Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2021 Rubin’s inspiring tale uses a displaced—and eventually reinstated—tree to symbolically reflect on the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the rebuilding of New York City over time. The poetic text is told from the perspective of the tree, but the illustrations are the star of this book. Flanked by comforting bucolic scenes, Rubin’s depiction of the 9/11 attacks is jarring and scary. Its traditional picture-book format gives way to graphic novel conventions as the attack unfolds through darkly colored panels that resemble broken shards of glass. Some readers may grow confused here because the accompanying descriptive passages do not explicitly refer to 9/11, but the atmosphere and drama will be easily felt. As the tree is cleared of debris, light and order are likewise restored to the book’s pages. Particularly striking is the growth of the tree and the new tower at the site of the World Trade Center, shown in a series of parallel illustrations. Although the circumstances are different, this story of urban resilience and rebuilding remains relevant today. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/14/2021 Gr 1–4—Rubin tells of a pear tree that lived between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. "She" enjoys her life, giving people shade and birds a place to rest. Then one day, everything goes dark and falls down around her; she is buried under the rubble. When she is discovered days later, she is taken to a park to recover and grow strong again. This is the story of one tree—and one city's journey toward healing and regrowth. The gentle line drawings and watercolor illustrations depict a beautiful city and a diverse population. Illustrations treat the events of 9/11 with care; without becoming graphic, the story is evident. There are scenes showing the slow rebuilding of the One World Trade Center tower and the regrowth of the tree; both grow stronger and are eventually reintroduced to the public. Back matter includes an author's note, a brief history of the World Trade Center, a recounting of the events of 9/11 and the real surviving tree, and a note on the illustrations and selected sources. VERDICT What an unusual way to capture that day; this beautiful book deserves a spot in elementary collections across the country.—Sara Thomas, New Castle P.L., DE - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.