Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2014 Terrifying monsters, cold androids, and intriguing mysteries abound in Searles’ first novel. Chase Garrety awakens on a planet he doesn’t know and with a face he doesn’t recognize, his life up to now a complete blank. But his amnesia is far from his biggest problem: the only thing he can remember is a secret message, but what does it mean? Who is it for? His adventure across the planets of the Federation garners him new friends, old enemies, and more problems than he knows what to do with. Even though Chase is confused from the second he wakes up, his need to find out his history makes him easy to cheer on. Comparisons to Star Wars are not out of bounds, as this intergalactic escapade races on at an exciting pace. This fun, adrenaline-filled story is perfect for younger teen sci-fi fans. There could certainly be another installment to this story since Chase’s exploits aren’t easily put to bed, but The Lost Planet has a solid, satisfying conclusion. Let’s hope Searles has more up her sleeve. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2014 When thirteen-year-old Chase Garrety suddenly appears within the well-fortified walls of an isolated compound on the planet Trucon, he has a blaster wound to the back of his head and no memory of his name, his life before, or how he got there. Things get even more complicated when the compound’s only other resident, the friendly but petulant fourteen-year-old Parker Mason, tricks him into an unauthorized trip to a nearby moon, and the boys inadvertently survive Trucon’s total destruction as a result. Suddenly they are being chased by intergalactic Federation Fleet soldiers, dragged into dangerous, illegal deals with underground crime lords, and rescued by an alien who may be the terrorist responsible for Trucon’s demise. Desperate to save themselves and uncover the truth of Chase’s past, they instead discover a vast conspiracy that could make them enemies of the Federation itself. A rollicking space adventure in the spirit of classic juvenile science fiction from Heinlein and Hoover, this fast-paced novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats from page one. Chase and Parker are amusing, likable, authentically realized teenage boys, as likely to put their foot in their mouth as to save the day with unexpected courage. Strongly crafted alien worlds, discordant alien races, and often unsound space vehicles only add to the overall sense of strange and dangerous fun. Perfect for readers ready to graduate from Colville’s My Teacher series and Star Trek and Star Wars fans who want a middle-grade adventure of their own, this novel will have readers jetting across space itself for probable sequels. AM - Copyright 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2014 Gr 4–7—This debut novel is a rousing space adventure, filled with government conspiracies, a quest for identity, and nonstop action. In the distant future, intergalactic space travel is possible, Earth has colonies, all humanoid races are ranked, and the Fleet, controlled by Earthans, enforce justice. Chase Garrety wakes up on the planet Trucon with a blaster wound to the head and a case of amnesia. He is taken in by Parker, an orphaned ward under the care of the mysterious and absent Asa. It becomes clear that Chase is no ordinary boy, and no one is quite sure who or what he really is. To make matters more complicated, Chase and Parker witness a horrific attack on their planet while on its moon, sparking what could be the beginnings of war. Chase must learn who he is and where he comes from, no matter where the answers may lead. While the universe and its inhabitants are interesting, character development and world building are on the thin side. The book's appeal, however, lies in its plot-driven story line, making it fun and accessible. Short, fast-moving chapters with cliff-hanger endings will be particularly attractive for reluctant readers. There is a planned sequel. Recommended for general purchase.—Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.