Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2021 *Starred Review* After her dad is laid off from his job, leaving the family with financial strains, Madalyn’s mom arranges for her to move in with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo, so she can attend a new school in a better district. What Madalyn finds, however, is that “new” feels more like “foreign,” and “better” seems to be strangely synonymous to “all-white.” Madalyn works to navigate the unpredictable forecast of her transplanted life, questioning what it means to be Black in all-white spaces. Though, momentarily, a new friendship casts her doubts aside, they quickly return as Madalyn comes to believe her friend may have racial prejudice against Black people. Readers will appreciate Papa Lobo’s casual chats with Madalyn, his flourishes of Creole imparting loving affection as he guides Madalyn through heavy moments of contemplation. This rings especially true as approaching wildfires push Madalyn to cast aside her feelings of distrust to ensure the safety of her friend. Davis captures the often glossed over tenderness of preadolescence, the space between blossoming independence and a lingering desire for the comfort and support of caregivers. As feel-good realistic fiction, this title reminds young readers that families and friendships alike require honesty, compromise, and understanding—especially when the forecast is partly cloudy. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.