Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/24/2022 PreS-Gr 2—A young girl loves doing things indoors with her Abuelita, such as eating pancakes, drawing, and painting nails. Going outdoors, however, is a different matter. At the grocery store, on the street, at the bus stop—people take a look at Abuelita and make faces or pretend they can't understand what she is saying. After an outing that ends in a very upsetting experience with a prejudiced bus driver, the little girl doesn't want to go outside again. Abuelita tries to comfort her and explain that they did nothing wrong, but the young girl becomes sad and then angry when she thinks of Abuelita being upset. Eventually, the young girl and her grandmother go outside and board the bus, giving each other strength, comfort, and love. Warm, luminous illustrations express the love and happiness of the protagonist and her abuelita as they enjoy each other's company, while also showing readers their very feelings of sadness and worry. Clear, concise sentences express the girl's confusion, thoughts, and worries over Abuelita's treatment by others. This moving story will open up important discussions about racism and prejudice against people of marginalized backgrounds, including those who speak a different language. The digital art is composed of mostly oranges and purples, perfect for representing the tender relationship between granddaughter and grandmother. The pair have varying degrees of brown skin. Many of the scenes depict a diverse, bustling city. VERDICT A resonant, intergenerational picture book about an important and necessary topic; highly recommended for children's picture book collections.—Selenia Paz - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2022 *Starred Review* Salvadorian author Carranza poignantly addresses racism and microaggressions in this book about a brave and observant child who sees how her Spanish-speaking, brown grandmother is treated by their community. Told from the girl’s perspective, the story contrasts the fun, loving life she and her grandmother share inside their house with the treatment they receive outside of it. She notices how people change seats when her grandmother sits beside them and glare at them on the streets. But it’s an interaction with a bus driver that is the focal point of this story. When her grandmother takes a seat before paying (so as not to fall while looking through her purse), the driver assumes she is trying to ride for free and yells at her. The young girl is so jarred she begins to cry and wants to hide inside forever. Abuela tries to sooth her, telling her that they are not the ones who have done something wrong. Eventually, the girl works up the courage to ride the bus again, and this time she’s ready to stand up for herself and her abuela. Mayani’s expressive illustrations use vibrant colors and warm tones to convey the story’s difficult topic in a comforting manner. Young readers will clearly see how even small actions can hurt someone and that you cannot let one bad day take your joy away. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.