Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2020 Gr 3–6–Julio C. Tello dreamed of documenting Indigenous history through an Indigenous perspective. Growing up in the shadow of the Andes mountains in the late 1800s, Tello heard about the glorious history of Peru from his father. The widespread death and destruction that followed in the wake of the Spanish invasion nearly erased thousands of years of pre-European history, but Tello was determined to discover it all. His fearless curiosity earned him the nickname Sharuko, which means brave in his Quechua language. He graduated from medical school in Lima, Peru, in 1909 and earned a graduate degree in anthropology from Harvard in 1911. Upon returning to Peru, he made many important archaeological discoveries and became known as the "founder of modern Peruvian archaeology." From the discovery of ancient skulls in his youth to his appointment as director of Peru's Museum of Anthropology in 1939, Tello's drive to uncover the heritage of his people helped him become Peru's first Indigenous archaeologist. Brown's bilingual narrative is clear and straightforward, making Tello's life and achievements easily accessible. Chavarri's colorful and upbeat illustrations highlight Tello's discoveries, from the endpapers featuring stone heads extracted from the Chavín de Huántar site to the motifs of Paracas textiles. VERDICT A highly recommended and inspiring portrayal of dedication and perseverance for today's generation of explorers.—Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima County P.L., Tucson, AZ - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2020 *Starred Review* Vibrant illustrations and a detailed bilingual text come together to tell the inspiring story of Julio C. Tello, the first Indigenous archaeologist of the Americas and an important figure of Peruvian history. Following Julio—known as Sharuko, which means “brave” in his native Quechua language—from his roots as he explored caves near his home, through his studies in Lima, where he attended medical school, and on to Harvard and Europe, where he studied archaeology, readers will be turning pages with fascination at Tello’s many accomplishments. As Tello returned to Peru once more, he made amazing archaeological discoveries and ultimately became the director of the Museum of Anthropology, which helped him accomplish his greatest wish: to preserve Peruvian culture along with the rich heritage and history of the Indigenous peoples who created it. Chavarri’s gorgeous watercolor-and-gouache illustrations bring to life Tello’s family, his ancestors, moments—both beautiful and dark—from the history of Peru, and the inspiring events of his own life. The bilingual Spanish/English text, neatly laid out in parallel, provides detailed information that will have young readers yearning to learn more, and it’s sure to inspire young archaeologists-to-be. A detailed afterword, illustrator’s note, and author’s sources provide additional information. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.