Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/07/2024 Gr 1–3—In this picture book biography, Wilma Rudolph's enduring and inspiring legacy is explored. Immediately following the 1960 Olympic Games held in Rome, where she took home three gold medals for the United States, Rudolph toured Europe, noticing how "all kinds of people" coexist and engage in daily activities together, from sitting on a beach to riding a bus. This was in stark contrast to her hometown of Clarksville, TN, where Jim Crow laws prevailed. Upon returning home, her town planned a day in honor of her victories. Rudolph agreed to participate on the condition that Black people would be included in every aspect of the day. The day was a success; the town remained segregated. Rudolph's desire for change and determination to see it happen remained steadfast, through peaceful protests and her participation in the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the text, the authors thoughtfully explore Rudolph's athletic victories as well as her hardships as a child and in her adult life. Eye-catching mixed-media illustrations are equally thought-provoking, depicting Rudolph's unwavering perseverance throughout her life. An author's note provides additional information about Rudolph's life and the Civil Rights Movement. VERDICT An engaging and insightful biography of an American hero—highly recommended for purchase.—Olivia Gorecke - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2024 Beginning with 20-year-old Black runner Wilma Rudolph winning three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, this picture-book biography tells how her travels afterward, visiting several European countries, changed her life. After growing up in Clarksville, Tennessee, during the Jim Crow era, she was experiencing daily life in integrated cities in Europe, where restaurants, swimming pools, and buses treated everyone more fairly, regardless of race. When town leaders in Clarksville planned “Wilma Rudolph Day,” a grand celebration including a parade, a banquet, and other festivities, she refused to participate unless the they would change local laws that discriminated against Black residents. The parade and the banquet were integrated, but it took great patience and persistence to desegregate the town. The main story is told in broad strokes, while the back matter describes the remainder of Rudolph’s life and the changes that she worked for over many years. Throughout the book, lively, mixed-media artwork combines painted elements and cut-paper collage with digital finishes. A welcome tribute to Wilma Rudolph’s accomplishments and her legacy as a civil rights activist. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.