Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2020 *Starred Review* Shuri, 13, may be the baby sister to T’Challa, king of Wakanda, but her knowledge of all things science and technology deem her a force in her own right. The queen thinks Shuri should spend less time in her lab and more time socializing, but Shuri’s convinced that she’s better off tinkering with new gadgets and Vibranium experiments. With the challenge ritual coming up, Shuri has been busy with just that—designing a new Black Panther habit for her brother, infused with the Heart-Shaped Herb. She soon finds, however, that she must stop an invasion of her beloved Wakanda or else the nation and their supply of Heart-Shaped Herb (which gives the Black Panther their powers) is doomed. Together, Shuri and her Dora Milaje–in-training, K’Marah, set out on a quest that begins what readers will hope to be an ongoing series. Seasoned Marvel fans will delight in Ororo Monroe’s big-sister role to a young Shuri, while all will appreciate getting into the head of Wakanda’s resident genius and (hopefully) soon-to-be Black Panthress. While we do hear directly from Shuri in her mission-log notes, the action of the story feels muted at times by third-person narration. Nevertheless, the science, comedy, and unapologetic Black girl magic will make this title a surefire hit.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The combination of best-selling Stone and the scene-stealing Shuri from the blockbuster Black Panther is a match made in high-demand heaven. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 Gr 5–7—Princess Shuri takes center stage in this action-packed novel from Stone. Challenge Day is about to arrive in Wakanda and the heart-shaped herb has been poisoned. While no one doubts that T'Challa will be victorious and the herb won't be needed to create a new Black Panther should someone defeat him, Shuri, 13, can't help but worry. She's been told that female warriors don't challenge the sitting Black Panther but become Dora Milaje, his protectors. Shuri sets off on a covert mission with her best friend and Dora Milaje–in-training, K'Marah, to find the source of the poison and figure out how to reverse its effects. With help from Storm of X-Men, Shuri and K'Marah must figure out a way to save Wakanda from its enemies. Known especially for her intelligence in the Marvel universe, Shuri does not disappoint and will delight readers with her showcasing of her lab and her inventions, including the Panther Mobile, later renamed the Predator. Interspersed throughout the narrative are Shuri's Mission Log notes. VERDICT Recommended for Black Panther fans and newcomers alike, this is a first purchase for all collections.—Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.