panther Novel spotlights a young African princess as she questions authority and pursues her own goals. More dialogue-driven than many superhero sagas, Shuri is sharp and amusing, with a couple of action sequences that seem to drag just a little. Marvel fans will appreciate some surprise guest stars. Shuri is probably best read after viewing the movie, but newcomers to Wakanda will find plenty to enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Shuri: A Black Panther Novel uses the cultures and mythology of Africa to tell a modern-day story. Why have there been fewer superheroes of color, and why is that number increasing?
Shuri first appeared in comics and movies. What advantages does prose have over those media?
Unlike most African nations, fictional Wakanda was never colonized. How might that fact have shaped the history of the country?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic
- Publication date : May 5, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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