Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/15/2015 And how are you feeling today? Lonely, jealous, scared, silly? Fighting bullies or trying out for the school play? Having methodically explored every adult decade of passage in previous works, beloved author Viorst handily focuses on the emotions of her young audience in poems such as “I’m Not My Best Friend’s Friend Anymore” and “What I Want to Know about My Dad.” As Viorst is well aware, even the best parents get divorced, and sometimes you might get a baby sibling without ever being asked if you even wanted one. Readers and listeners will find rhyming verses about school, family, friends, seasons, and more, all using vocabulary that tickles. White’s blue-and-black illustrations match the feelings, whether whimsical or skeptical. Ever honest, the best lines are those that share the confusion, challenges, and questions of what it means to be you: “Too old to keep my teddy bear, / Too young to let him go. / I’m in between and waiting / For the rest of me to grow.” - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2016 Gr 3–6—In this newest collection of poetry, Viorst captures the experience of childhood through 11 rich categories, such as school, family, friends, and seasons. With a rhyming narrative, humor, and a sampling of haiku, Viorst touches on themes relevant to children, including losing friendships, bullying, coping with bothersome siblings, and facing fears. White's soft, whimsical illustrations help create an imaginative space for readers to explore troubling emotions. In "The Best and the Worst," for instance, a young boy walks a tightrope of Christmas lights between his parents, with his dad offers a surfboard on one side and his mom a horse on the other. Viorst writes, "They'd promise me Hawaii/They'd promise me a horse,/If that made me not notice/They're getting a divorce." Other, more humorous verse lightens the mood. In "Arithmetrick," Viorst challenges kids to take any number, and after a series of calculations, they'll realize they end up with the number 10. Children will delight in figuring out the trick and trying it out on others. VERDICT Although there are missteps with some rhymes, generating an uneven selection, Viorst's comedic talents, ability to engage readers, and coverage of universal topics make this an appealing choice.—Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WI - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.