Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2018 In the early twentieth century, the deep sea was still a total mystery, and it wasn’t until Otis Barton and Will Beebe designed and dove in a bathysphere that anyone saw it firsthand. Rosenstock begins with the aquanauts’ backgrounds—Barton’s early designs for a diving helmet; Beebe’s career as an explorer—before describing their daring design, a metal sphere just big enough to hold two people. With risks of leaks, explosions, and suffocation, the dive was dramatic on its own, but Rosenstock and Roy imbue the scenes with even more suspense. A repeated refrain of “down, down, down” and ever-darkening backgrounds punctuated by moments of gasp-inducing mishaps ratchet up the tension, but when they finally make it to 800 feet below the ocean surface, it’s all worth it for the view of glowing, alien creatures, which Roy powerfully depicts in a swirling, dusky double-gatefold spread. Roy renders the bathysphere and the deep-sea creatures with precision, while the scientists have a pleasant vintage look. An author’s note offers even more background on the pioneering scientists. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 K-Gr 3—This is a true science adventure story of two men, Otis Barton and Will Beebe, who explored the depths of the ocean down to 800 feet in a self-designed round metal diving tank, "a hollow metal ball" called the bathysphere. Their goal was to answer the question: "What did the deep ocean look like?" Rosenstock's beautifully crafted prose captures the tension and the awe of the experience. ("Shadowy shapes swam past the window. Mysterious lights twinkled in the distance.") The text is expertly complemented by illustrations that detail what is happening, and capture the emotion and fascination of the men. As the bathysphere descends, readers see what is happening both inside and outside the craft. Inside, the two men do various tasks, while outside the vessel descends farther and farther into the darkening waters. A magnificent four-page foldout first shows Beebe and Barton peering out at a depth of 800 feet. When the fold is opened, readers witness the answer to their pressing question. Finally, the intriguing back matter includes an author's note, an illustrator's note, and a note from a former assistant of Will Beebe, as well as a number of interesting photographs. VERDICT An outstanding work of nonfiction for school and public libraries.—Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.