Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 04/21/2025 Growing up in a family attuned to nature, Deanna Shulman later found her calling in the grueling and often dangerous work of U.S. Forest Service wildland crews, reducing wildfire risks and maintaining forest health: "Hard physical work. Camaraderie with crewmates. Being outdoors. All things that fueled her heart’s fire." But when Shulman aspired to become a smokejumper and trained diligently for the role, she was dismissed for "looking too small." Undaunted, she filed a complaint under the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, never stopped training, and triumphed. Lawson, making her picture book debut, leans into fire metaphors to describe the protagonist’s state of mind across concise, often poetic text that captures Shulman’s passion and steely determination. Warm-toned artwork by Gonzales (You’ll Always Be My Chickadee) makes the most of the book’s horizontal format, evoking the radiant hues and strong graphic lines of WPA murals while depicting Shulman in heroic action poses against sweeping landscapes. In this resonant story, conserving nature, protecting communities, and demanding equal opportunity unite. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-7. Author’s agent: Tina Dubois, CAA. Illustrator’s agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (July) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 05/01/2025 This picture-book biography tells the story of Deanne Shulman, America’s first woman smokejumper. When she was little, Shulman loved backpacking and being outdoors, which led her to follow her brother into the United States Forest Service. After a series of physically demanding, increasingly dangerous firefighting assignments, like clearing brush and fighting hotshot fires, she was ready for her dream job: being a smokejumper. Shulman trained hard and was prepared, but she wasn’t allowed to take the test because she didn’t meet the minimum height and weight requirements. Frustrated, Shulman claimed sex discrimination and filed a complaint under the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Finally, after almost a year, her appeal was granted. She took the test, passed, and saw the height and weight requirements adjusted to reflect broader parameters. Shulman’s story is told in simple but expressive language, and the illustrations often feature a slightly gauzy aspect, like sunlight filtering through leaves or wisps of smoke. The back matter includes an illustrated glossary and author’s note. A satisfying and timely offering. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.