Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2020 Gr 9 Up—Pequeña, Pulga, and Chico know that in Puerto Barrios, their future and the future of those around them is always uncertain. After Pulga and Chico witness the murder of Don Feliciano, they are pulled in to local gang leader Rey's group, their lives and loved ones threatened unless they comply. Pequeña, who has suffered from Rey's threats in silence and has given birth to his child, can see all too clearly the future she will have by his side. In desperation, Pequeña, Pulga, and Chico leave their beloved mothers behind, relying on each other as they make the dangerous journey from Guatemala to the U. S. This fast-paced novel provides a heartbreakingly brutal look at just some of the dangerous realities faced by many. The circumstances that lead them to leave everything they love behind are replaced by different, equally harsh situations once they arrive in a place they thought would provide safety. Sanchez's insightful descriptions of the characters' thoughts and feelings, as well as their desperation and hopelessness, will elicit empathy in young readers. Short chapters filled with suspense and heartache will keep teens turning the pages to find out what happens to the trio. VERDICT A candid, realistic story that will leave readers thinking about the characters—and about our own world—long after the last page. Perfect for young adult collections in school and public libraries.—Selenia Paz, Harris County Public Library, Houston - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2020 *Starred Review* This gripping, poignant story, grounded in current events, is told from the alternating points of view of Pulga (“Flea”) and his cousin Pequeña (“Little”), who, along with Pulga’s brother, Chico, struggle with the daily violence and corruption in Guatemala. The trio often hear tales of escaping to America via La Bestia, an arduous journey that includes stowing away on a horrifying train to cross borders illegally. When the terror at home gets out of hand, Pulga, Pequeña, and Chico decide to flee but soon find that the trail ahead is “some kind of dark maze, some labyrinth or trap, that we might never find our way out of.” This soul-shaking narrative feels as real as the list of historical references included in the back matter. Readers will question, like the trio, if there is any good left in the world, but through their hardships, they come to learn that family means more than blood, and that their hearts and aspirations are bigger than their nicknames imply. Melding the adventure with bouts of magical realism recalling the works of Gabriel García Márquez—and writing with respect and sympathy for the plight of these people—Sanchez takes readers on a frightening pursuit of the American dream, and whether or not the trio is successful, we must keep them company every difficult step of the way. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

Booklist - 03/15/2020 *Starred Review* This gripping, poignant story, grounded in current events, is told from the alternating points of view of Pulga (“Flea”) and his cousin Pequeña (“Little”), who, along with Pulga’s brother, Chico, struggle with the daily violence and corruption in Guatemala. The trio often hear tales of escaping to America via La Bestia, an arduous journey that includes stowing away on a horrifying train to cross borders illegally. When the terror at home gets out of hand, Pulga, Pequeña, and Chico decide to flee but soon find that the trail ahead is “some kind of dark maze, some labyrinth or trap, that we might never find our way out of.” This soul-shaking narrative feels as real as the list of historical references included in the back matter. Readers will question, like the trio, if there is any good left in the world, but through their hardships, they come to learn that family means more than blood, and that their hearts and aspirations are bigger than their nicknames imply. Melding the adventure with bouts of magical realism recalling the works of Gabriel García Márquez—and writing with respect and sympathy for the plight of these people—Sanchez takes readers on a frightening pursuit of the American dream, and whether or not the trio is successful, we must keep them company every difficult step of the way. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.