Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2016 Right away, this book shows its fairy-tale colors with a “once upon a time” and a reference to a pricked finger. This spinoff of “Sleeping Beauty” doesn’t start with the princess, however, but instead her son William, who is in a bind-he’s trying to protect his little brother, Pinch, but both of his parents are missing and now there’s a dangerous woman, Morga, who informs him he must solve riddles and return a lost spindle to her or she’ll take Pinch. William’s thrown into an adventure that is sometimes exciting but mostly terrifying, though he manages to gain powerful allies along the way. The happy ending is probable from the start, but there are some genuine perils as William dangerously angers Morga. Since the princess is already sleeping before the book starts, it’s understandable that she can’t be the star here, but it is a shame that once again she’s relegated to dozing until some male, in this case her older son, saves her. This is a minor quibble, however, and the book as a whole feels rich and timeless. William’s allies are nicely varied, and they encourage and guide rather than outright assist, allowing him room to grow in both confidence and ability. Older fans of fairy tales will likely appreciate this deeper look at a classic favorite. Final illustrations not seen. AS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2016 Gr 4–6—William and Pinch's mother disappeared years ago, and when their father left to go to the village, he didn't return. Now, the siblings are down to their last turnips. When a witch shows up on their doorstep, she demands that William solve a riddle. She claims that if he solves the riddle, it will lead him to his mother. Left with no choice, he delves into its mystery. As he follows the path of the riddle and searches for his parents, his adventure leads to encounters with a size-changing guardian fae, a pint-size dragon, a mysterious horse, poisonous GrimWyrms, an herbal witch, a cursed spindle, and more. The characters' engaging, well-developed personalities easily pull readers into William's world. The plot is simple, and the mystery could use a bit more developing, but it will appeal to younger middle grade readers who like fantasy, fractured fairy tales, and adventure. The illustrations are detailed and complement the story. VERDICT This "Sleeping Beauty" retelling is a good addition for most middle grade collections.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2016 William and his little brother, Pinch, are abandoned in the cold winter when their father leaves to search for their missing mother. Left alone, they run into trouble when La Grande Morga, the witch of the faery folk, comes to tell the boys of their father’s untimely death. Their father, she says, also made her a promise, and she insists that William keep it. When Morga threatens Pinch’s life in exchange for the favor she feels she is owed, William knows he must find three magical items to please the witch, and help her locate an heirloom prize for her daughter, all while fending off the cold weather and dangers of his mountain home. Veteran author Crum is in fine form here, giving an adventure story that has just enough magic and scares to excite middle-grade readers. Morga is the quintessential wicked witch, and her story is woven into William’s, making this novel twisty and original. A fast-paced story excellent for adventure lovers. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.