Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2025 Author and real-life aerospace engineer Morancy is also a narrating character in this guide to living on the moon. In thematic double-page spreads, they explore such topics as astronaut training, the moon’s geography, and landing on the moon’s surface. Amusing, loosely rendered illustrations match the chunked text, made more accessible in the author’s chatty style. This book goes beyond others on the topic, as it demonstrates such considerations as how astronauts might live in lava tubes, mine and use the moon’s resources, grow food, and create a power grid. Other issues include ethical matters (e.g., moon citizenship and society) and what the future might hold for the moon, such as serving as a training ground for astronauts prepping to visit Mars. In some cases, the double-page spread becomes an infographic in which readers match numbered illustrations to brief descriptions (for instance, “How Not to Die on the Moon” depicts an astronaut turning purple as a visual clue about the lack of atmosphere and breathable air). A fun, creative way to ponder the moon’s possibilities. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.