Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2024 Gr 5 Up—A fascinating, if not always cohesive, accounting of Senator Joe McCarthy's rise to power and public downfall during the Cold War. The creators of Bringing Down a President present another dark period in U.S. history. A bombastic politician, McCarthy wielded immense influence following WWII as suspicion of the USSR's infiltration into all facets of American life overran the country. He was the face of the Red Scare and incited the government to rout out any person suspected of Communist leanings. This persecution resulted in the loss of reputations, careers, and lives of many, including Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed for treason. This riveting narrative brings history to spine-chilling life in a way that is scarily relevant today. The team showcases the history in a screenplay format, with most of the factual events shared through a question-and-answer layout. The responses are revealed via a theoretical "Fly on the Wall." This structure is confusing and superfluous, though some reluctant readers may find it engaging. Foley's pencil-like drawings are scattered throughout and add interest, giving readers an idea of what these historical figures looked like. Students will acquire a deeper knowledge of people like President Dwight D. Eisenhower and FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. They'll also meet Roy Cohn, McCarthy's henchman, and Joseph Welch, the lawyer who finally brought McCarthy to justice. Back matter includes a time line, extensive source notes, and a plentiful further reading list. VERDICT Despite the confusing format, this compelling volume on mid-20th-century American politics is a must for research students and history buffs alike.—Shelley M. Diaz - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2024 *Starred Review* History is stories, these coauthors assert, and theirs is a doozy—the rise and fall of the notorious anti-Communist Republican senator Joe McCarthy. The story begins with the Red Scare of the post-WWII years, proceeds chronologically through the work of the House Un-American Activities Committee and the presidency of Harry S. Truman, and then focuses on the decade of the 1950s and the insidious work of McCarthy and his assistant, Roy Cohn, who, famously, was later Donald Trump’s mentor and lawyer. The account continues to McCarthy’s ultimate fall and alcohol-related death. While terrifying at the time, with hindsight, it is possible to see how ridiculous some of the Red Scare efforts were. For example: one Indiana censor called for banning Robin Hood because his robbing the rich to give to the poor sounded too much like communism. The authors tell their fascinating story in an interestingly nontraditional way. Within each bite-size chapter, the chronological narrative is surrounded by numerous, often anecdotal, quotations dubbed “Fly on the wall.” The unusual format makes for a fast-paced, even suspenseful read that brings history dramatically alive on the pages, many of which are generously illustrated with Foley’s black-and-white sketches. Exceptional. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.