Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2023 A Japanese survivor of WWII's American air raids reflects on that childhood experience in a contemplative autobiography crafted with the help of notable author Steve Sheinkin (Fallout, 2021) and her son, who also meticulously illustrated the account. Eight-year-old Yukie and her siblings enjoy adventurous youths as the children of a lighthouse keeper on a small island off the northern coast of Japan: “We were explorers and scientists. . . . We were treasure hunters.” Until war approaches them. Although their daily routines continue, the heavy foreboding impacts Yukie’s whole family. After bombs devastate their region in 1945, Yukie’s community recovers and the children find simple joys again. Detailed oil-on-canvas and Photoshop illustrations capture the innocence and later unease of the family, and the palette shifts accordingly. Crisp greens and clean blues are replaced by sooty grays and muted tones in the bombing’s aftermath. Meaningful notes from Sheinkin and Kodo Kimura further personalize Yukie's story. Insightful and compassionate, this lightly fictionalized recounting brings welcome insight about children in conflicts and lends humanity to the ravages of war. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

Booklist - 06/15/2023 A Japanese survivor of WWII's American air raids reflects on that childhood experience in a contemplative autobiography crafted with the help of notable author Steve Sheinkin (Fallout, 2021) and her son, who also meticulously illustrated the account. Eight-year-old Yukie and her siblings enjoy adventurous youths as the children of a lighthouse keeper on a small island off the northern coast of Japan: “We were explorers and scientists. . . . We were treasure hunters.” Until war approaches them. Although their daily routines continue, the heavy foreboding impacts Yukie’s whole family. After bombs devastate their region in 1945, Yukie’s community recovers and the children find simple joys again. Detailed oil-on-canvas and Photoshop illustrations capture the innocence and later unease of the family, and the palette shifts accordingly. Crisp greens and clean blues are replaced by sooty grays and muted tones in the bombing’s aftermath. Meaningful notes from Sheinkin and Kodo Kimura further personalize Yukie's story. Insightful and compassionate, this lightly fictionalized recounting brings welcome insight about children in conflicts and lends humanity to the ravages of war. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2023 Gr 3–5—In simple text and pastoral illustrations, this book offers a look at how war affects children. Yukie lives an idyllic life helping her dad maintain the lighthouse and playing with her brother on a tiny island off the coast of Japan. It is 1945 and World War II feels very far away, until the day the bombs start to fall. When Yukie and her family emerge from the bomb shelter, Yukie no longer feels safe or lighthearted. The world around her begins to heal, but it takes a unique miracle for Yukie to feel like the explorer she once was. The text is minimal, with only one or two sentences per page. Oil on canvas filled with bright blues and greens create serene scenes that highlight the carefree and happy life that Yukie has before the bombings. These turn gray and dismal after the bombings to show the main character's inner turmoil—a jumping-off point for discussion in the classroom. Sheinkin's author's note describes how the idea for the book came to be. Kimura's note provides more detail about his mother, Yukie, and her life in Japan. VERDICT An accessible and compelling book on a tough topic. Purchase for a unique perspective on World War II.—V. Lynn Christiansen - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.