Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2020 Rao interviews 20 people of color or Indigenous heritage who are working to protect our little, blue planet. The content is neatly sorted into six sections like community involvement, the defense of ancestral lands, and wildlife conservation. One section even goes, without preaching, into sustainable meat-eating practices. There’s something for everyone, whether you want to be an activist at home or an organizer in the community. Even better, Rao exposes the reader to a variety of cultures and bodies of knowledge, such as New Zealand’s Maori, Iran’s nomadic peoples, and the Arctic Indigenous. It’s an eye-opener and, with each chapter divided into a few spotlights, digestible in small bits. Handy for references, chock-full of full-color photos, with a helpful glossary in the back, it’s an excellent resource that, placed in the hands of a budding environmentalist, will inspire action, whether large or small. An important representation of the contributions made by people of color and Indigenous people—and a beautiful celebration of diversity. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 Gr 5–8—The author, a Canadian-born conservation biologist of Indian and Indigenous descent, uses her background as a source of knowledge and strength to defend Earth from harmful and destructive practices. Rao highlights 20 other people of color who are actively working to protect or restore various parts of the environment—wildlife, soil, water quality, forests, and other elements. Each person explains how their identity (race, language, culture, etc.) gives them a strong knowledge or background to address their environmental issue. The text mentions several Indigenous people from North and South America working to protect Native land and waters. By profiling 20 people in less than 200 pages, the book is a little choppy. There are few transitions between people and categories. Some biographies abruptly end, leaving the reader to wonder if the person has been successful or not. Nonetheless, it is refreshing to read of these activists' enthusiasm and determination to change our physical world for the better. VERDICT For larger libraries or libraries looking to expand their potential career offerings, this is a good choice to show how anyone can defend our world.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 Gr 5–8—The author, a Canadian-born conservation biologist of Indian and Indigenous descent, uses her background as a source of knowledge and strength to defend Earth from harmful and destructive practices. Rao highlights 20 other people of color who are actively working to protect or restore various parts of the environment—wildlife, soil, water quality, forests, and other elements. Each person explains how their identity (race, language, culture, etc.) gives them a strong knowledge or background to address their environmental issue. The text mentions several Indigenous people from North and South America working to protect Native land and waters. By profiling 20 people in less than 200 pages, the book is a little choppy. There are few transitions between people and categories. Some biographies abruptly end, leaving the reader to wonder if the person has been successful or not. Nonetheless, it is refreshing to read of these activists' enthusiasm and determination to change our physical world for the better. VERDICT For larger libraries or libraries looking to expand their potential career offerings, this is a good choice to show how anyone can defend our world.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.