Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2025 *Starred Review* It wasn’t that long ago that scientists determined a huge asteroid was most likely responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period, and this fascinating, informative volume highlights not only the people at the center of the discovery but the scientific processes by which they came to their conclusions. Jenson-Elliott begins in the late nineteenth century, when geologists began proposing theories about dinosaurs and how they disappeared. From there, she explains other important theories, like plate tectonics and continental drift, that undergird the work her subjects, Walter and Luis Alvarez, relied upon when coming up with their own conclusions about the mass extinction event. It’s a dense account with an impressive amount of detail folded in, but in using the framework of the scientific process to structure the content, Jenson-Elliott effectively builds on explanations that contextualize the major concepts that drive the Alvarez’s discovery, which ultimately relied on many scientists working in a vast array of fields, including current climate science. Section-opening comics showcase some scientists at work and, of course, lots of prehistoric animals experiencing natural disasters, and that emphasizes the thrill of these discoveries, which are made all the more thrilling by the fact that there is still so much more to learn. Perfect for kids who want to go all-in on dinosaurs. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.