Bound To Stay Bound

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 Greta ever after
 Author: Dassori, Melissa

 Publisher:  Little, Brown (2025)

 Classification: Fiction
 Physical Description: 294 p., ill., 19 cm

 BTSB No: 259051 ISBN: 9780316568838
 Ages: 8-12 Grades: 3-7

 Subjects:
 College and school journalism -- Fiction
 Magic -- Fiction
 Middle schools -- Fiction
 School stories

Price: $22.58

Summary:
Twelve-year-old Greta, feeling invisible at her school newspaper, takes matters into her own hands to find the perfect story while also dealing with a magical cuckoo clock at home.

 Illustrator: Sanmar, Dana
Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: MG
   Reading Level: 5.00
   Points: 8.0   Quiz: 554696

Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (06/15/25)
   School Library Journal (07/18/25)
   Booklist (00/07/25)

Full Text Reviews:

School Library Journal - 07/18/2025 Gr 3–7—Tween Greta, who is white, declares herself too old for fairy tales. But when visiting distant relatives in Germany with her parents and her brother Max, she is entranced by a house-shaped cuckoo clock with twirly dancers. Given to Greta on her 12th birthday, the mysterious clock has a dancing girl named Lulu who comes out of the clock and talks to her. Lulu claims she is there to protect Greta, but from what, or whom? Seventh grade brings more angst, with Greta feeling she can't compete with her perfect friends, Isabel the class president and Chloe the soccer star. Budding journalist Greta is on the school newspaper, but is struggling to come up with original ideas, and she can't exactly write about a fairy-tale world come to life—or can she? Poor journalism choices, first crushes, and friend quandaries leave Greta considering Lulu's invitation to live inside the clock, forever, until some relatable life lessons bring her back to earth. Sporadic black-and-white illustrations complement the story perfectly, and headlines in Greta's voice are interspersed throughout, adding humor and heart to this gently magical coming-of-age tale. VERDICT A fun fairy-tale mash-up with dark undertones, the story will resonate with many tweens navigating school and friend woes.—Michele Shaw - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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