Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2012 Gr 3–6—At a time when "even the idea of women wearing pants was scandalous," Louise Boyd explored the Arctic; Ynes Mexia lived with headhunters while collecting plant specimens in the Amazon; Alexandrine Tinné searched for the source of the Nile River; and the knowledge gained by Freya Stark's travels into remote areas of the Middle East benefited the British War Office during World War II. The 10 women profiled, all of whom were born in the mid- to late-1800s, shared a desire to learn, a taste for adventure, and a bravery that sustained them through dangerous situations. As in Women Daredevils (Dutton, 2008), Cummins masterfully including interesting details without making the portraits too complicated. Hints of marital problems or family issues help explain why these women were willing to venture out on their own, but the author keeps her child audience in mind. Most of the women are white Americans or Europeans but their travels were as far-ranging as Alaska, the South Pacific, the Andes, Russia, and China. Harness's watercolor paintings are outlined in black, giving the women pictured a sense of strength and determination. The illustrations capture the foreign backgrounds well and help delineate the explorers' travels. Informative and entertaining, this book is an excellent addition to most collections.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2012 “Go west, young woman” could be the foundational decree for this book about 10 fearless ladies and their adventures in some of the most inhospitable regions of the world. Librarian-author Cummins mentions in her endnote that women’s achievements in exploring the unknown have long been slighted by history books, and she seeks to rectify this oversight. One of the most compelling stories is about Lucy Evelyn Cheesman, a petite, middle-aged woman of upper-class means, who traveled the South Pacific studying rare insects and living among cannibalistic tribes. Annie Smith Peck’s story is equally fascinating: she climbed the Matterhorn in 1895 and Mount Huascarán in 1908, at a time when a female wearing pants was considered scandalous. Harness’ vibrant illustrations create a sense of place that perfectly complements each explorer’s narrative. The figures included in the book are worth remembering not just because they were women but because they were remarkable adventure-seekers and barrier-breakers, and they will foster curiosity among young male and female readers alike. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.