Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2021 *Starred Review* Wendig charges onto the middle-grade scene with a monstrously fun tale of family and funerary arts. When recently orphaned Molly—13, emancipated, and devoted to cosplay—arrives at her brother Dustin’s large house/funeral home demanding a share of their mother’s inheritance, the 18-year-old is understandably bewildered. Charged by her Uncle Gordo to snoop around, Molly quickly determines that Dustin is hiding something, and her investigations lead her to a walled area in a copse of trees where supernatural forces are clearly in play. Unfortunately, she sets devastation in motion by letting her uncle into that area, exposing unsettling truths about him and finally learning the true nature of the family business: it’s a funeral home for monsters. Wendig’s easy writing style is a perfect vehicle for the humor and rapidly paced shenanigans that propel the narrative. The introduction of monsters shifts the story slightly toward horror, though Molly quickly learns that friends can be found among these beings, too. Molly is a particular delight, both in her passion for costuming and in the uncertainty she feels about being herself, which is explored throughout her adventures. Her relationship with Dustin also gains importance as the story progresses, offering a grounding through-line of family’s (non-monetary) value. A sure pick for those enamored by Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (2008) and Tahereh Mafi’s Whichwood (2017). - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2021 Gr 5–8—The supernatural realm meets a cosplayer teen in this middle grade novel. Thirteen-year-old Molly Grim, lover of all things cosplay and pop culture, is being reunited with Dustin, the estranged older brother she didn't know about after they both become orphaned. Her deadbeat dad never mentioned him or her mother, but Molly will soon discover the family estate and business is that of mortuary services for monsters, including a cemetery. Though neither sibling knew of the other's existence, the pair will have to band together as well as join other supernatural beings to defeat a powerful magic devourer who is threatening not only their business but their lives. The story is fast paced and combines the reality of a teen with fantasy worlds, but at times it seems that the author tried to accomplish too much in one book. There's more than one weak spot in the plot, but those can be overlooked if the reader is invested in the very interesting and long battle scenes. A blend of horror, spooky, funny, pop culture, cosplay, and sibling rivalry make this a suitable, if ambitious, read. VERDICT Good for collections where supernatural and adventurous fantasy circulate well.—Carol Youssif, Taipei American Sch., Taiwan - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.