Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 12/01/2023 K-Gr 3—A celebration of voting begins as Quetta waits impatiently for her mother to arrive home on Election Day. Quetta is excited to join her mother and grandmother on their journey to vote. As they take several buses and a long walk through their lively and diverse neighborhood, they encounter many community members eager to cast their own votes. Quetta is dismayed when they finally arrive at their polling station and the line seems endlessly long. To bolster Quetta's resolve, her grandmother tells her of the many exclusionary practices that Black Americans like her great-grandparents faced and reminds her of the importance of using her voice to create change. When her grandmother's ID is missing just as they finally get a turn to vote, there's a moment of suspense that keeps readers engaged while driving home how precarious the right to vote can be. Quetta and her family are depicted in bright colors that emphasize the excitement of election day, while faded blues depict the obstacles they face. An author's note with suggestions for further reading and a time line provides insight into the battle for voting rights for all. VERDICT A child's-eye view of the voting experience that highlights the joys and frustrations of making one's voice heard.—Alia Shields - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.