Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2023 *Starred Review* That war is hell is evidenced by this dramatic account of the greatest POW rescue of WWII. First, however, Hopkinson (We Must Not Forget, 2021) provides a contextual examination of military action and the suffering that American soldiers endured in the Philippines. This is dramatized by the stories of a number of participants whom the author follows through their often-ghastly experiences of the war. Chief among these horrors is arguably the notorious Bataan Death March, which forced POWs, many of them sick and starving, to walk some 65 miles to Camp O’Donnell, one of the deadliest POW camps in history. As for the march, one of its survivors recalls that it was “a macabre litany of heat, dust, starvation, thirst, filth, flies, stench, murder, torture, [and] corpses”; any of those who could march no farther were killed. The action subsequently moves from Camp O’Donnell to Camp Cabanatuan, which is the site of the rescue. Hopkinson’s brilliant account of this event is cinematic and irresistibly readable, as, indeed, is the entire book, which is beautifully written, generously illustrated with black-and-white period photographs, and enhanced by extensive back matter. The book will be invaluable for both classroom use and independent reading. And kudos to it for memorializing human courage and compassion. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

Booklist - 02/15/2023 *Starred Review* That war is hell is evidenced by this dramatic account of the greatest POW rescue of WWII. First, however, Hopkinson (We Must Not Forget, 2021) provides a contextual examination of military action and the suffering that American soldiers endured in the Philippines. This is dramatized by the stories of a number of participants whom the author follows through their often-ghastly experiences of the war. Chief among these horrors is arguably the notorious Bataan Death March, which forced POWs, many of them sick and starving, to walk some 65 miles to Camp O’Donnell, one of the deadliest POW camps in history. As for the march, one of its survivors recalls that it was “a macabre litany of heat, dust, starvation, thirst, filth, flies, stench, murder, torture, [and] corpses”; any of those who could march no farther were killed. The action subsequently moves from Camp O’Donnell to Camp Cabanatuan, which is the site of the rescue. Hopkinson’s brilliant account of this event is cinematic and irresistibly readable, as, indeed, is the entire book, which is beautifully written, generously illustrated with black-and-white period photographs, and enhanced by extensive back matter. The book will be invaluable for both classroom use and independent reading. And kudos to it for memorializing human courage and compassion. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2023 Gr 4–6—Told through oral histories, letters, and firsthand written accounts, the rescue of World War II prisoners of war from the Cabanatuan Camp in the Philippines is a harrowing story of unimaginable hardship, courage, and ingenuity. Beginning with the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942, Hopkinson guides readers through the events that lead to tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers and civilians being forced on a 65-mile trek known as the Bataan Death March. Once the survivors arrive at their final destination of Cabanatuan, readers are exposed to the realities of life as prisoners of war. A generous number of black-and-white photographs and maps provide engaging visual aids that assist in bringing this extraordinary account to life. A bibliography is included and extra resources, including links to relevant websites, are shared throughout. Hopkinson also works in stories of the predominantly Latino 200th Coast Artillery from New Mexico along with stories of white and Filipino civilians. All other soldiers mentioned are white and Filipino. VERDICT Told with great detail and through the perspectives of the individuals who lived the experience firsthand, this is an impactful book that will raise awareness and encourage young readers to seek more information; a must-buy for any public or school library.—Maryjean Riou - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.