Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/01/2016 This solid and heavy coffee-table book is stuffed full of the kind of captivating information, attractive photos, and diagrams that will keep even casual browsers reading throughout the day. Some entries follow a traditional format, featuring pages full of dense but engaging articles on topics ranging from man’s earliest—and mythical­—attempts to fly (Icarus) to modern-day developments (drones). Other pages offer great, unexpected pieces on diverse topics such as superhero flight capabilities; bird superlatives; unsuccessful flying machines; books, films, and songs about flying; pigs in space; and famous fictional pilots (Maverick and Goose, Steve Austin, Ted Striker). Throw in archival photos, drawings and illustrations, charts and graphs, and activities and experiments, and you have an absolutely irresistible compendium. This has no source notes or index, although the table of contents is very detailed, but still, notwithstanding the slight British slant, this should be a hit with military and aviation buffs, report writers, and casual browsers. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2016 Gr 4–8—This detailed history of flight will delight readers with everything a budding aviation enthusiast needs to dive into this fascinating topic, including poems, essays, fact cards, and even a few flight-based experiments. White discusses flying for pleasure and for the military. While the writing is directed at more sophisticated readers, the brief essays, such as "Dead Heat: The Zeppelin Race," would make for an appropriate read-aloud in classrooms. With lovely artwork, photos (with blueprints), an engrossing narrative, and compelling facts, this volume will undoubtedly find an audience in school libraries. One caveat: as the author provides few direct citations, those looking for research texts might consider other titles, such as DK's Flight: The Complete History. VERDICT A great addition to middle school libraries seeking an engaging overview of the history of aviation.—Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.