Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 03/02/2026 In this wholesome verse novel by Applegate (Pocket Bear), based on a true story, a small stray dog scrapes out a living in a local park when Santa Ana winds ignite a devastating wildfire that sets the canine on a collision course with a similarly affected human family. Though instinct urges the dog to flee from the fire as it approaches the park, "a voice, soft and sure," draws her toward the blaze. Meanwhile, tween Henry Cooper, his two mothers, and his younger sister are forced to evacuate their home for a shelter. Henry loves helping his veterinarian Mama Ro at a wildlife center, but a past trauma has left him wary of dogs. As fate nudges boy and pooch toward each other, both must decide whether they are ready to trust. The canine’s endearing restlessness and aching to belong makes for a winning protagonist. While a happy ending is telegraphed early on, the narrative remains charged, with harrowing descriptions of the disaster-drawn from Southern California’s recent fires-balanced by an undercurrent of hope. Expressive, realistic b&w illustrations from Bricking (Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World) amplify the emotional resonance. Henry is described as having light brown skin. Ages 8-12. Author’s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Heirloom Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Assoc. (May) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2026 Gr 3–7—Applegate's latest is a novel in verse about Wombat, a dog who has always been a stray. She's living in Los Angeles when terrible fires come, and her instinct is to find safety away from the fire, except there is a voice in her head telling her to go towards it. She meets up with another stray who advises her to listen to the voice, that it is her destiny to find her human. Wombat isn't sure she really wants a human, but she follows the voice anyway and ends up perched on a bench that survived the fires. At the same time, there is a boy, Henry, whose family is impacted by the fire. One of Henry's moms works at an animal shelter that is evacuating. The ending is not a surprise, but it does take most of the book for Wombat to find her person, and the tension stays strong. There is a lot of philosophy in the book that will offer interesting opportunities for conversation, like "Did humans have voices, too, inner guides so ferocious and consuming, telling you that you are something, that you need something, that you must become something?" There are themes of family and community, of loss and natural disasters, of making peace and forgiveness, of destiny and fate, how animals can help humans heal in surprising ways. Ultimately, this is a book about finding the "right one," and it's an appealing and heartwarming story that will resonate with lots of readers. VERDICT A charming novel in verse that fans of Katherine Applegate won't want to miss.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2026 Wombat may look a bit like her namesake—round and sturdy—but she is most definitely a little dog. The story flashes back to the “before” times, as the pup, living as a scrappy stray, is awoken by a mysterious voice whispering “that way” in her ear. The bewildered Wombat does as she’s told and heads toward a hillside fire. Meanwhile, a boy named Henry is fleeing the same raging fire, as his family’s wildlife refuge, including a bemused bat named Barnabas, is evacuated too. Barnabas, Henry, and Wombat all eventually converge at the same refuge, all destined to collide and change one another’s lives forever. The stirring story is told via urgent, elegant verse, alternating between animal and human viewpoints as the Santa Ana winds and wildfires sweep across a Californian community. The mounting tension and moments of grief are countered by familial affection, burgeoning community, and flashes of levity (Wombat’s increasing annoyance with the disembodied voice is particularly amusing), while occasional sketches are adorable. Animal lovers and Applegate appreciators alike will adore the gripping, gorgeous story. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.