Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/01/2023 When her teacher, Mrs. Monroe, takes an indefinite leave of absence, white autistic girl Hannah doesn’t think any of the coping skills she’s learned either in school or from her play therapist will help navigate such a big change. On top of that, there’s a mystery of why some of the school’s plants aren’t doing well, plus a string of porch pirate robberies in her neighborhood. Hannah may not be good with social skills, but her pattern recognition might just be what these cases need. Helping her out are her classmates Noah and Gabriella, as well as her drawings of Dusty Pickle. Included are illustrations explaining how Hannah thinks and reacts, minicomics, and an author’s note explaining that her son, the illustrator of this novel, is on the autism spectrum. This is an inclusive, fun addition to the middle-school mystery field, perfect for readers who need a little extra help moving to typical chapter books. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/26/2024 Gr 3–5—Dynamic duo Janet and Jake Tashjian ("My Life as a…") return with a new middle grade series. Hannah is a pro at introductions. She is "eleven years old. [Lives] in Livermore, California. [Is] on the autism spectrum and sometimes [has] problems processing information…[She] likes cowgirls, Pokémon, Disney, and drawing with [her] Pentel markers." In their signature style, Janet writes and Jake illustrates Hannah's story as she sleuths her way to solving a local crime spree while navigating the mire that is human communication. The prose is light, direct, and engaging. Full-page comic sequences break up the chapters while smaller illustrations pepper the text. Heartfelt creators' notes further emphasize the book's clear message that Hannah's experience is not that of everyone who has ASD, representation is vital, and being autistic is not a bad thing! Hannah and her family have light skin; folks around town have various skin tones. Hannah's teacher is queer. Neighbor Mr. Thompson uses a hearing aid. Hannah is a lovable, relatable protagonist, and readers can expect her to return for future adventures. Her story is a fun one and provides some clever lessons on life's grey areas, which are universally frustrating (even if they manifest differently for all of us). VERDICT Recommended as a general purchase.—Taylor Worley - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.