Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/08/2023 *Starred Review* Twelve-year-old Opin (Ojibwe); his mother, Inde; and his angry and troublesome older brother, Emjay, who has a habit of disappearing at the wrong time, are unhoused and living in their car. Their goal is to drive from Sacramento to Watts, where Inde’s brother lives, in the hopes that he might help them. But he struggles with alcoholism and is “a bit off.” In the meantime, they move from city to city, one step ahead of the police and Child Protective Services, staying in shelters if they’re lucky. This enrages Emjay, whose default emotion is anger and whom Opin often fears. Things ease a bit when Opin finds an abandoned puppy, names it Ani, and adopts it. Opin has fantasies of being a warrior brave, riding a pinto horse (their car is a Pinto) accompanied by Ani (now a wolf in Opin’s imagination), until Emjay snarls, “Grow up. . . . This is real life. . . . There’s no happy ending.” Is he right? Will the family reach Watts? James Bird, who has been unhoused and is of Ojibwe descent, writes with rare authority, insight, and compassion that invites deep empathy from readers. He has done a beautiful job of creating an unforgettable family, who, as Inde says, “may be broke, but we’re not broken.” - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 12/08/2023 Gr 5 Up—Opin is an adventure seeker, an artist, and a 12-year-old boy living out of a car with his mom and older brother Emjay in central California. Opin's mom has infused their family's daily life with the language and lore of her Ojibwe ancestors, giving Opin a sense of agency and joy even as the family struggles to find stability in the form of a family member and a potential home in LA. Perpetually facing down "the cavalry" (unforgiving landlords and Child Protective Services workers) and the very real threats of physical violence and hunger, Opin's new stray dog companion and rich imaginative world are vibrant sources of determination to keep going, even when circumstances are very bleak. Bird's latest novel is a big-hearted story of growing up through hardship, told in language rich with metaphor and poetry. Back matter includes a playlist of the songs that fuel the characters' journey, as well as a glossary of Anishinaabemowin terms. VERDICT Highly recommended for middle school and public libraries, especially those seeking to add works from contemporary Native voices.—Jennifer Costa - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.