Bound To Stay Bound

View MARC Record
 

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 05/15/2017 *Starred Review* Cuban poet and political activist José Martí witnessed an injustice at a young age and gave his life trying to right that wrong. He opposed slavery in Cuba and knew that the only way to end it would be to free Cuba from Spain’s rule. Cuban American author Otheguy illuminates the life of a young man endeavoring to make a difference, through affecting bilingual verses that make Cuba’s complicated history with slavery and colonialism accessible to young readers. By incorporating excerpts of Martí’s writing into the narration, Otheguy introduces a new generation of readers to an important champion of human rights. Vidal’s gouache artwork captures the beauty and the injustice of which Martí wrote, showcasing his country’s vibrant colors, as in the pinks and oranges of the sunset, and illustrating the harsh treatment of enslaved Africans, who are shown performing backbreaking labor in sugarcane fields. Dominguez’s excellent Spanish translation makes Martí’s story available to a wide audience, and the text offers significant additional information via an afterword on Cuba’s history, a selected bibliography, and excerpts from Martí’s Versos sencillos. Otheguy and Vidal tell a timely story that will inspire many to fight for equality and sing songs for freedom. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 Gr 2–5—The life of poet, writer, and freedom fighter José Martí (1853–95) comes alive in this lyrical, bilingual retelling of his everlasting impact on the people of his native Cuba. Growing up, Martí was an admirer of nature and fell in love with the beauty of the Cuban countryside. As he traveled the landscape, he observed the cruel enslavement of the Cuban people on sugar plantations during the period of Spanish rule. When he saw the injustice of slavery in his homeland, he knew he had to fight for Cuba's independence and the freedom of the island's people. Inspired by the U.S. Civil War, and President Abraham Lincoln, Martí called others to action and was jailed by the government for doing so. But not even imprisonment could silence him. Martí traveled extensively throughout the world, spreading his message of social justice, freedom, and peace. During his exile from Cuba, he found inspiration in the natural beauty of the Catskill Mountains in New York. Here he wrote Versos sencillos, a collection of poems that came to define the struggle for Cuban independence. Otheguy pens this biography in a series of stanzas that mimic Martí's poetry, weaving together his vision of hope for the Cuban people with rich illustrations that pay homage to the vivid hues of his native land. VERDICT A sensitive and poignant tribute to one of Latin America's most important historical figures that will encourage readers of all ages to fight for freedom and peace.—Natalie Braham, Denver Public Library - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

View MARC Record
Loading...



  • Copyright © Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy