Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2017 K-Gr 3—Private investigator Al F. Bet relates a recent case history—the mysterious disappearance of Number 9. It all starts with Client Number 6, who comes into the office visibly agitated about Number 7. Has shady 7 committed a horrific crime? Are his own days "numbered"? In search of some leads, the PI heads to Café Uno, and after interviewing a series of suspects and witnesses and having a generous serving of pi, he adds up the evidence in page after page of math-related wordplay. The intrepid investigator ignores all negatives, solving the mystery of the missing number by searching the streets and questioning a collection of verbose cartoon personalities (created digitally with Photoshop, colored pencil, and watercolor) featured prominently on the page. Readers will enjoy finding all of the math references hidden in the text and the art. The dialogue will gain appreciative groans up to the final moment, when Al is ready to resume his letter cases, because "they're A-OK in his book." VERDICT An A-1 purchase for those who love plays on words, mysteries, and humorous tales.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2017 This witty riff on the hardboiled-detective genre, featuring a lively, anthropomorphized letter and number cast (including the narrator, gumshoe Private I) and nearly nonstop puns, makes for a fun and entertaining tale. All begins when terrified 6 bursts into Private I’s office, claiming, “7 is coming to get me.” With streetwise cool, Private I tells readers, “I knew about this 7 fella. He was odd.” And, popping on a fedora, he promises to “get to the root of this,” first talking to 8 (who, he notes, is “usually caught between 7 and 9”) before questioning other witnesses, like B, the waitress at Café Uno (selling “Pi” for $3.14). Private I’s account, rife with droll commentary and snappy dialogue is peppy, amusing reading, and Macdonald’s animated illustrations, blending colored pencils, watercolors, and vintage typefaces, have 1940s-era retro flair, depicting the cartoon-ish characters with comically expressive faces and incorporating witty period details, such as rotary telephones and old-fashioned cars. Lazar’s lively pace, sharp repartee, and abundant wordplay adds up to a tongue-in-cheek mystery perfect for the youngest amateur detectives. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.