Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2019 After Sophia visits a butterfly conservatory as a toddler, all she wants is to study, observe, and talk about bugs. Initially, other children share her enthusiasm, but by first grade, some begin to make fun of her, and Sophia is devastated when classmates kill a grasshopper she brought to school. Coauthored by fourth-grader Spencer, this memoir captures both the personal exhilaration of sharing a passion and the crushing disappointment when others misunderstand or belittle that devotion. Sophia’s mother writes to scientists, searching for people to encourage Sophia’s interest, and several bug enthusiasts reply, creating the hashtag #BugsR4Girls. Appealing ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations present Sophia and her arthropod friends in constant movement up, down, and around the pages. A six-page section highlights facts about bugs, including “Super-Cool Bug Facts” and Sophia’s “Top Four Bugs and Why.” Sophia says she likes gymnastics, swimming, time-travel books, and technology, but first and foremost, she still considers herself “the Bug Girl.” - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 K-Gr 3—Fourth grader Sophia Spencer has always been fascinated with bugs. At first, Sophia's peers championed her joyful obsession, but by first grade, their encouragement turned to derisive cries of "Ew! Gross!" Following a particularly upsetting bullying incident, the young girl "took a break from bugs," prompting her worried mother to contact a group of entomologists. Neither mom nor daughter expected the outpouring of support from the scientific community, along with the birth of a viral hashtag (#BugsR4Girls) and requests for media appearances. Sophia eventually regained her enthusiasm and was ready to "get the word out that it's okay to love bugs." The book concludes with "Sophia's Big Book of Bugs," a browsable collection of facts and advice for fellow bug fans. Gentle ink and watercolor artwork by illustration team Kerascoët subtly reinforces the book's upbeat tone, especially during the outdoor scenes filled with fresh botanical greens and tiny, delicate insects. While very few children can expect to achieve viral fame, many young readers will appreciate the validation Spencer received. VERDICT Books about real-life kid scientists are rare, and there's always a need for stories about girls and women in STEM. A book that fulfills both needs with charm to spare.—Rebecca Honeycutt, NoveList, Durham, NC - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.