Bound To Stay Bound

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 Tidesong
 Author: Xu, Wendy

 Publisher:  Quill Tree Books (2021)

 Dewey: 741.5
 Classification: Nonfiction
 Physical Description: 223 p., ill. (chiefly col.), 21 cm

 BTSB No: 971182 ISBN: 9780062955807
 Ages: 8-12 Grades: 3-7

 Subjects:
 Magic -- Fiction
 Friendship -- Fiction
 Dragons -- Fiction
 Graphic novels

Price: $11.47

Summary:
Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandma put pressure on her to attend the best magic school in the realm, even though her control over her magic is shaky at best. To help her prepare for the school's entrance exams, they send her away to train with relatives she's never met. Sophie's Great Aunt and cousin Sage won't let Sophie near a spell book. Instead, they make her do chores. In graphic novel format.


Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (10/15/21)
   School Library Journal (+) (00/11/21)
   Booklist (11/01/21)
 The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/21)

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 11/01/2021 Twelve-year-old Sophie wants to learn more magic so she’ll be accepted into the prestigious Royal Magic Academy. Sent to live and train with her cranky, discipline-obsessed auntie for a year, Sophie becomes impatient and riddled with self-doubt when she is repeatedly chastised for not picking up new skills quickly. Stealing her cousin’s spell book and casting a spell she's not ready for, Sophie causes a storm so severe she is swept out to sea. A young water dragon, Lir, rescues her, but their magic mingles, causing him to shape-shift into a human and lose his memory. Sophie must decide if the boost Lir gives to her magic is worth more to her than helping him regain his memory and find his way home. Using several series of wordless panels and a dramatic presentation of Sophie’s inner monologue, Xu deftly illustrates the emotional turmoil in both children’s minds as well as their actions, which are a direct response to what they’ve been told by people they love and respect. A perfect fit for fans of Studio Ghibli movies. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 Gr 5–8—In a magical world, the balance of the environment is held together by a symbiotic relationship between sea dragons and humans. Sophie, a young witch, wants to hone her family's ancient magic and attend the Royal Magic Academy. She is sent to be taught by her great-aunt Lan and cousin Sage before she can audition to attend. However, Sophie's impatience rubs Auntie the wrong way. Instead of teaching magic, she makes Sophie perform chores around the farm. Tensions boil over between the two, and, desperate to prove her ability, Sophie attempts a powerful spell and disrupts the balance between wind and water. Narrowly escaping drowning, she accidentally entangles her magic with that of Lir, a dragon who has transformed into a human and lost his memory. Suddenly, she can perform spells and, with his assistance, might have a shot at passing her audition. But as a raging storm grows worse, she realizes that using his magic for her benefit and preventing him from regaining his memories could cause the Earth to suffer permanent imbalance. Xu's artwork is steeped in Chinese mythology by way of a New England setting. The cool palette brings the sea to life as a character in its own right, and Xu's soft drawing favors her simplified yet expressive characters. Themes of self-acceptance poke through toward the end of the story. Sophie and her family are Chinese American. VERDICT Sophie's struggles and growth will resonate with younger readers, especially those who love the "Tea Dragon Society" and the films of Hayao Miyazaki. Relatable and heartwarming.—Elise Martinez, Racine, WI - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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