Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/15/2023 *Starred Review* Facing eviction from their motel, 13-year-old Gordon convinces his genius twin, Hope, that entering the annual Winterton dictionary magnates’ spelling competition, with its serious prize money, is their best shot at keeping their family together. Hope despises the Wintertons, especially after the pair recently discovered their absent (and now deceased) father was a member of that family. Nevertheless, she secures a spot in the spelling bee, and they’re whisked off to the Winterton chalet with their mom for the week-long contest. Deceased matriarch Jane Winterton has offered the bee participants, which include her largely estranged progeny, an additional shot at life-changing funds, and the clues Jane’s left for a literary scavenger hunt create tension between the twins while leading Hope to question whom she can trust and whether mounting threats to her safety are worth the potential bounty. With a full cast of eclectic characters, themes of friendship and self-discovery, and a Clue-esque plot, this twisty and cerebral mystery should appeal to fans of The Westing Game and Kate Milford’s Greenglass House (2014); additionally, its savvy female protagonist and from-the-grave manipulations evoke Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games (2020)—minus the canoodling. A pleasing smash-up of middle-grade mysteries with several meaty loose ends and a surprising final reveal; the true mystery here is how you’ll appease readers while they await the sequel. Can you spell c-i-r-c-u-l-a-t-i-o-n? - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2023 Gr 5–8—A storied spelling bee meets Knives Out for the middle grade set in this twisty puzzle mystery. Thirteen-year-old twins Hope and Gordon live in a motel room with their single mom, on the brink of eviction. Since discovering that their deceased father was Brandon Winterton, son of uber-wealthy dictionary magnate Jane Winterton, Hope and Gordon have been divided. Gordon longs to connect with the Winterton clan, who don't know they exist, but Hope's mistreatment at the hands of private school classmates makes her suspicious of all rich people. Cue the annual Winterton Spelling Bee, into which Gordon secretly enters the family for a chance to win $500,000. The competition is held in private at the sprawling Winterton Chalet, against the wishes of the disinherited Winterton family members. No sooner has the bee started than mysterious letters appear, guiding the participants on a separate treasure hunt that also unravels the circumstances of Brandon's death. The first installment in a presumed series will engage readers with its compelling premise, high stakes, and atmospheric setting, despite an overly large cast of secondary characters and occasional plot elements that feel out of place in a middle grade book (e.g., the missing treasure is a Jane Austen manuscript). Hope's grudging journey to accept and trust her newfound extended family rings true, and the enticing combination of spelling bee drama, treasure hunt puzzles, family secrets, and a stunning final twist will keep readers enthralled. Most characters are cued white. VERDICT A recommended purchase and strong The Westing Game read-alike.—Elizabeth Giles - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.