Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/01/2021 Gr 4–8—Plagued by memories of the fire that killed her parents years ago, Addy always maps her city surroundings. But a chance to experience a wilderness camp leads Addy away from her comfort zone, along with five other kids, and across the country to Paradise Ranch. Out in the California forest, Addy has the opportunity to learn essential wilderness skills. However, her worst nightmare occurs when a deadly forest fire leaves Addy and her friends fighting for their lives in the woods. Now it's up to Addy to take all that she's learned at camp to survive. Rhodes delivers another gripping story about loss, resilience, and healing. Addy's anxiety over her parents' deaths is handled beautifully through her transition from mapper of escape routes to proper wilderness cartographer. Addy's restorative journey is realistically bumpy as she fights to accept that she can't live her life waiting for the worst to happen; rather, she can act wisely, embracing hope. While the environmental message may seem heavy-handed at first, it plays its part well by the end, aiding the final note that humans impact the Earth greatly and need to take this responsibility seriously. Addy and the five other city kids are Black. Camp owner Leo and the two counselors are cued white. An afterword provides the historical inspiration for the story. VERDICT Perfect for reluctant readers and fans of Dusti Bowling's The Canyon's Edge, this is a tale of survival and hope that doesn't disappoint.—Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., IL - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/15/2021 Due to a tragic fire that took the lives of her parents, Addy is obsessed with creating escape maps and mazes. To help Addy continue to heal, her Grandma Bibi enrolls her at Wilderness Adventures, a summer camp in California where city kids can experience camping, hiking, and rock climbing. Addy is reluctant initially but quickly makes friends with campers Jay and Nessa (all three are Black). Recognizing a kindred spirit, the camp owner takes Addy under his wing and helps nurture her budding love of wilderness while they hike trails every morning before sunrise. When a massive forest fire engulfs Eagle’s Ridge during the group’s final camping trip, Addy must confront her past and rely on her friends to survive. People of color have not historically featured in wilderness stories, which makes this title refreshing, especially in light of national conversations around racial equity in outdoor spaces. A strong read-alike for Gary Paulsen fans or older kids who have graduated from the I Survived series but are still seeking a thrilling survival story. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.