Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2019 It’s a summer of change for Delsie when a longtime friend is drawn away into the orbit of a mean girl. Raised by her grandmother alone since her grandfather’s death, Delsie lives in a small, tight-knit neighborhood on Cape Cod, where Grammy cleans guest cottages to support them. When someone asks Delsie what it’s like to be an orphan, her apparent abandonment by her parents seems to matter as never before. On the other hand, a new kid with a chip on his shoulder gradually opens up to become a new friend she can count on. The first-person narrative clearly shows Delsie’s heightened emotional state as she grapples with increasing doubts. But with Grammy’s love and homespun wisdom, other supportive adults around her, and a reliable new friend, Delsie ultimately finds all she needs to become more self-assured. In addition to telling Delsie’s story in an involving way, Hunt vividly portrays the underlying us-and-them mentality shared by locals in a seaside community that relies on outside visitors. As sweet and summery as lemonade. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2019 Gr 3–6—Limned in northeastern sea salt and Adirondack chairs, Hunt's latest offering explores those frustrating preteen years when friends become enemies and family is at once embarrassing and desired. Delsie, obsessed with the weather, lives with her grandmother on the coast, and summers on the coast are always special. But this summer feels different; her best friend seems distant and a new kid in town, Ronan, is confusingly magnetic. Underscoring all of these mixed emotions is Delsie's hurt and turmoil over being abandoned by her mother. Sometimes it feels like her efforts in life amount to "shouting at the rain" or punching a tornado. When push comes to shove, Delsie must decide whether she will embrace the family she's built in her small seaside town. Hunt creates a realistic sketch of small-town life and the agonies of growing up in an imperfect family. VERDICT While the cast lacks racial diversity, the thematic elements of tweenage angst are timeless and relatable.—Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.