Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 07/01/2018 Gr 6 Up—Fencer and Olympic medalist Muhammad pens an eminently readable account of her childhood through her win at the 2016 Rio Olympics in this must-have memoir. Opening with an all-too familiar scene, she recalls how a substitute teacher refused to properly pronounce her name, an episode that the Olympian uses to elucidate her motivations behind writing this text: "I wanted to chronicle my quest to challenge society's limited perceptions of what a Muslim woman, a black woman, or an athlete can be." In this regard, and many others, Muhammad excels. Her steadfast trust in herself and the guidance of her family and her faith shine throughout. Muhammad's retelling of her early home life, her qualification for the 2016 Olympics, and of blessings big and small are passages filled with love and awe. The writing is concise, and the replays of Muhammad's matches are riveting. Teen athletes, especially those playing in sports perceived as white, will relate to and value Muhammad's keen perspective on manipulative coaches, college and scholarship applications, racist and Islamophobic abuse from teammates, and the challenge of balancing practice, classwork, and personal academic interests. An epilogue discusses her role in creating the nonprofit Athletes for Impact and underlines the importance of defining one's identity for oneself and embracing one's dreams. VERDICT A first purchase for YA nonfiction collections.—Della Farrell, School Library Journal - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2018 *Starred Review* “Black but Muslim. Muslim but American. A hijab-wearing athlete.” Ibtihaj Muhammad, an Olympic medalist in fencing and the first Muslim woman to represent the U.S. in international competition, explores identity, her path to the 2016 Olympics, and their intersection in this eye-opening memoir adapted for young readers. Muhammad was always competitive, especially when it came to sports. Wearing a hijab and coming from a large family, she realized that fencing allowed her an easier way to maintain her faith than in other sports and work toward a scholarship for college. And it turned out she was excellent! More difficult than the rigorous physical and mental training, however, was trying to fit into a predominantly white, male sport. Muhammad describes her struggles with classmates, teammates, referees, and even the public at large, who only saw her as an outsider. She also relates how finding a community of fencers of color, supportive family and trainers, perseverance, and, above all, her faith helped her overcome adversity. As she succeeded and gained media attention, she recognized that she could be a role model for other young women, young Muslims, and young people of color. Indeed, Muhammad’s story is an inspiring one that will encourage readers to question what it means to be American. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2019 Gr 6 Up—The young readers edition of U.S. Olympic fencer Muhammad's memoir explores her family's roots and attraction to Islam, her formative childhood and educational experiences, and her rise to Olympic fame, including the painful bigotry of her teammates. Muhammad skillfully discusses the ways that race, class, gender, and religion have affected her ambitions. This examination of what it means to be an accomplished African American Muslim woman will resonate with students. - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.