Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2024 Gr 5 Up—It was as recently as 1975 that the overwintering site for millions of eastern monarch butterflies was discovered in Michoacán, Mexico. Initially credited to Canadian zoologist Fred Urquhart and his wife Norah, the breakthrough was actually made by an Indigenous Mexican naturalist, Carolina Trail (then Aguado), and her American husband, working for Urquhart. Church traces the intrigue among scientists racing to study the migration while keeping the site secret, as well as subsequent studies over decades examining how the insects know where and when to go, how they find milkweed for their caterpillars to eat, and much more. Later chapters outline challenges to conservation of the endangered butterflies and their fragile ecosystem. The tone of the writing is colloquial, with judgments like "really cool" or "super interesting." An author's note includes many suggestions of resources for learning more about the topic, recommendations for becoming involved by tracking and monitoring, and other citizen science initiatives. The volume concludes with a lengthy glossary and very extensive list of references, including books, magazine and newspaper articles, websites, and interviews, much of which will be inaccessible to the book's target audience. However, there are no individual source notes or citations. Photos and other illustrations complement the text throughout. VERDICT While there is much to fascinate budding biologists, the writing in this extensive text can be slow moving and is best suited to patient middle school readers.—Bob Hassett - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2024 The plight of the monarch butterfly comes into focus through a variety of perspectives in Church’s study of this insect. She begins with larvae munching on milkweed to absorb its toxic properties, which will eventually manifest in the monarch’s signature black-and-orange wings—wings that have inspired cultures, scientists, and citizens to care for these charismatic creatures in different ways. The monarchs in question are the western hemisphere’s migrating varieties, whose numbers have dramatically fallen in recent years. While pursuing the questions of how, why, and what can be done to help, Church introduces pioneers in monarch research, such as Dr. Lincoln Brower (a champion of conservation) and Dr. Fred and Norah Urquhart (vanguards of migration studies), in addition to important contributions from citizen scientists (e.g., Catalina Trail) and Indigenous communities in Mexico where the butterflies overwinter. In addition to fascinating scientific insights into monarch butterfly biology and behavior, Church puts forth considerable food for thought on best practices for protecting this beloved animal, encouraging a holistic approach that puts Indigenous knowledge on equal footing with Western science. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.