Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2020 This chapter-book biography of Harriet Tubman is notable due to the attention it pays to her early life, long before she became known as Moses, the legendary conductor of the Underground Railroad. Beginning at her birth, the story-like text moves along at a brisk pace, relating anecdotes that will appeal to young readers and help them better understand what it meant to be an enslaved person. Each episode serves as a building block that explains how Harriet developed the strength and perseverance that got her through many harrowing events, from rescuing other enslaved people to her stints as a nurse and a spy during the Civil War. The engaging language and manageable chapters are appealing, and the simple line drawings that appear every few pages add nuance. A final chapter, How You Can Persist, offers suggested activities (help a lost person, create a legacy quilt). References and suggested websites guide readers to additional resources. Based on Chelsea Clinton's She Persisted picture-book series, this expanded version will be good for report writers and general curriculum support.Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020 - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2021 Gr 2–4—Fast-paced, short chapters and a conversational tone make this entry in the "She Persisted" series an accessible and appealing choice for new readers. The text unpacks Harriet Tubman's motivations in an honest but child-appropriate manner. Perhaps most valuable is Pinkney's frank discussion of slavery. At the beginning of the book, the text explains, "Minty and her parents were considered property, in the same way people had objects like a tea kettle or a hammer that belonged to them. That's what slavery was—White people owning Black people." The text describes how people could be sold, just like objects, and the devastating impact that system had on enslaved families. Pinkney shows respect for her audience by using direct language, clearly demonstrating why Tubman made difficult and brave decisions throughout her life. Shorter than biographies in the "Who Was" and "I Am" series, this title relates incidents from different parts of Tubman's life to provide an overarching view of her accomplishments. Black-and-white illustrations further humanize Tubman. VERDICT This engaging biography is a quick but informative read and well-matched for the intended audience.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's Sch., Richmond, VA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.