Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2020 Malcolm X’s daughter Shabazz teams up with YA veteran Jackson to create an affecting piece of historical fiction that focuses on the civil rights icon’s young adulthood. It begins five weeks into the imprisonment of 20-year-old Malcolm Little. Through the mentorship of older prisoners and by witnessing the atrocities African Americans are subjected to behind bars, a fire is stoked within him. As his narrative unfolds, Malcolm hones his skills in rhetoric and debate to become a feared sparring partner, and, by embracing Islam, Malcolm X finds a calling to guide other African Americans to rally for true justice. The authors not only show Malcolm’s intellectual and spiritual evolution, but also manage to depict the plight of his fellow inmates with equal parts compassion and revulsion. In so doing, they illustrate the social conditions that normalized injustice into everyday life. Though technically a work of fiction, this book nevertheless serves as a perfect entrée for young adult readers to learn about the formative years of a pivotal leader in the civil rights movement. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2021 Gr 7 Up—How did Malcolm Little, the son of a Lansing, MI, Baptist minister, become the renowned Malcolm X? When Malcolm is 20, he is caught up in the robbery of an empty house. He relies on the testimony of his friend Sophia, a white woman, to minimize the amount of trouble he will be in, however, she lies and he is sentenced to eight-to-10 years in prison. The conditions in the prison are beyond wretched. He stews in anger during the first part of his incarceration while his family begins to follow the principles of the Nation of Islam. "Wake up, Malcolm" is a phrase repeated throughout the novel and helps readers identify the pivotal situations forming who becomes known as Malcolm X. During his incarceration, Malcolm reads, learns, and discovers his gift for public speaking and debate. The central momentum of this novel is how Malcolm X was motivated to learn and use his knowledge to influence others. The book concludes with valuable sections of additional information about the Nation of Islam and the prisons mentioned in the novel, a timeline from Malcolm's birth until his release, and a list of the books he read while incarcerated. VERDICT Libraries will be incomplete without the inclusion of this captivating historical novel by Malcom X's daughter.—Michelle Kornberger, Havenview M.S., Memphis - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.