Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 12/02/2024 A grieving teen and her found family desperately search for an escaped creature in van Leer’s emotionally weighty debut. Abandoned by her father following her mother’s death, 13-year-old Ava lives with her withdrawn veteran uncle Pete. Together, they work as caretakers of her parents’ legacy: a zoo housing two dozen animal-like extraterrestrial living beings (ELBs) recovered from crash sites. Fiercely dedicated to her role as an ELB caretaker, Ava bristles at the hiring of inexperienced blond stranger Harley, a boy about her age who is reeling from his own recent loss. When, during a storm, the animals are freed from their confines and turned loose in the neighboring city, all but two are eliminated by a faceless government agency with ties to Ava’s parents. Initial tension between the main characters pivots to conflicted camaraderie as the teens-along with grouchy, "quasi-raccoon" ELB Pingree-brave the Maine wilderness in a desperate search for both the still at-large catlike ELB Cutis and the answers to secrets from Ava’s past. Inelegant dialogue and a cluttered plot are offset by imaginative creature descriptions and empathetic depictions of Ava and Harley’s mental anguish. The protagonists read as white. Ages 10-14. Agent: Laura Gross, Laura Gross Literary. (Mar.) - Copyright 2024

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 Gr 5–8—Ava's world shattered when her mother died and her father vanished, leaving her, at 13, to manage an Alien Zoo. Forget school sports or crushes; Ava spends her days preparing specialty meals, creating enrichment activities, and handling minor medical procedures for the two dozen Extraterrestrial Living Beings (ELBs) that arrived mysteriously on Earth as babies. When her disorganized Uncle Pete surprises her by hiring Harley, a boy her age who is a bit hapless but eager to learn, self-reliant Ava initially resents his incursion into her daily routine. That changes when a major hurricane and interference from a shadowy government agency place the ELBs in mortal danger. Imaginative creatures with unique appearances, powers, and personalities will appeal to young readers, particularly those with an interest in creature-collector video games like Pokémon. Harrowing action at the beginning of the book may be distressing but shines a light on the grim reality of animals subjected to medical testing. Pacing lags in the middle section as Ava and Harley seek out the missing ELBs, but a heist-driven ending with big reveals and strong character growth make up for it. All major characters read white. VERDICT Recommended for fans of action-driven science fiction and readers passionate about animal rights. - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.