Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 01/01/2017 Gregory, the poet outlier in a family of math mavens (The 14 Fibs of Gregory K, BCCB 11/13), is back from Author Camp and content with his small circle of friends that now includes newcomer Ana. They’re all diligent students with different academic strengths and abilities as well as outside interests, and seventh grade is going reasonably well-except, Greg observes, for homework, which is consuming so many afterschool hours that he can barely find time to write. He’s not alone: plenty of other kids might sail through worksheets, essays, etc. easily, but all its takes is one difficult subject and suddenly three hours have vanished from every evening. That’s not even counting special projects. For kids with dyslexia, like Ana, the problem is even worse. Inspired by his challenging history teacher (who’s also the pile-it-on king of assignments), Gregory discovers that many states and municipalities once outlawed homework back in the early twentieth century. His own town struck that law from the books, but the idea of civic action regarding homework regulation sticks with him, and Gregory leads a crusade of civil disobedience, first with a one-man homework strike, and then with broader protests that capture media attention. This is a topic that will certainly rivet readers, and although Pincus is clearly on the side of his protagonist, he lays the groundwork for pro and con arguments and points out just how difficult (and, ironically, time consuming) it is to rally the middle-school masses. The ending is satisfying, leaving the details of Morris Champlin Middle School homework policy to be determined, but with students assured a seat at the table. Funny and substantive, this could be a top-notch classroom read. EB - Copyright 2017 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 12/15/2016 Taking his American history lessons to heart, a seventh-grader overwhelmed by his workload rebels. Gregory, the hero of The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. (2013), does reasonably well in tests and class participation, but try as he might, he just can’t consistently get his homework done. Worse yet, the effort leaves no time for his main passion, which is writing. When he stops doing homework altogether, his personal protest quickly becomes a public act of civil disobedience that draws challenges, news cameras, and hesitant but growing approval from fellow middle-schoolers. In addition to surrounding Gregory with loyal friends and supportive adults (aside from the school’s straw-man principal, who contributes only bland platitudes and cleverly oblique threats), Pincus methodically puts his protagonist through a series of encounters that highlight nonviolent approaches—particularly the importance of being polite and respectful to all sides. If Gregory’s campaign rolls along a bit too tidily for ready belief, it could nonetheless serve as a useful road map for budding activists. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2017 Gr 4–6—Gregory Korenstein-Jasperton flies under the radar at Morris Champlin School, and that is all right with him. He has his small group of friends and his poetry, but the obscene amount of homework—about three hours a night—is really beginning to cramp his style. History teacher Dr. Bankster is the true source of the homework problem and has been the bane of the middle school for years. So when Dr. Bankster issues a bargain—no homework but a three-point grade deduction—Gregory takes him up on the offer. Gregory notices that while his in-class work is at an A level, his decision not to do homework is putting him in danger of not passing, and he finds this deeply unfair. Why is it that work done at home, sometimes not even meaningful work, counts more than classwork? This starts Gregory on his great homework strike, and he makes some surprising allies, and enemies, along the way. Gregory's homework strike, and the battle he wages in order to be understood at home and in school, is a classic middle grade conflict. His fight to stand out among his brilliant siblings and at school is relatable, especially to this novel's target readership. Little new ground is covered, but Gregory is a solid narrator, and his voice has pathos and humor. VERDICT This title is not a must-buy, but it would be a good addition to medium and large middle grade collections.—Morgan Brickey, Arlington Public Library, TX - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.