Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2022 Gr 1–4—Music, history, and social justice combine in the unique story of famed violinist Isaac Stern's struggle to save Carnegie Hall from destruction. The premier performance in 1891 sets the scene for the historical significance of this landmark, a place where people from all backgrounds came to perform. Hoyt presents Stern at an early age, who performed so often at Carnegie Hall that it felt like his second home. When city planner Robert Moses planned to knock the hall down along with 18 city blocks of buildings occupied by largely poor Black families in 1960, Stern began a campaign to save the building. From protests to petitions, fundraising to legislation, Stern worked with employees, musicians, politicians, and philanthropists to create a long-term solution: an educational institution housed in the hall, which would then pay for itself after the city's purchase of the building. Back matter and an author's note offer ample extensive resources and background, as well as a sweet connection between the author and subject: her parents met in New York as professional musicians. Hickey's illustrations drop readers right into New York City and Carnegie Hall. The shading, details, and colors create a richness that echoes the splendor and decadence of the performance space. Similarly, Hoyt's ample adjectives and similes offer just the right amount of flourish and flamboyance without being overly flowery. VERDICT This volume offers a precious glimpse into an important moment in history. It is a true love letter to Carnegie Hall, and should have a place on all shelves.—Clara Hendricks - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2022 In this account of how Isaac Stern, child of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, led efforts to save Carnegie Hall from the wrecking ball in 1960, Hoyt pays tribute not just to the renowned violinist but to a unique cultural institution that has hosted many luminaries. Young readers will doubtless be left duly appreciative of both but are likely to respond more strongly to the abbreviated but compelling story she tells about the reason for the demolition. That, she claims, was scheduled by autocratic civil engineer Robert Moses because he felt it would compete with the nearby Lincoln Center, for which he had razed an entire city neighborhood. The back matter includes photos and more detail about both stories, plus a time line, a generous source list, and the full text of Stern’s original petition. Along with scenes of fabled performers (and one view of tenements with boarded-up windows), Hickey depicts the rumpled Stern as a man on a mission. But the backstory adds a distinctly discordant note. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.