Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2021 Oppel closes out his Overthrow trilogy with this fast-paced, suspenseful finale. The three alien-human hybrid teens—Anaya, Petra, and Seth—have connected with a small crew of rebel aliens, who have a plan to help the humans drive off the invasion led by the flyers, a powerful cryptogen species. The rebels encoded a virus within the hybrid teens that they hope will disable the flyers’ sonic-based weapon, leaving them vulnerable to an uprising. The hybrid teens, the rebel cryptogens, and the military must work together, but trust among the various factions is fragile, especially once their intricate plan needs global support. Almost too much happens in this exciting volume, with the most complicated and fraught plot yet, as multiple characters are pulled away into danger while coordinating a massive defense of Earth, but it’s capably handled. Oppel again balances action and introspection well, as the three protagonists struggle to do the right thing despite their fears, insecurities, and beliefs being tested by conflicting information and loyalties. A satisfying conclusion. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2021 Gr 5–7—This conclusion to the dynamic "Overthrow" trilogy picks up where Bloom left off, with teen Anaya making contact with alien forces that threaten to destroy Earth. Anaya believes the foreign voice she keeps hearing in her head belongs to a small faction of rebel soldiers. She doubts her judgment when a flyer cryptogen emerges from the alien spaceship the faction allowed to land. Eventually forming a tentative bond with cryptogen runner Terra, Anaya convinces her fellow hybrid friends to join forces in fighting the takeover of Earth. Introduced in the first installment of the series, Seth is a hybrid human and flyer; Petra is part human and a swimmer; and Anaya is a blend of human and runner. The teens continue to come to terms with their unique alien DNA, and their struggles to reconcile with their hybrid nature give realistic voice to this engaging narrative. Relationships ring true especially with Seth, who has spent much of his life feeling rejected as an orphan and thus gravitates to a new friend whom the girls do not trust. As in the other two books, action is well paced. There are equal amounts of hardships and successes, and the overarching battle reaches epic proportions. Characters predominantly present as white or alien. VERDICT A satisfying, edge-of-your-seat conclusion to Oppel's trilogy that pits three hybrid human/alien teens against forces determined to destroy Earth. This is not a stand-alone but is well worth the investment of purchasing the full series.—Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elem. Sch., Gastonia, NC - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.