Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2022 *Starred Review* It is hard not to be charmed by this simple tale of a novice ice-skater's first lesson. Claire is a young Black girl, full of big skating dreams and excitement to finally glide onto the ice. However, her initial confidence soon gives way to disappointment at her brown rental skates and unglamorous group name, the Snowplows. Then come frustrating exercises like learning to stand in skates before getting on the ice. When Claire finally makes it onto the ice, she goes wibble, wobble, and finally boom, falling right away. The skating coach continues to encourage the beginners, but they fall—wibble, wobble, boom!—again and again. This isn't skating, thinks Claire. As her frustrations mount, she declares, Skating is hard, not fun! In the end, Claire's persistence and powers of observation, along with support from her coach and the other Snowplows, lead her to make a discovery that changes how she moves on the ice and restores her self-confidence (despite still sometimes going wibble, wobble, boom!). The illustrations are just as charming as the text. Sterling captures both Claire's emotions and the movement of the skaters in her cheerful artwork. Many readers will identify with Claire's challenges, and all will cheer for her success. A must for beginning ice-skaters, and perfect for nervous newbies at just about anything. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.