Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2022 The prose poetry collection The Prophet has been one of the most translated and best-selling collections since its publication in 1923. In this picture-book biography of its author, Khalil Gibran, McCarthy borrows the title from one of The Prophet’s poems. Lyrical text, interspersed with quotes from Gibran’s poetry, describes the writer’s childhood in Lebanon, religious tension in his homeland, and his family’s move to Boston. McCarthy, also Lebanese American, emphasizes the duality Gibran experienced as he was caught between two cultures, especially when Gibran was sent back to Beirut for a formal education and then returned to the U.S. to establish his career in art and writing. Holmes’ skillfully patterned collages reinforce Gibran’s complex life through symbolic imagery and color, with lighter, earth-toned shades in Lebanon and deeper shades in Gibran’s crowded Boston neighborhood. While the overall effect is lovely, young readers may need adults to fill in vague descriptions. A lengthy author’s note with photos of Gibran and additional stories of his life help fill in some of these gaps. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

Booklist - 02/15/2022 - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2022 K-Gr 4—This poignant, brilliant biography about Gibran Kahlil Gibran (The Prophet), a Lebanese and American poet and artist of international renown, creates a beautiful space for Gibran to live on for this generation. Bursting with brilliant collage and acrylic artwork and incorporating Gibran's own poetry during stirring moments of crisis and reflection, McCarthy and Holmes develop a picture book steeped in facts, artistically bold and texturally captivating, while also connecting to relatable social-emotional issues. Framed around Gibran's hope for humanity to find peace, McCarthy's rich prose follows Gibran's life as a child, from Lebanon to the United States, to his further journeys abroad. Most significant is when he loses part of his Maronite identity as a child, when "Gibran" is taken from the first part of his name in Boston. He soon discovers expression through art, and it's a defining moment in his life. In each place he lives, Gibran observes or suffers intolerance, unkindness, and a lack of understanding amongst disparate cultures. This, along with his initial hope as a child, fuels his art and identity. McCarthy's inclusion of similes and lyricism further connects ideas of Americanization, immigration, cultural identity, socioeconomic background, and religious intolerance to contemporary society. Extensive back matter provides further biographical information and references. VERDICT A first purchase for all libraries serving children, this is a stunning biography.—Rachel Zuffa - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.