Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2023 *Starred Review* Though the sodden city of Roan has 47 different types of rainfall, from gentle “wibs” and “gennals” to catastrophic “blanderwheels,” there are but two umbrella makers since Brawn Industries, manufacturer of flimsy, mass-produced throwaways, has driven out of business all the artisanal umbrella makers except young Oscar Buckle’s struggling single dad, Bilius. So it is that, after Oscar finds hints that Brawn may somehow be causing the constant precipitation, he bravely sets out into the teeth of the worst blanderwheel in years in order to discover the truth. Wonderfully, he is accompanied by his best friend, Saige, who uses a wheelchair and proves a determined and resourceful ally through wild floods and other deadly hazards, in addition to facing her father, a Brawn executive with much to hide. The author’s absolute addiction to editorial footnotes makes the pacing jerky, but she nonetheless concocts both an engagingly rich setting (with mysterious, shrouded elves popping into view occasionally to add fey touches) and an excitingly dangerous mission with opportunities aplenty for her two intrepid protagonists to show their heart, mutual loyalty, and courage. Frequent illustrations not seen in finished form. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2023 Gr 3–7—A quirky middle grade fantasy set on planet Erde, in a city called Roan and featuring Oscar, 11, cued as white, and his brilliant and fearless best friend Saige, also 11, who uses a wheelchair and is described as having brown skin. Roan is surrounded by a guarded wall; it rains so much there that there are 47 different types of names for it (wittily described in footnotes and in a glossary at the end). Oscar's family umbrella business is failing due to competition from Brawn Industries. To save money, Oscar's father tells Oscar he'll have to drop out of school to become his apprentice in a business Oscar has zero interest in. Then Saige informs him she's moving to a wealthier and less rainy part of Roan. At the mysterious Night Market run by the Farsouthians, who have elf blood, Oscar learns of a prophecy by a mysterious Farsouthian girl. He discovers the secret of Brawn Industries and how they are causing it to rain constantly in Roan. He and Saige set off on an exciting and harrowing journey to stop Brawn Industries as Saige's father resorts to dangerous lengths to defeat them. Enhanced by Orlu's black-and-white illustrations, this book starts out leisurely, giving readers time to appreciate descriptive settings, inventive foods, and types of rain as it builds to an action-packed climax. VERDICT Readers looking for an introspective, weather-driven fantasy focused on friendship, family, and community will enjoy this thoughtful story of young people fighting greed.—Sharon Rawlins - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.