Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 Gr 1–5—Fortune decided that she should take to the seas. But Zheng Yi Sao used her own intelligence, diplomacy, and strategy to become a leader of unprecedented power. Kidnapped by pirates as a young woman, Zheng Yi Sao negotiates equity in her marriage to the pirate captain. Upon her husband's death, the Pirate Queen took over his empire, effectively running the government and economy of the South China Sea region, amassing great wealth and power. At the same time, she worked to protect the wives of pirates. Years later, Fortune smiled upon as the Pirate Queen as she sailed away from Canton, free and rich. The first person narrative is at once deliberate and lyrical, interwoven with imagery that recurs at significant moments in Zheng Yi Sao's life. The precise illustrations, created with pencil on bristol board and colored digitally, use visual motifs that support the recurring themes and images, most notably the glowing Jade Rabbit Moon. Soft colors and strong compositions, along with Wong's attention to detail, bring far away scenes to life. Unfortunately, there's less vitality and energy in the characters. This fictional account is based on what little is known of the real Pirate Queen, who's name is still unknown (Zheng Yi Sao simply means "Wife of Zheng Yi"). The author's note delineates between fact and fiction. Additional back matter includes sources, further reading, and notes about alternate spellings for the names used in the book. VERDICT Well-researched, this fictionalized account of a powerful woman from history will captivate readers and inspire further exploration.—Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/15/2020 Here Becker recounts the fictionalized life of a historical woman who rose to power among Chinese pirates in the nineteenth century. It’s a serious tale, told in first person with archaic touches like frequent references to fortune and fate. Kidnapped by pirates, Zheng Yi Sao marries a captain and is given a share of his enterprise. This sets in motion an unlikely lifetime of leadership on the high seas. Soon her husband dies, and Zheng Yi Sao takes command of 70,000 men on 1,800 ships. Armed with political savvy and winning military strategies, she becomes so great that the emperor himself goes to battle with her—and loses. This is a fascinating introduction to a unique yet largely unknown woman who excelled as a commander and leader of men. Wong’s illustrations are action-packed and bring to life Zheng Yi Sao’s adventures, including many battle scenes and sinking ships. Young readers will no doubt be left wanting to know more about this inspiring historical figure. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.