Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2023 *Starred Review* In 1936, after winning her school’s spelling bee, eighth grader MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee. Her prize? Twenty-five dollars and a trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington. A brass band and “a crowd of thousands” gathered to see her off. When her train crossed the state line into Maryland, MacNolia and her mother were forced to move to a Blacks-only car. Although other spelling champs stayed in a hotel, its “whites only” policy excluded the Coxes. Even at the spelling bee, the two Black students were seated at a card table, separated from the white competitors. When only five kids remained, MacNolia misspelled a word. Despite protests that it wasn’t on the official list, the judges, “mostly from the segregated South,” stood firm. But back home, Akron residents welcomed their girl home with a parade. Weatherford tells of MacNolia’s experiences in concise, direct narrative, while occasionally asking a question such as, “Can you spell discrimination? D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N.” The injustices MacNolia faced are clear, but so are her intelligence, diligence, and ability to excel, “given a level playing field.” Capturing the characters’ emotions and their personalities, Morrison’s vibrant oil-and-spray-paint illustrations are riveting. This moving picture book portrays a girl who met injustice with dignity and excelled. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

Booklist - 02/15/2023 *Starred Review* In 1936, after winning her school’s spelling bee, eighth-grader MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio, spelling bee. Her prize? Twenty-five dollars and a trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington. A brass band and “a crowd of thousands” gathered to see her off. When her train crossed the state line into Maryland, MacNolia and her mother were forced to move to a “Blacks-only” car. Although other spelling champs stayed in a hotel, its “whites only” policy excluded the Coxes. Even at the spelling bee, the two Black students were seated at a card table, separated from the white competitors. When only five kids remained, MacNolia misspelled a word. Despite protests that it wasn’t on the official list, the judges, “mostly from the segregated South,” stood firm. But back home, Akron residents welcomed their girl home with a parade. Weatherford tells of MacNolia’s experiences in concise, direct narrative, while occasionally asking a question such as, “Can you spell discrimination? D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N.” The injustices MacNolia faced are clear, but so are her intelligence, diligence, and ability to excel, “given a level playing field.” Capturing the characters’ emotions and their personalities, Morrison’s vibrant oil-and-spray-paint illustrations are riveting. This moving picture book portrays a girl who met injustice with dignity and excelled. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2023 PreS-Gr 4—The inspiring team that produced Standing in Need of a Prayer shines the light on another historic moment in American history. MacNolia Cox, a champion speller from Akron, OH, persevered despite racist obstacles in her path to become the first African American top five finalist in the National Spelling Bee. Morrison's illustrations capture the emotions, tenacity, and strength of Cox and her supporters while Weatherford's free verse tells the story of a young girl with a gift for spelling (and an amazing work ethic) and her journey to the bee in 1936. Without shying away from the racism Cox endured, Weatherford keeps the focus squarely on the determination of the champion and her supporters for the opportunity to show her talents as a speller. Back matter expands on the story of America's racist history surrounding spelling bees and includes other remarkable accomplishments by spellers of African descent from last century to the present. VERDICT Another stunning title from a gifted pair of creators, this deserves a place in all collections as children will root for Cox and be inspired by her amazing accomplishments.—John Scott - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.