Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2018 Readers will be immediately transported to early 1970s Alabama in this story about Lu Olivera, a sixth-grader who finds herself drawn ever more deeply into the civil rights movement and politics at her school. Argentinian Lu doesn’t fall neatly into the category of white or black, so she manages to more or less stay out of politics; but the more things heat up with local elections, and with Lu’s budding friendship with Belinda, who is not white, she finds she can’t stand idly by. This lovely coming-of-age story is complete with crushes, discovery of a passion, and a whole lot of ’70s American style and slang, as well as terms like higgledy-piggledy, which might be unfamiliar to young readers but is understandable in context. This story is inspired by the author’s experiences, and it shows in introspective Lu’s observations of people around her. An excellent read for any budding activist or history buff, as well as pretty much any kid who likes a story about kids finding their gumption. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2018 Gr 4–6—Sixth grader Lu Olivera is born to run, but worries that her parents, immigrants from Argentina, will not allow her to pursue sports. Undeterred, she starts to pal up with talented African American runner Belinda. Lu's world starts to shift away from old friends like Phyllis and Abigail, whose eyes are firmly planted on teen fashion magazines portraying mostly blue-eyed and blonde girls and whose families are against racial integration. Instead, the tween is drawn to the more socially conscious world of her older sister Marina and her crush Sam, who are both working on the campaign to defeat George Wallace's 1970 reelection. Her awareness of the racism against brown and black people and the personal and political efforts to fight it start to garner more of her attention and spur her to action. Young first-generation immigrants will see themselves reflected in Lu when she translates for a Cuban neighbor, and again when she finds herself "in the middle" and must either stand with her friends Belinda and Spider or side against them with her silence. Colloquial language and pop references abound, with detailed pencil illustrations at the onset of each chapter. VERDICT A well-drawn depiction of an immigrant experience with a social justice lens. A solid addition for public and school libraries.—Sara Lissa Paulson, City-As-School High School, New York City - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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