Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/01/2022 Born in Massachusetts before the American Revolution, Deborah Sampson had an independent streak. When she was five years old, with her father away at sea and her mother unable to provide for her children, Deborah and her older siblings were hired out as indentured servants until they turned 18. While serving in Master Thomas’ household, she listened as he raised his sons, educating them and teaching them about the Patriot cause. She absorbed those lessons, and later, steeped in the revolutionary spirit, she disguised herself as a man, enlisted in the army, and served courageously despite a serious wound in battle. After a military doctor discovered her secret, she received an honorable discharge. In the book’s informative back matter, the author discusses primary and secondary sources, pointing out, for example, that even notes for speeches attributed to Sampson during her lifetime may have been largely written by someone else. The illustrations, pencil drawings with painted textures and digitally added colors, have a lively, rather quirky look that suits both the topic and the period. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 12/01/2022 Gr 2–6—Deborah Sampson was a woman who declared her own independence and then proceeded to fight for the independence of her country. This picture book biography of the heroic American Revolutionary soldier starts with her early childhood and continues through her life of servitude as a young person followed by her determination to enlist in the army fighting for American independence. Sampson was able to conceal her gender despite a serious bullet wound suffered during battle as an elite soldier. Known as Robert Shurtliff when enlisted in the Continental Army, she became seriously ill after the war ended and her gender was discovered by a physician. She was then discharged honorably. Back matter not only adds to the story of this fascinating patriot but also addresses the challenges of researching with primary and secondary sources from the time period. These final pages broaden the audience for this title to middle and high school students and their teachers looking for insight into the process of historical research. VERDICT This biography of a lesser-known American hero and look into the process of researching historical sources is an essential purchase across several age ranges.—John Scott - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/01/2022 Born in Massachusetts before the American Revolution, Deborah Sampson had an independent streak. When she was five years old, with her father away at sea and her mother unable to provide for her children, Deborah and her older siblings were hired out as indentured servants until they turned 18. While serving in Master Thomas’ household, she listened as he raised his sons, educating them and teaching them about the Patriot cause. She absorbed those lessons, and later, steeped in the revolutionary spirit, she disguised herself as a man, enlisted in the army, and served courageously despite a serious wound in battle. After a military doctor discovered her secret, she received an honorable discharge. In the book’s informative back matter, the author discusses primary and secondary sources, pointing out, for example, that even notes for speeches attributed to Sampson during her lifetime may have been largely written by someone else. The illustrations, pencil drawings with painted textures and digitally added colors, have a lively, rather quirky look that suits both the topic and the period. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.