Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2022 Gr 1–3—Seven-year-old Pakistani American Marya Khan is on the precipice of turning eight, and she has big ambitions for this year's birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Baba and Mama are not on the same page with Marya's plans—instead they want to do their traditional low-key, pizza-and-cake family celebration. To make matters worse, Marya's neighbor Alexa's birthday is two days before hers, and that celebration will be one for the books. While Marya only gets to invite her best friend Hanna to her party, Alexa is inviting the whole class. As Alexa is distributing her party invites, Marya blurts out that she, too, is having a birthday party with fairy lights, yummy food, and henna! Of course, her parents haven't agreed to any of this, so Marya sets out on an ill-fated crusade to convince her parents that this year must be the year of the incredible henna party. Short chapters are sprinkled with simple, expressive illustrations that will keep readers who are transitioning to more text-heavy chapter books engaged. Culturally specific terms, like daal, shalwar kameez, and paratha, will be welcome by readers of South Asian descent and embraced by others not part of that community. VERDICT This early chapter book will find favor with fans of "Definitely Dominguita" and "JoJo Makoons" and has broad appeal. Readers will look forward to reading more of plucky Marya's adventures.—Sarah Simpson - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/01/2022 Pakistani American Marya, an irrepressible third-grader, frets over her upcoming eighth birthday in this appealing early chapter book. The tween is miffed at being one-upped by Alexa, her impeccable neighbor and classroom deskmate, who is two days older and always throws the biggest bashes on the block. High jinks ensue when Marya impulsively fabricates an epic henna party of her own and then launches a campaign to convince her parents to actually make it happen. While her do-good plan (dubbed “Operation Help the Khans”) goes comically awry, her heart is always in the right place. Excerpts from Marya’s “Word of the Day” diary preface each of the 12 short chapters, providing vocabulary-building definitions and hints at plot points. Bushry’s expressive black-and-white cartoon vignettes capture a loving, multigenerational Muslim family and their slice-of-life activities, including sibling squabbles at the kitchen table and grocery-shopping excursions. Marya’s realistic and irrepressible narrative voice makes this a series to celebrate. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

Booklist - 11/01/2022 Pakistani American Marya, an irrepressible third-grader, frets over her upcoming eighth birthday in this appealing early chapter book. The tween is miffed at being one-upped by Alexa, her impeccable neighbor and classroom deskmate, who is two days older and always throws the biggest bashes on the block. High jinks ensue when Marya impulsively fabricates an epic henna party of her own and then launches a campaign to convince her parents to actually make it happen. While her do-good plan (dubbed “Operation Help the Khans”) goes comically awry, her heart is always in the right place. Excerpts from Marya’s “Word of the Day” diary preface each of the 12 short chapters, providing vocabulary-building definitions and hints at plot points. Bushry’s expressive black-and-white cartoon vignettes capture a loving, multigenerational Muslim family and their slice-of-life activities, including sibling squabbles at the kitchen table and grocery-shopping excursions. Marya’s realistic and irrepressible narrative voice makes this a series to celebrate. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.