Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 01/13/2025 In this visually fascinating read, Marcus (Mr. Lincoln Sits for His Portrait) recounts the history of the titular photograph. Beginning with an introduction about the notoriety of Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11, the author encourages readers to turn their attention to Apollo 8’s Bill Anders, who, on Christmas Eve, 1968, photographed his home planet while 23,900 miles away in lunar orbit. Anders’s fellow crew members were "awestruck by the never-before-seen sight of the Earth rising over the Moon’s horizon"; the image, which was printed in newspapers around the world, shifted public perception surrounding the cosmos by depicting Earth "as an object that was small, fragile, beautiful, and floating alone in an otherwise airless, and infinite universe." Subsequent chapters outline the history of the space race and the individuals who influenced it; insets briefly touch on related information, such as Laika, the first animal to orbit Earth aboard Sputnik 2. Using reverent prose punctuated by numerous b&w photographs with detailed captions, Marcus notes how the picture not only inspired the creation of the first Earth Day in 1970, but also "changed the way people understood their place in the universe." Ages 10-14. (Mar.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 03/01/2025 Gr 6 Up—A deep dive into the history of space exploration and travel leading up to the Apollo 8 mission to orbit the moon. The book's title comes from the iconic photo of the Earth taken on that voyage in 1968. This text-heavy tome is loaded with historical facts and stories from the origins of the space race to the training, planning, and mistakes associated with space missions. The text flows well and is easy to read, though due to the density of information, only the most devoted space enthusiasts will endeavor to read the book in its entirety. Black-and-white photos are used throughout depicting important people and events in space exploration. Young readers will enjoy seeing the rudimentary space suits that now resemble modern children's costumes. Though the book indicates its primary focus is the Earthrise photo, it takes 80 pages to get to the beginning of the Apollo 8 mission where the photo was taken. The latter half touches on the effects of the photos of Earth taken from space, as well as the trajectory of space travel from Apollo 8 to the present. VERDICT This book presents compelling information about the history of space travel and the Earthrise image but may struggle to compete with highly colorful, image-rich space books.—Jessica Trafton - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.