Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2012 K-Gr 3—Nothing makes Sierra happier than playing soccer, especially now that she has been picked for a new team where she gets to play on a smooth field instead of the ragtag lot near her home. But there is sadness, too, because her auntie, with whom Sierra lives, has to work on Saturdays and can't watch her play. Sierra plays hard in every game, but longs to have someone she knows rooting on the sidelines. When her aunt's boss lets her switch her shift at the restaurant so she can go to Sierra's last game, they celebrate with a made-up dance and cherry cake. Unfortunately, the game is canceled because of rain. Sierra asks Coach Marco if he can reschedule it on her aunt's day off, at the lot near their apartment. Happy to be playing in front of her auntie and neighbors, Sierra runs so fast, it feels like flying. This tender story, written in lyrical text, perfectly blends the protagonist's joy at playing her favorite sport with the loneliness of being the new kid in unfamiliar territory. Castillo's muted colors reflect the narrator's thoughtful mood. Sierra's and her auntie's shaded skin tones and the spreads of the long bus ride from their city neighborhood to the suburban soccer field enhance the text by subtly suggesting why Sierra feels slightly out-of-place while playing with her new team. This quiet gem is lovely for one-on-one sharing.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2012 Nothing makes Sierra happy like soccer. Although the African American girl has to ride all the way past her inner-city neighborhood, even past the boarded-up buildings where the buses stop running, she is thrilled to be playing on a real soccer field with real goals, rather than on the lot by her apartment with two garbage cans shoved together. While the other players (mostly white) have families to cheer from the sidelines, Sierra’s auntie (and presumably her main caregiver) has to work Saturday mornings. When her auntie finally gets a day off to watch Sierra play, the game is canceled due to rain. Mustering all her courage, Sierra reaches out to sympathetic Coach Marco to bring the game to her auntie, her neighborhood—and herself. Castillo’s stylized, expressive watercolor illustrations effectively depict the bleakness of Sierra’s situation and her small triumph. Realistic without being overly sentimental, Boelts’ uplifting story realizes the impact of family, community, and even a little cheering in a child’s life. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/02/2012 Nothing makes Sierra happier than playing soccer on her new suburban team, where the ball “spins on this spread-out sea of grass with no weeds, fields with no holes, and real goals, not two garbage cans shoved together.” Her only sadness is that her aunt, who always works on Saturdays, cannot attend the games. In fact, her aunt’s one opportunity to see her niece play ends in disappointment when the game is rained out; fortunately, Coach Marco schedules the makeup game on a Monday and at the lot in Sierra’s neighborhood, allowing Sierra’s auntie to finally come and cheer Sierra on. Sierra’s narrative voice is both strong and sincere, and readers will relate to her love of the game and her love for her aunt (seemingly her guardian). The end’s a little implausible, but that’s easily forgiveable since it ensures that Sierra gets her moment in the sun. Castillo’s illustrations boast a multicultural cast of characters (Sierra herself has dark skin and kinky black hair), set against contrasting backdrops of city neighborhood and suburban soccer field. Chunky black lines outline the watercolor figures, and a muted palette matches the understated tone of the story. What could have been a pedantic lesson in class contrast instead is a heartfelt and honest reminder that everyone needs fans on the sidelines once in a while. HM - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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