Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2022 Gr 5 Up—Drew Leclair is a seventh grade misfit whose mom has just run off with her school counselor. Drew is mortified and she is doing her best to lay low about it, until it is plastered all over an anonymous Instagram account for her school. This particular account goes for the students' most sensitive secrets. Drew, along with her two best friends, sets out to expose the anonymous poster. While she is making crime boards and profiling her classmates, Drew is also dealing with her parents' split and questions about her own sexuality. Drew is not sure why she doesn't seem to be developing feelings for anyone her age, least of all her best friend who keeps trying to kiss her. Could something be wrong with her? Bury deftly handles this topic, as well as cyber safety and privacy, with a sprinkling of other resonant issues like fat-shaming, consent, and acceptance of differences of all kinds, with a light touch that does not veer into didacticism. VERDICT The perfect story for a kid who wants a little more than just a mystery about a school cyberbully. Readers who are ready to progress from Nancy Drew (who the main character was named after) but are not quite ready for One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus will enjoy this book.—Kim Gardner - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2022 *Starred Review* Seventh-grader Drew is a true-crime buff who idolizes Lita Miyamoto, a criminal profiler and author. Hoping to follow in her hero’s footsteps, Drew spends time observing and profiling her fellow classmates. But when her mom runs off—seemingly for good, this time—with the school guidance counselor, Drew wonders how she could’ve missed all the signs. Despite attempting to keep this news a secret, even from her boy best friend (who tried to kiss her the week before), Drew’s hope is dashed when a cyberbully spills the news through her school’s social media. Drew decides her main priority is to protect her father, which means stopping the anonymous bully before things escalate. Though frustrating at times, Drew remains relatable as she navigates the painful and confusing events of her life—her mother’s abandonment, her father’s sadness, and questions of identity and friendship—all while wondering if anyone would love her for who she truly is. This book touches on issues of bullying, racism, sexuality, fat-shaming, consent, and more, but it never feels heavy-handed. Because Drew profiles everyone around her, each character’s race is clearly stated in Drew’s notes, so while Drew is white, her world feels inclusive. Highly recommended for fans of Nancy Drew (Drew’s namesake) and those who appreciate the blending of realistic problems and mystery. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.