Bound To Stay Bound

View MARC Record
 

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 06/01/2012 *Starred Review* Born illegitimate in the crowded, dirty barrio of Lima, Peru, this son of a freed African slave was almost not baptized. The priest could see no future for a boy of mixed blood other than sweeping streets. But when Martín was eight, his wealthy father returned from Ecuador and eventually apprenticed him to a cirujano—a barber/surgeon. As Martín learned to cut hair and set bones, he found his gift as a healer. After joining a monastery, he was only given menial tasks; but the prior soon learned what the people of Lima were also discovering: Martín had amazing gifts. He cured the poor—then the rich; he fed people and befriended the animals. Later, stories about Martín became ever more fantastical: he could bilocate; angels surrounded him; his citrus trees had bounty all year long. When he died in 1639, he was beloved, and in 1962, he was canonized as the first black saint in the Americas. Although the relationship between Martín and his father may be complicated for some readers, children will respond to the story of a poor, mixed-race boy who transcends his circumstances and triumphs. Schmidt’s telling, touching in its simplicity, is well matched with Díaz’ exceptional artwork, which is bold and referential in equal parts. In glowing colors, the pictures echo the text’s thoughtful and exhilarating questions: Who is this strange boy? Is it possible? Could it be? - Copyright 2012 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2012 Gr 2–4—Picture-book biographies of Catholic saints are usually limited to those best known, like Patrick, Francis, Joan of Arc, and Blessed Mother Teresa. Martín de Porres was the first black saint of the Americas, and he has a story as inspiring and evocative of Christian virtue as any other. Born the illegitimate son of a former slave and a Spanish conquistador in 1579 in Lima, Peru, he lived with his mother and sister in abject poverty until he was claimed by his father and eventually apprenticed to a surgeon and found to have healing powers that matched his great piety. He was accepted to be a servant at a Dominican monastery, with the explicit understanding that he, a mulatto, would never become a priest. He showed compassion for all people and animals and was said to have miraculous gifts. But it is his extreme humility that resonates with most biographers, including Schmidt, who tells the story of St. Martín's life in simple and eloquent language, emphasizing his humble servitude and great empathy. Diaz's multimedia illustrations are lush and beautiful, reinforcing the narrative and frequently using iconic images and stylized shapes that evoke stained glass. Some drawings of Martín, however, are inconsistent. His age occasionally seems to shift out of sequence, and the changing shape of his nose and eyes in particular results in some visual dissonance for young readers. Nonetheless, this is an artful and reverent portrait of a little-known figure.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC - Copyright 2012 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