Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/02/2022 Gr 3–7—The heart of this middle grade novel is a family that begins to fray after a father's death. The pain and loss lead all of the children to react in varying ways that further divide them. Andromeda abandons her family's motto and purpose of saving magical creatures—in fact, she joins forces with her villainous uncle to hunt down and destroy them. Rome retreats into a world of silence rooted in misguided guilt over his father's loss. Lola leans into academics and cheerleading, spending every possible minute away from the home. And Valentina, the youngest, clings to the family's motto of Protect, Valor, Heart. When everyone tells her to stop searching for monsters, she disobeys. This disobedience alienates her from kids at school as well as her own family. But her rebellious spirit is a force to be reckoned with. Equal parts goofy and courageous, Valentina helps guide her family back to healing while also unraveling the truth about their father. Valentina's infectious can-do attitude is a uniting force. Not only does this young hero reassemble her fragmented family, she also weaves together a motley ensemble of believers in magic and monsters to help save the magical creatures. Young readers will especially love Brixie, a fairy and satellite character to Valentina who delivers pleasing comic relief. VERDICT Put this stellar magical family novel on both fantasy and adventure shelves.—Stephanie Creamer - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2022 *Starred Review* It is the last day of school before summer vacation, and 11-(and-a-half!)-year-old Valentina Salazar still can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Unable to gel with the other kids at school, Valentina spends her school days reminiscing about the “Before Times,” when her family went on monster-rescuing adventures—and her dad was still alive. After hearing of monsters roaming around, Valentina makes it her mission to get back to monster saving; however, her mom, brother, and sister want nothing more than to move on with their lives. An unexpected, ominous visit from their estranged uncle, Rafael (a monster hunter), sends chills down everyone’s backs. Upon learning that a rare oru¨ puma egg is in danger of being destroyed by monster hunters, Valentina determines to continue her father’s work—even though it was an oru¨ puma that killed him—by saving the egg and, hopefully, reuniting her family. From the author who created the Brooklyn Brujas trilogy, Córdova brings a new fantastical adventure to younger readers. Córdova crafts an adventure story to explain a standard lesson that monsters (like humans) are not all bad and can be misunderstood. A wonderful read that shows people should never underestimate the power of family—or their youngest siblings! - Copyright 2022 Booklist.