Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/15/2023 *Starred Review* Lucy’s entering a new school for sixth grade, where her sister, GiGi, is an eighth-grader. Almost right from the start, the thick tension between them at home spills over at school when GiGi trips Lucy and Lucy challenges GiGi to a duel with GiGi’s own fencing foil. Despite warnings from the principal, Lucy sticks to her plan and secretly trains with the help of her late father’s fencing guidebook, hoping to take GiGi, the best fencer in school, down a peg. Jessixa Bagley’s story of sister rivalry gradually builds in emotional depth, as the origin of GiGi and Lucy’s conflict eventually comes to the fore: still dealing with the grief of losing their father, a notable fencing instructor, each girl is jealous of the time he spent with the other, feelings that intensify as they practice techniques he taught them. Aaron Bagley’s nimble cartooning makes great work of the speedy, minute moves in fencing matches, as well as the expressive faces and body language that signal the girls’ big emotions. Each chapter opens with a page from the guidebook, which neatly echoes the story’s plot. With an uncommonly keen eye for the convoluted way kids deal with grief, this heartening story of growth and a family healing from loss is a natural pick for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.