Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/28/2021 Gr 5–8—In this graphic memoir, Sharp describes how fantasy offered a safe haven from the complications of reality. Tori and her best friend, Taylor, are navigating seventh grade separately—unfortunately, they don't have any classes together. Some party-pooper teachers put the kibosh on their attempt to stay connected, which inadvertently puts a strain in their friendship. Not having a best friend around for moral support makes things tough as both girls deal with family problems: Taylor's stepmom is super strict, and Tori's divorced parents have a contentious relationship. Plus, Tori is exhausted from trying to keep up with homework while being dragged around to her sister's dance rehearsals. Her brother is rude and rough with her and argumentative with their mom, and while her dad clearly loves her and enjoys her company, he's always busy at work. Tori's refuge is a fantasy novel she's writing, filled with elves, magic crystals, and shadow villains. Sharp deftly intersperses illustrations from her young self's first foray into becoming an "authoress" to break up the mounting tension in Tori's life. Many readers will connect with this relatable, gracefully illustrated story. While most of the cast seems to be white, Taylor appears to be Asian and several background characters appear to be people of color. VERDICT Make room for this one on your shelves, but don't expect it to spend much time there. A recommended first purchase.—Abby Bussen, Muskego P.L., WI - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2021 In this coming-of-age memoir, Tori is finishing up her eighth-grade year dealing with a variety of tough situations with her family and friends. Tori lives most of the time with her mom and twin siblings and spends some nights and weekends with her dad, since her parents are divorced. Both of her parents are busy with so many things, however, that she often feels overlooked. She finds comfort in a fantasy story she's writing, which appears within the larger narrative and reflects the struggles she's going through in her life, especially when she feels like she doesn't fit in. Full of the challenges of family, school, and friends, this is a book that will likely resonate with plenty of teens and tweens. The bright, colorful artwork features easy-to-follow paneling and clearly lettered speech balloons, and an afterword clarifies a few fictionalized portions of the story and ties up some loose ends, along with a few pages of back matter. Hand to fans of Shannon Hale, Raina Telgemeier, or Maria Scrivan. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.