Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2014 Gr 4–6—Adventures in the 'outerverse'—that which is beyond our universe—continue for Kaylee, Ryic, Quee, and Zachary. In training at the Indigo 8 Academy, the foursome began their adventures in Starbounders (HarperCollins, 2013). Zachary seems to have gotten addicted to heroics and his pals join him as they seek to interpret the secret burned into Zachary's arm by the now deceased Professor Olari. Gadgets such as lensicons, friction boots, and warp gloves accompany oddities such as Basqalich and Greebok space creatures, entering the narrative at light speed. Readers not familiar with the first in this series will soon find themselves swimming in jargon. The theme hinges on Zachary's desire to go it alone, or with just his buddies. These buddies and the other allies he meets along the way seem to have extraordinary skills, but in the end, these teens need help to overcome the bad guys. Fast-paced events in this foreign environment are fairly easily translated into more familiar terms with the small drawings at the head of each chapter making it all somehow familiar, yet exotic.This is kid-friendly fare with just enough sanitized violence to please the average middle school space enthusiast.—Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/15/2014 With the same headlong pacing that propelled the opening episode (Starbounders, 2013), Zachary and his three fellow Starbounder cadets again rocket their way through multiple chases, ambushes, and escapes to save the day. It seems that something is sucking the energy from entire stars. Could it be the secretive Black Atom Society? Does the answer lie in the cryptic tattoo that Zachary acquired in the previous adventure? Tongues firmly in cheek, the authors concoct a wide-open space opera punctuated by wild rides aboard gasoline-powered (!) spacecraft, flying motorcycles, high-speed roller skates, and, even, at an alien rodeo, a bucking greebock as disruptor bolts blast and stun balls fly. The quest culminates in a climactic battle with robots and giant viruses—followed by an ominous message that sets up the next outing. Violence is plentiful, but strictly of the cartoon variety. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.