Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 06/23/2025 Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes (1885-1954) performed an extraordinary feat of moral courage, here described as perhaps WWII’s "greatest individual act of rescue." While the German army advanced toward his post in Bordeaux, France, many were "driven from their homes, their countries, and everything they ever knew and loved," writes Brown (Like a Diamond in the Sky) in quietly propulsive narration that conveys escalating, life-and-death urgency. Though Portugal "officially took no side in the war," it joined the world in refusing the refugees; de Sousa Mendes, haunted by the frantic, growing crowds gathered at his consulate, nevertheless resolved to say yes. In direct violation of orders, he signed thousands of visas-even shortening his signature to conserve ink-and eventually escorted groups through shortcuts and across the border to Portugal at great personal cost. Digitally colored pencil illustrations by Castrill?n (Nano) include sweeping compositions, finely etched textures, and curvilinear motifs to convey the tide of events and the protagonist’s steadfast, heroic defiance. Includes contextualizing back matter. Ages 5-8. Author’s agent: Sean McCarthy. Sean McCarthy Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Helen Boyle, Pickled Ink. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 12/12/2025 Gr 3–5—Sometimes, the greatest acts of bravery are not completed with muscle and brawn, but with the humble tools of a paper and pen. Aristides de Sousa Mendes loved his life in Portugal, where Europe reaches into the sea and he could share meals with the residents of his small town. As a diplomat, his job often included granting visas to travelers wishing to enter Portugal. When Nazi forces pushed west and refugees fled before them, Sousa Mendes was faced with an important decision: would he save countless human lives and defy his government, or would he adhere to the status quo? Weighty yet accessible, this detailed nonfiction picture book introduces readers to a little-known hero of World War II Europe. Passages rich with descriptive language paint a picture of a man who recognized the strength in a united world rather than a divided one. Best for older elementary school students due to the length of the text, this picture book is well suited to classes about World War II. Accompanying the text are equally lyrical illustrations depicting Sousa Mendes's life in moments of turbulence and of joy, the colors appropriately reflecting the moods in each situation. An author's note and additional back matter provide supplemental context. VERDICT Poignant and educational, this is a necessary addition to World War II literature collections for elementary school readers.—Mary Lanni - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.