What Would Velma Do?: Life Lessons from the Brains (and Heart) of Mystery, Inc.

by Shaenon K Garrity

A clever illustrated ode to the breakout star of  Scooby-Doo , exploring the life lessons this iconic nerd girl teaches us and why we should all aim to be the Velma of our friend group

From the moment  Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!  premiered in 1969 and through the many Scooby movies and shows since, it has cemented its place as one of the greatest cartoons of all time. But there is one character in particular who has risen to icon a smarty-pants who can't see without her glasses named Velma Dinkley.

As the nerdiest member of the Mystery, Inc. gang, Velma might have been a wallflower or an underdog. Instead, she's become a fan favorite, a fashion legend, a standout role for Linda Cardellini in the live-action movies, the inspiration for countless Halloween costumes, and the star of her own animated series from Mindy Kaling. But why, exactly, do we love this brainiac so much?  What Would Velma Do?  explores the answers to that question, as well as the many inspiring takeaways we can learn from her, the history of the character, and enough fun facts and trivia to make you say  Jinkies!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

144 pages, Hardcover

Published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just one of those random silly books I grabbed when I was shelving it and saw the cover. It was pretty cheesy and really a self help book and not really a book about Velma. Cute premise, maybe a nice read for a tween or teen Scooby Doo/Velma fan. Definitely not my thing. But always good to throw some nonfiction into the mix.

[aubrey ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velma Dinkley is most definitely my favorite character from Scooby-Doo. She's so smart, confident, and funny. She addresses cooky situations with logic, truth, and sarcasm. This book is actually going to inspire me to be more like my favorite cartoon character.

This book does give a lot of good information. The whole work part is unhelpful to me at the moment, with myself being a teenager that doesn't have to worry about that stuff yet. Someday though, it might help. I really did like all the facts and real life connections to famous Velmas and what we can do as people.

This book is inspiring, funny, and cute, and I recommend it to any fan of Velma Dinkley, the iconic brains of Mystery Inc. 🧡

[Katelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun read you never knew you needed about the history of Velma Dinkle. As a lifelong fan of Scooby-Doo, I had to give it a read and while there wasn't much takeaway, it was a fun time for those who are big fans.

[Andy Ober · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m only giving this book five stars because I can’t give it 10. If you’re a Scooby-Doo fan, it will remind you why you are. If you aren’t, it may very well tell you why you should be. More of this, please!

[Hannah Carrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

More self help over comedy

[Abby Mace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be more about Velma and quotes things like that. It was more of a weird self-help book with quizzes in it that you Would see in like a middle school classroom

[Susan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute, unserious (c'mon it's a self-help book revolving around a literal cartoon character), quick, and easy ready.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so adorable and sweet. I love the “Velmatic system”, it’s something I’ve used everyday without realizing it. You are guided through everyday problems that happen at work, in relationships, and when solving mysteries with your three best friends and talking dog, (well, maybe not that last part, but you get the idea) and shows you not just what Velma would do, but why. It references other Velmas in some of my other favorite shows like Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote and Batgirl from Batman. Although it seems silly to some, being “a Velma”, is something I’ve grown to love about myself and this book highlights the reasons why perfectly. Velma is driven by her pursuit of knowledge, using everything that comes her way as an opportunity to learn. She isn’t intimidated by how much information there is, she is empowered by it. She isn’t just all brains either, the only thing more important to her than learning, is her relationships with her friends. She uses her intelligence to help those in need, whether it’s unmasking monsters or supporting her friends.