Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/22/2023 Gr 2–5—The latest entry in Rappaport's "Big Words'' series centers around Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space. Ochoa grew up in a home filled with music and a love for learning, a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants and a girl growing up in the 1960s. A career in the sciences wasn't one that was easily accessible to her. But inspired by her mother, she excelled in school and fell in love with physics. After rigorous training and studies, the accomplished flutist and electrical engineer went on to become the first Latina in space. In accessible free verse, Rappoport details the hurdles that Ochoa had to overcome to reach her achievements. The author offers a thorough accounting of the subject's life. It doesn't stop at Ochoa's first visit to space; it also details the three flights that followed, her appointment as the first Latinx of the Johnson Space Center, and her mission to educate kids about STEM careers. Peppered throughout are relevant quotations from the astronaut. The text and illustrations combine to show Ochoa's personality and passion for education, music, and her career. The majestic art is done in gouache, ink, color pencil, and pastel. The paintings are reminiscent of Normal Rockwell's work and have incredible detail. Back matter includes author and illustrator notes, time line, bibliography, and source notes. VERDICT An excellent picture book biography of a groundbreaking Latina that soars. Add to all nonfiction shelves.—Shelley M. Diaz - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 09/22/2023 Gr 2–5—The latest entry in Rappaport's "Big Words'' series centers around Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space. Ochoa grew up in a home filled with music and a love for learning, a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants and a girl growing up in the 1960s. A career in the sciences wasn't one that was easily accessible to her. But inspired by her mother, she excelled in school and fell in love with physics. After rigorous training and studies, the accomplished flutist and electrical engineer went on to become the first Latina in space. In accessible free verse, Rappoport details the hurdles that Ochoa had to overcome to reach her achievements. The author offers a thorough accounting of the subject's life. It doesn't stop at Ochoa's first visit to space; it also details the three flights that followed, her appointment as the first Latinx of the Johnson Space Center, and her mission to educate kids about STEM careers. Peppered throughout are relevant quotations from the astronaut. The text and illustrations combine to show Ochoa's personality and passion for education, music, and her career. The majestic art is done in gouache, ink, color pencil, and pastel. The paintings are reminiscent of Normal Rockwell's work and have incredible detail. Back matter includes author and illustrator notes, time line, bibliography, and source notes. VERDICT An excellent picture book biography of a groundbreaking Latina that soars. Add to all nonfiction shelves.—Shelley M. Diaz - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/08/2023 Ellen Ochoa was 11 years old in 1969, when astronauts first walked on the moon. Though she found space exploration fascinating, she didn’t think about becoming an astronaut, because NASA did not consider women or people of color for the job. In 1978, that changed. With a college degree in physics and advanced degrees in electrical engineering, Ochoa applied to become an astronaut, but she wasn’t chosen. Undeterred, she earned a pilot’s license. She worked as a NASA engineer for several years before becoming an astronaut. Ochoa became “the first Latina to go into space” and later directed the Johnson Space Center. Rappaport’s informative text moves along at a good pace, and the illustrations—drawings painted with vibrant colors—are lively. Highlights include scenes in which Ochoa relishes the challenges of astronaut training in the Vomit Comet and, later, operates the 50-foot robotic arm on the International Space Station. The back matter offers a source bibliography as well as Rappaport’s thanks to Ochoa for her comments on the manuscript. A picture-book biography for tomorrow’s astronauts. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.