Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2023 Julia turns down a trip to Hawaii with her best friend to visit Roswell, New Mexico’s annual UFO festival and, most important, help keep her dad’s appointment with a spaceship. Believing he was abducted years ago, her dad’s obsession has cost him much, though not his daughter’s affection and faith. These are sorely tested on their road trip, though, and matters are further complicated by Josh, also the child of supposed abductees but with considerably less faith and tolerance. Miller’s strategic use of eerie colors around the stories of abductees and witnesses and her deployment of double splash pages and thoughtful silent passages give effective weight to the varying emotional turns of the story. At the same time, the UFO subculture functions well as a metaphor and a gauntlet of potential humiliation. Because, in the end, this is not so much about what’s really out there; it's about a girl who wants desperately to believe in her parent but needs care and respect of her own, both from her dad and from friends old and new. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

Booklist - 06/15/2023 Julia turns down a trip to Hawaii with her best friend to visit Roswell, New Mexico’s annual UFO festival and, most important, help keep her dad’s appointment with a spaceship. Believing he was abducted years ago, her dad’s obsession has cost him much, though not his daughter’s affection and faith. These are sorely tested on their road trip, though, and matters are further complicated by Josh, also the child of supposed abductees but with considerably less faith and tolerance. Miller’s strategic use of eerie colors around the stories of abductees and witnesses and her deployment of double splash pages and thoughtful silent passages give effective weight to the varying emotional turns of the story. At the same time, the UFO subculture functions well as a metaphor and a gauntlet of potential humiliation. Because, in the end, this is not so much about what’s really out there; it's about a girl who wants desperately to believe in her parent but needs care and respect of her own, both from her dad and from friends old and new. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2023 Gr 5–8—Julia has always believed her dad, David, when he talks about being abducted by aliens, even when no one else does. After her parents separate, Julia cherishes her time with her dad, joining him on a trip to a UFO festival in Roswell, New Mexico, even though it means passing up a vacation with her best friend. On their trip, she meets Josh, whose parents share David's UFO obsession. While Julia has always delighted in her father's interest, Josh resents his parents for depriving him of a normal childhood. Julia begins to doubt her father's abduction experience and grapples with embarrassment and anger toward him for seemingly abandoning his responsibilities to his family. Miller's characters are complex and likable. Julia's growing doubt and disappointment with her father is handled with nuance and without painting him as a villain. His beliefs are handled with respect while also honestly depicting the impact they've had on his relationships. Josh and Julia's friendship is a great example of finding community with others through shared trauma and life experiences. Julia helps Josh see the good qualities in his parents, while Josh encourages Julia to draw boundaries and not be afraid to question the things her father has told her. Miller's colorful illustrations and beautiful settings offset the often serious nature of the plot. This is a humorous and compassionate portrayal of the complicated and sometimes painful nature of parental relationships, and could be a powerful conversation starter about differences in beliefs among family members. VERDICT Recommended for all middle grade graphic novel collections.—Jillian Girardeau - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.