Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2019 Gr 4–7—Twelve-year-olds Asha and Yesofu have been friends their whole lives. African Yesofu's mother works for Indian Asha's family in formerly British-occupied Uganda. Their many differences have never bothered them, until the year Asha invites Yesofu to her birthday and he doesn't attend. Then, Uganda's leader declares that all Indians with British citizenship must leave Uganda within 90 days in order to return the country to its original and true proprietors: the African people. As the countdown progresses, the mandate becomes more exclusionary to all Indian citizens, and the friends struggle to repair their friendship as both are torn between what they feel is right for themselves versus the unfair treatment of the other. Any chance of reconciliation is thrown into question when Yesofu shares a secret about Asha's family that puts them even more at risk. Athaide's debut competently tackles the tough topics of colonialism and refugee crises, among other issues that were faced by the citizens of Uganda in 1972. Told in alternating perspectives within the 90-day countdown, both characters reckon with questions that are still relevant in today's world. An author's note provides more information about this conflict. VERDICT A timely addition to middle grade shelves in need of non-Western historical fiction. This works as a strong companion to Veera Hiranandani's The Night Diary and A.L. Sonnichsen's Red Butterfly.—Brittany Drehobl, Morton Grove Public Library, IL - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2019 Asha and Yesofu are best friends, despite the fact that the wealthy Asha is Indian and Yesofu is African. Asha isn’t always aware of her privilege, but Yesofu is all too conscious of the inequalities between Indians and Africans in Uganda. Things get exponentially more complicated when Idi Amin announces that all of the Indians in Uganda must leave. At first, Yesofu supports Amin’s plan, seeing in it the potential of a brighter future for his family. But when both Yesofu and Asha see the violent reality of the expulsion, everything they used to think shatters. Told in alternating perspectives, Athaide, who was born in Uganda and lived there until her family left just before the expulsion, excellently captures how Amin’s plan affected individuals in complex and heart-wrenching ways. It also portrays how the development of an “us versus them” mentality can be swift and brutal, with no easy solutions for peace. A moving story about the power and limits of friendship. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.