Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 12/01/2022 Gr 2–4—Soccer star Abby Wambach did not become a champion overnight. This picture book biography chronicles her successes, failures, and never-give-up spirit that drove her to the Olympics. The text is presented with one or two sentences per paragraph and up to three paragraphs per page. It is punctuated with occasional onomatopoeia to create from repetition a certain rhythm. Badiu shows Wambach in scene after scene in full-blown action; most of these are realistic, but some take on a fantasy quality as she emits pink and purple sparkles. Among the other players, it's a little difficult to identify Wambach at first, as she is depicted without her iconic short blonde hairstyle. Back matter includes additional biographical information, a bibliography, and a glossary of soccer terms. VERDICT Add to collections where sports bios are popular.—Chance Lee Joyner - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2023 Chaffee and Badiu vibrantly relay soccer star Abby Wambach's career, emphasizing her persistence and devotion to the game. The biography begins with the Wambach family's discovery of soccer and continues through Abby's college career and time as a professional player representing the U.S. The author highlights several challenges Wambach had to overcome, from learning to run more lightly to breaking a leg in an important game. Badiu's action-packed, full-page illustrations bring Wambach's power on the field to life, often with a literal sprinkle of sparkles—a trail of wavy pink and purple designs with scattered stars and sparkles represent Wambach's powerful triumphs. Though Chaffee opts to focus exclusively on Wambach's youth and career, with no mention of her personal or family life as an adult, additional facts about Wambach's childhood and impact on U.S. women's soccer are appended, along with a glossary of soccer vocabulary and a bibliography. A fun and inspiring picture book for children who admire athletes or love soccer. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.