Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2017 Restless in her family’s cavern and tired of disappointing the mother who urges her to follow her passion, whatever that might be, a young dragon named Aventurine runs away. She hasn’t traveled far when a mage gives her a cup of hot chocolate that turns her into a human girl, an appalling turn of events. Still, she suddenly realizes her true passion: chocolate. She takes a position as a chocolatier’s apprentice in nearby Drachenburg, but when the dragons take to the skies, and the king’s ministers advise war against them, only Aventurine can save the townsfolk from her family’s fiery wrath. Burgis creates a feisty protagonist with a temper that suits her dragon heritage, moderated only slightly by her desire to fit into human society. Actually, almost all of the female characters are strong and independent, though some are decidedly more sympathetic than others. Most of all, readers will be rooting for Aventurine throughout this well-paced, colorful narrative. An appealing chapter book for young fantasy fans. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2017 Gr 3–6—Aventurine, the youngest in a family of accomplished dragons, is bored by her lessons and craves excitement. She has yet to discover her passion, the area of study to which she will dedicate her life, and her family members hound her for her lack of focus and make her stay safe inside their cave. When her brother Jasper teases that she's not smart enough to survive even a day in the mountains, Aventurine decides to prove everyone wrong. She won't just survive—she'll capture the most dangerous prey, a human. Aventurine tracks down a human but is intoxicated by the smell of his hot chocolate. When she demands a taste, disaster strikes: the hot chocolate is enchanted and turns Aventurine into a human girl. Aventurine is horrified, hungry, and cold but refuses to let this setback stand in her way. She sets out for the human city of Drachenburg, determined to prove her competence and obtain an apprenticeship in pursuit of her newfound passion: chocolate. The challenges Aventurine faces, from confusing human fashion to privileged nobility, help her reach a new comprehension of humans, her family, and what lies in her own heart. When pushed beyond her limits, she finds and understands her own abilities and rescues herself, helped by friends to whom she has opened up. Aventurine's fiery spirit is immediately endearing, and a diverse cast of fully realized supporting characters fill out a fantasy world that readers will love to inhabit. Pair with chocolate for maximum enjoyment. VERDICT A delicious fantasy treat that will satisfy readers who hunger for feel-good tales that pack a girl-power punch, like Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted or the movie Moana.—Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.