Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/15/2019 *Starred Review* Meet Iggy, a mostly good fourth-grader who frequently gets in trouble. As the story opens, he’s confined to his bedroom because his parents have (from his point of view) misunderstood the extenuating circumstances that led him to threaten another boy and follow him up the ladder to the shed roof, from which the other boy, “screaming, ‘Hellllllp,’” leapt onto the trampoline below. The book’s narrator, who has nearly as large and colorful a presence here as Iggy, frames the story around people’s regrets for their actions. Using three examples involving Iggy, she differentiates between the things he wishes he hadn’t just gotten caught doing, things he wishes he hadn’t done quite so much, and things he really, really wishes he hadn’t done at all. Desk racing, which falls into the latter category, ended with Iggy injuring his favorite teacher, crying, and feeling bad whenever he remembered the incident. Writing with a droll sense of humor, Barrows ensures that kids will enjoy Iggy's antics and perhaps even reflect a bit. Ricks’ expressive, zany, black-and-white illustrations capture chaos and amplify the fun. The first of a series, this slender chapter book is inviting to pick up, hard to put down, and near-impossible to read without laughing out loud. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 12/01/2019 Gr 3–7—Iggy isn't a bad kid—he just lives by the motto "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time." He blames his friends, his parents, his teacher, but will he ever take responsibility for his actions? Scene transitions feel choppy, but the plot is amusing and Iggy is relatable—though mischievous, he's a good kid deep down. While character development is thin, the cast is engaging and grows on the reader. Funny, detailed illustrations complement the text well, though the font may be difficult to read for some. VERDICT Fans of Barrows's "Ivy + Bean" series and books about kids who often find themselves landing in trouble will appreciate this laugh-out-loud tale. For libraries where humorous realistic fiction is popular.—Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Library Services - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.