Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2020 The titular “wild blue girl”—differentiated from the townspeople by her blue complexion—bursts through the world, shoving back bystanders, blowing out birthday candles, and scattering leaves, much to the consternation of everyone . . . except young Poul. Determined to show the world her potential, he launches a massive construction project in the middle of town. It’s something tall and new that ultimately captures the attention and awe of the townspeople when the completed wind turbine blows the wild blue girl through the sky. This simple tale was inspired by the work of Danish scientist Poul la Cour, “who built one of the first electricity-generating wind turbines.” Negley’s pencil and cut-paper illustrations rely on white space to make bright colors pop, with newspaper clippings used to make up the fabric of the world, reinforcing a message of sustainability. The text, however—including the more detailed back matter—doesn’t delve into any science, providing only a basic introduction to the concept of harnessing wind and leaving it to grown readers to provide further education. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.