Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2024 Gr 3–6—When a meteorite falls, three middle schoolers reluctantly join together to find it. Each has a motivation—raising money for a grandparent's medical bills, appeasing a rock-hunting father, or quelling their anxiety. Told in alternating viewpoints, two female cousins and their new male friend have an eventful night in the desert looking for a meteorite while dodging natural disasters and wildlife. This novel weaves together adventure, friendship, a representation of Latinx culture, traditional constellation lore, and a small amount of space science. Here readers find well-developed characters with distinct voices and a tightly paced, fast-moving plot that harmoniously blend into a heartwarming, energetic novel. Some plot lines are not as fleshed out as others, as the ambitious novel navigates three narrators and their separate backstories and motivations. That, however, does not detract substantially from the overall effect. VERDICT A multiple-viewpoint realistic novel with broad appeal recommended for most upper elementary, middle school, or public libraries.—Elizabeth Nicolai - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.