Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2023 *Starred Review* In a wide-ranging consideration of the titular question—otherwise known as the Fermi paradox because it was most famously posed by “smarty-pants” Enrico Fermi—McAnulty lays out breezy but substantial histories of the universe, astronomy, and space exploration, along with logical and mathematical arguments that have been proposed for the probability that we are not (or, conversely, might well be) alone. Readers with a technical bent will be pleased by the specificity with which the author explains techniques used by scientists in search of exoplanets and life elsewhere in our solar system. She goes on, though, to consider warp drives, wormholes, and other more out-there topics and to offer tantalizing if skeptical accounts of close encounters—from crop circles to supposed alien abductions, plus kooky highlights from the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, Percival Lowell’s Martian “canals,” and the infamous War of the Worlds broadcast. All this content is illustrated with humble but helpful checklists and line drawings and backed up by discussion questions, expansive endnotes, and resource lists. Yes, she concludes, incontrovertible evidence of extraterrestrial life has yet to turn up, but stay tuned because “discoveries are happening all. The. TIME!” - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/10/2023 Gr 4–8—Whether tracing the history of the known universe or explaining the Fermi paradox—the mathematical concept that, if intergalactic travel were possible, Earth should have been visited by now—McAnulty's narrative is thoroughly clear, engaging, and fun. One chapter outlines the SETI project, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, another examines some of the history of UFO research. The tone throughout is informal, meandering, sometimes veering into corny (physicist Fermi is characterized as "a smarty-pants who won scholarships and studied at notable European universities"), appealing to the younger end of the likely age range, though it should engage many middle school readers. Illustrations are simple but effective and contribute to a consistently upbeat style. "Fun fact" boxes and sidebar texts, such as a profile of astronomer Jill Tarter or an explanation of naming conventions for exoplanets, provide complementary information and balance the often heady concepts of the main text. Extensive back matter includes comprehensive source notes, as well as a bibliography of favorite resources, a time line, glossary, and list of acronyms. McAnulty allows that no women or people of color were involved in the early days of SETI because "few non-white men were admitted to study in the STEM fields." VERDICT A superb resource for budding astronomers or a fascinating read for any kid with an interest, highly recommended for libraries serving elementary and middle school students.—Bob Hassett - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.