Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 01/01/2014 Gr 1–4—This account of the Salt March of 1930 is told through the eyes of a fictional Indian boy who, moved by Gandhi's words and actions, joins the protest against British rule of India. The Mahatma leads people on a nearly 250-mile march to the sea to gather the salt that is so precious but is controlled and sold by the British Empire. Gandhi promises not to fight and to use only peaceful means to achieve independence from colonial rule. When the world eventually takes notice of his nonviolent methods, the movement gains strength and support. The afterword describes how it would take another 17 years before the country was completely free, but emphasizes that the Salt March was an important early step. The story is inspiring and effective, a thoughtful introduction to Gandhi and his legacy. Lovely watercolor and colored pencil illustrations set the mood, depicting scenes from the narrative that provide perspective and context for this important event. Share this title alongside other biographies for young readers, such as Demi's Gandhi (S & S, 2001) or Alice B. McGinty's Gandhi: A March to the Sea (Amazon, 2013), for a more complete picture of his peaceful efforts towards Indian independence. A fine supplement to any collection.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2014 Kimmel and Ferri offer an inspirational look at Mahatma Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March, told from the point of view of a young boy who joins him on the journey. The British Raj forbids the age-old practice of gathering salt from the sea, insisting that it be purchased from British factories instead. Gandhi walks to the sea to defy the law with his satyagrahis (truth force), collecting hundreds of thousands of followers along the 240 mile route and launching the nonviolent movement that would eventually see India’s independence. Kimmel’s reverent fictionalized account celebrates the man known as “the Great Soul,” communicating the depth of his spirit and its profound resonance with his people. And Ferri’s warm, full-bleed watercolor and colored-pencil images reflect a sense of adoring wonder. An afterword fills in the factual details, and suggestions for further reading conclude. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2014 In this fictionalized account of the seminal 1930 protest march to end British rule in India, a great-grandfather recalls for his great-grandson how he witnessed the arrival of the Mahatma in his town, Aslali. Eavesdropping as a young boy on enough of Gandhi’s public speeches and his relatives’ private whisperings, he pieces together the injustice of the British salt monopoly and the potency of a march to reclaim the Indians’ right to produce their own salt. Stirred to action, the boy packs a small bag to slip out in the night, only to be discovered by an older brother, who agrees to go along and keep him safe. The brothers join the ever-growing crowd of marchers, and upon reaching the coast at Dandi, the boy draws a salt lump from the mud and touches it to his tongue. “No one,” the great-grandfather observes, “ever forgets their first taste of freedom.” The narrator does supply the sad coda to the triumphant march, explaining that British soldiers were sent in to the demonstration and arrested and imprisoned Gandhi, but the extent of the post-march violence is implied only in the photos in newspapers strewn on the ground and discussed explicitly in the author’s afterword. The rhythmic composition of the marchers, the formally outstretched arms of the townspeople, and the haze that gently tempers Ferri’s fiery palette all augment the feeling of a distant memory brought back to life. A list of websites and child-appropriate books is included, as well as a color map of the march route. Pair this with McGinty’s Gandhi: A March to the Sea (BCCB 6/13) for complementary views of the historic event. EB - Copyright 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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