Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 07/01/2022 K-Gr 3—Aven Green is back with a brand-new passion: music. When her teacher announces the upcoming talent show, Aven, who is white and has no arms, is determined to play an instrument for the show. The only hitch is that she's not sure what she'd like to play. Her first choice is a piano. She can sit and play the keys with her toes, no problem. She'll be playing Mozart by next week. But after a devastating blow by her friend Emily, Aven decides maybe being a professional musician isn't for her. Her parents bring her to a cafe where she meets a guitarist, Luke, who plays with his feet! Inspired by Luke, Aven decides she wants to learn guitar. When Aven shows up at her great-grandma's, she even learns a bit of the harmonica. The talent show rolls around and Aven delights her classmates with a song she wrote. Adding to the fun of the previous books in the series, Aven Green's musical adventure is sure to make fans chuckle. This story features short chapters, interspersed black-and-white illustrations, and a list of related vocabulary words in the back. The book delivers a positive message of 'if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.' VERDICT The third in the "Aven Green" series, this delightful and fun title is sure to be an easy sell to young patrons.—Sarah West - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2022 Aven Green is back for more grade-school adventures in Bowling’s prequel series to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (2017). Aven, armless from birth, has already become a supersleuth and accomplished baker, and now she has her sights set on becoming the best pianist who’s ever lived. So what if she’s never played a note, or that the talent show is next week? Aven is confident she’ll excel. But when playing the keyboard doesn’t come as naturally as she expected, the usually undaunted Aven doubts herself. Can she deliver on her ambitions? Aven is funny and fearless, and Bowling also presents a wonderfully realistic depiction of the struggles inherent in learning a new skill. Young readers will surely relate to the frustration (“What’s the point of doing something if I’m not an expert at it?”), and gentle encouragement from Aven’s parents and teacher will go far in reassuring them that learning and growth, not perfection and accolades, are the real accomplishments. Another winning installment in a hilarious and heartfelt series. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.