Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2022 Gr 7 Up—Short poems use negative space and concrete poetry elements to tell the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. The prelude focuses on the "Separate, but Equal" ruling, and then the narrative is broken into three sections: "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back," "Power to the People," and "The Beginning of the End." Tragedies, events, and people who were ignored by history are discussed, along with those who made the history books. The use of negative space and the occasional implementation of different fonts or concrete poetry impacts the narrative, like the visuals in a picture book. For instance, the poem "1959 March 5th" recalls the fire at the Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville, AR. The word "bodies" is printed 21 times (in three columns and seven rows), referencing the number of victims "piled…one top of another." The refrain "and on and on the Blacks Marched," followed by the word "marched" repeated on the page, occurs several times within the book. Black-and-white photographs, surveys, signs, and even arrest records are included. Extensive back matter includes a time line for the poems, sources cited, a bibliography, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail." VERDICT The impact of the poems in this powerful, necessary book is strengthened by the layout of the text and drives home the struggle for civil rights. A strong first purchase.—Tamara Saarinen - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2022 This striking collection of poems documents milestones in the civil rights movement. A combination of free verse, effortless rhymes, and precise word placement evokes nuanced settings and triggers deep emotional responses. The poems build on each other, occasionally repeating passages to simulate the long, weary struggle. They address harsh circumstances and deplorable events and use accordingly harsh language and imagery (including frequent racial slurs but only in historical context or direct quote; never gratuitously). Black-and-white archival photos, newspaper headlines, quotes, and brief, one-sentence historical references provide insight and add poignancy but never interfere with the flow. While each entry can stand alone, the power is magnified when the poems are read in sequence. Back matter includes a bibliography, an annotated time line of the events, and slightly expanded versions of the incorporated quotes, adding further context. This is a strong, historically accurate collection that can enhance any social studies or language arts unit. More important, audiences will appreciate these poems that leap off the pages, bringing history, pain, dignity, and fierce determination to life. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.