Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 11/01/2025 Gr 7 Up—An excellent and insightful book that delves into the extraordinary 1941 baseball season, placing it against the dramatic backdrop of World War II. This nonfiction chronicle provides legendary feats, including Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Ted Williams's pursuit of a .400 batting average, while highlighting the sport's significance as a national distraction during an anxious time. Beyond the major leagues, the book powerfully illuminates the segregated world of sepia ball, focusing on the Negro Leagues and the East-West All-Star Game, drawing record crowds and offering a vital sense of pride and community for Black Americans. The narrative also details baseball's role in the war effort, from players enlisting to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and its unique contribution to rebuilding international relations post-war. The authors effectively contrast the baseball of 1941—with its modest salaries, daytime games, and lack of playoffs or instant replay—with the modern game. The book's design, including numerous historical photographs and illustrations, enhances the immersive historical context, bringing figures like DiMaggio, Williams, and Satchel Paige to life for readers. It thoughtfully integrates the escalating global conflict and America's internal struggles with segregation, showing how baseball provided hope and spurred questions of equality. This well-researched and engaging account culminates with the eventual integration of baseball, recognizing its crucial role as a catalyst for broader Civil Rights advancements. VERDICT Skillfully interweaving sports history with critical social and political context, this nonfiction work is an invaluable resource for students interested in American history, Civil Rights, and the enduring power of sports. A must-have addition for school libraries.—Richard Winters - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/01/2026 *Starred Review* 1941 was a year for the ages in all aspects, not the least of which in the world of professional baseball. The Sandlers’ meticulously researched text highlights the parallels between the events of the 1941 baseball season and the world events of that year, which included the rise of fascism in Europe and the encroaching threat of Japanese forces, culminating in the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor. The story is somewhat chronological, following the events of the year in a linear fashion, but chapters focus more on the milestones (Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, Ted Williams’ .406 batting average) and the social impact of racism and sexism in the sport, finally calling attention to standouts like Monte Irvin, Doris Sams, and Eiji Sawamura, who might have been more well-known had they been both white and male. The rich, detailed text is complemented by a plethora of historical photographs and colorful pull quotes, and the authors’ love of the game shines through every anecdote and statistic. Robust back matter offers additional chapter-specific reading suggestions, careful source notes, image credits, and an index. The Sandlers knock it out of the park with their latest, which belongs in both sports and history collections. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.