Bound To Stay Bound

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 Silent days, silent dreams
 Author: Say, Allen

 Publisher:  Scholastic (2017)

 Classification: Fiction
 Physical Description: 63 p., col. ill., 28 cm

 BTSB No: 781243 ISBN: 9780545927611
 Ages: 7-9 Grades: 2-4

 Subjects:
 Castle, James, -- 1900-1977 -- Fiction
 Artists -- Fiction
 Deaf -- Fiction
 People with disabilities -- Fiction

Price: $6.50

Summary:
A fictional biography of James Castle, a deaf, autistic artist whose drawings hang in major museums throughout the world.

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Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: LG
   Reading Level: 4.60
   Points: .5   Quiz: 193556
Reading Counts Information:
   Interest Level: 6-8
   Reading Level: 5.20
   Points: 3.0   Quiz: 72525

Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (+) (08/01/17)
   School Library Journal (+) (09/01/17)
   Booklist (+) (09/01/17)
 The Hornbook (00/01/18)

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 09/01/2017 *Starred Review* James Castle is a relatively unknown artist, but renowned illustrator Say attempts to bring his work to a young audience in this enigmatic, fictionalized picture-book biography. Born deaf and mute in 1899, Castle never learned to read or sign, despite attending a school for the deaf. Not surprisingly, he was the object of cruel taunts and mistreatment, but he created a stunning body of work, comprising surreal drawings, collage, and paper arts constructed from materials he found at his parents’ farm. Though none of Castle’s original artwork appears in these pages, Say endeavors to re-create his process, using soot, burned matches, and found paper in artwork deeply inspired by Castle’s own paintings and drawings. The shadowy, thick-lined images are sometimes scary—a classroom full of figures with blank faces, a boy in overalls curling into himself in fear—but others, such as the view from a high barn window, or a house just for him, capture the deeply observant character of the artist. Though it’s difficult to ascertain Say’s intended audience for this title, his evocative, unusual illustrations are undeniably stunning and tell a vivid, slightly unsettling story of an artist. It’s as if Say, by emulating Castle’s methods, has gained unique insight into the artist’s perspective and delivers it back to the reader in the medium Castle loved most. Unusual, yet utterly transfixing. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2017 Gr 3–7—In this fascinating longform "imagined" biography about James Castle, author-illustrator Say plays with artistic and literary formats. Castle was born deaf and premature in Idaho, was considered to be autistic and dyslexic, and was abused and bullied for his inability to speak or read. He was discouraged from creating art by his parents and principal, and had his art supplies confiscated and artworks destroyed many times, yet he still created a huge and compelling body of work. The biography is written from the perspective of Castle's nephew, Bob Beach, and the back matter provides detailed information about the artist and Say's connection to him. Say's art, inspired by the many styles of James Castle, vibrates on the page in a variety of media, including matchsticks, shoe polish, liquid laundry bluing, and cardboard, and he even switched hands to imitate Castle. Just as Castle's art leapt in styles and emotions, Say's work shows the trials of a beleaguered and prolific artist. VERDICT A phenomenal and profoundly artistic and biographical work.—Lisa Nowlain, Nevada County Community Library, CA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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