Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2021 This new chapter-book iteration of the She Persisted series (2 titles), inspired by Chelsea Clinton's feminist picture-book biographies, expands to a slightly older audience. Written by award-winning authors and illustrated with artwork that blends soft charm and a range of emotions, the biographies use an accessible, early chapter-book format and focus on the formative years of strong women. Of course, at the heart of the women's stories is persistence despite numerous setbacks, which helped them achieve their professional goals. Florence Griffith Joyner describes this amazing athlete’s early gift for running and many of her obstacles, including being separated from her father, having to work to pay for college, and losing important races, before becoming an Olympic Gold Medalist in track. Joyner’s story also highlights her fashion, which revolutionized track attire. Each book concludes with tips, customized to the biography’s subject, encouraging readers to persist in a similar spirit. Inspiring introductions to remarkable women. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2021 Gr 2–5—In this empowering addition to the "She Persisted" children's chapter book series, elementary readers will encounter a concise biographical portrait of record-breaking USA Olympic athlete Florence Griffith Joyner. Younger elementary students would best enjoy this quick-paced, in a read-aloud setting, while the storylike format and language of this nonfiction work will appeal to independent readers. Starting from the days Joyner was a young girl surpassing her father's challenge to race jackrabbits in the Mojave Desert, the chapters chronicle the athlete's yearslong pursuit of her Olympic dreams. Williams-Garcia represents the facts and events of Joyner's journey to become a record-breaking, world-renowned Olympian through chronological details, featuring her supportive family home life, economic hardships, training work, and racing competitions over her athletic career, closing with her work with children as co-chair of the 1993 President's Council on Physical Fitness. The composed narration celebrates Joyner's life story, drawing clear and particular attention to the athlete's expressive spirit and self-competitive nature to set her own goals and push herself further while staying true to her own style. The narrative concludes with a brief list of straightforward points for readers to take care of their own well-being like the Olympian did, by eating healthy, being active, and confidently expressing themselves and their dreams. VERDICT A quietly remarkable biographical read that encourages elementary students of any gender to take a closer look at the life of Olympic sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner and her admirable resolve to work hard in pursuit of her dreams.—Rachel Mulligan, Westampton, NJ - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.