Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/15/2015 At first, it seems like Ana Cetzal’s biggest problem at Temple Academy in New Mexico is that she doesn’t fit in with her affluent, label-obsessed classmates. But after a mysterious ceremony in the basement of the school’s museum, Ana and three other girls, who are all direct descendants of ancient civilizations, discover that they have inherited the incredible power to transform into big cats. Ana, whose ancestors were Mayan, turns into a jaguar, while Doli (Navajo) turns into a puma, Shari (Egyptian) turns into a lion, and Lin (Chinese) turns into a tiger. Together, they are the Wildcats, and they have been tasked with defending the world against demons released by the diabolical Anubis, who arrived at Temple after the fortuitous archaeological discovery nearby. Though the focus on ancient cultures at times seems a bit thin, it’s nonetheless a relatively unique angle for a fantasy adventure, and that, along with some classic boarding-school mean-girl antics, a diverse cast of protagonists, some sensitive discussions of class difference, and cinematic pacing, makes for an entertaining read. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2015 Gr 4–7—Ana Cetzal is shocked when she is accepted into the prestigious Temple Academy boarding school in New Mexico. She already feels like a fish out of water among her wealthy peers when things start to take a turn for the weird. An earthquake uncovers an ancient temple, and archaeologist Dr. Logan appears in order to excavate it. Dr. Logan later turns out to be Anubis, the Egyptian god of death and the leader of the Brotherhood of Chaos, a group of spirits bent on world destruction. Meanwhile, Ana and her three friends, who are descendants of the ancient Mayan, Chinese, Navajo, and Egyptian cultures, learn from their teacher Ms. Benitez, the Mayan goddess of war, that they can transform into wild cats. When Anubis destroys the ancient vase Ana's family donated to the museum, the Chaos Spirits are released and the four girls must work together to defeat the Brotherhood. Middle grade readers might enjoy the fast-paced, good-vs.-evil plot paired with Ana's more realistic troubles with friends, boys, and feeling out of place, though these elements are common tropes for the genre. While Velasquez's world-building is thorough, readers won't necessarily learn about ancient cultures, and the story is peppered with pop culture references that will quickly date the novel. Sometimes the adults behave in ways that young readers may find irrational. VERDICT Although not without problems, this action-packed fantasy serves as a supplemental purchase for middle grade collections.—Liz Anderson, D.C. Public Library - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.