Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 03/09/2026 A tiger-obsessed fifth grader finds purpose-and peril-awaiting him abroad in this absorbing eco-conscious adventure. Eleven-year-old Rohan Kumar-feeling adrift in the bustling Texas home she shares with his parents and twin baby sisters-leaps at the opportunity to spend December in India with his grandparents and cousin Mira. Most exciting for Ro is his grandfather’s employment at the Vanraj Sanctuary, home to Bengal tigers. Once there, Ro discovers that the forest sanctuary is under threat from a mining consortium planning excavation nearby. Alarmed by the potential devastation to the locale’s ecosystem, Ro and Mira resolve to help in their grandfather’s advocacy efforts by supporting his legal appeals, reviewing camera-trap footage, and searching for poachers’ snares. Riveting third-person narration primarily centers Ro while occasionally spotlighting chapters from the perspective of Arya, a tiger whose survival hangs in the balance, which lend immediacy to the conservation stakes. Introspective language seamlessly incorporates accessible information about the animals’ storied place in India’s cultural and environmental history. As the cousins confront not only habitat loss but also the sobering realities of greed and mortality, Bajaj (Thirst) juggles suspense with sensitivity, crafting vibrant characters and a propulsive plot that underscores the cost of inaction in a heartfelt, page-turning call to stewardship. An author’s note concludes. Ages 8-12. Agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. (May) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

School Library Journal - 03/27/2026 Gr 4–6—Eleven-year-old Rohan is passionate about wild animals, so it is exciting that Arya the tiger is preparing to give birth to cubs in the wild near Delhi, where his grandpa is the director of an animal sanctuary. After Rohan's twin siblings are born, he earns an early vacation to visit his Indian grandparents and finds the adventure of a lifetime. Grandpa has made front-page news fighting mining developers who came too close to the animal reserve. When an accident befalls Arya, it's up to Rohan and his cousin to find her cubs before they become statistics. Bajaj helps raise awareness of tigers' protection efforts worldwide and the harm caused by poachers and money-hungry opportunists. This is a romantic and lush look at India and how it takes a village to bring about change. Fans of Katherine Applegate's Odder will enjoy the inclusion of animal points of view. VERDICT A heartfelt multigenerational family story about tiger conservation that stretches across continents and distinct perspectives, ideal for younger tweens.—Laura Dooley-Taylor - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2026 Bajaj (Thirst, 2022) transports readers to a tiger sanctuary in India through the eyes of 11-year-old Rohan, or Ro. With new twin siblings and an unwelcome change of schools, Ro is struggling to find a community. Ro’s grandfather, G-pa, is the director of the Vanraj Sanctuary for tigers in northern India, and he offers for Ro to come visit over winter break. In India, Ro connects with family and makes new friends as his appreciation for tigers, particularly Arya and her twin cubs, deepens. The warmth of family and beauty of the landscape don’t detract from the harsh realities of survival in India for both tigers and its people. Ro learns a mining company wants to begin operations close to the sanctuary, putting nature, wildlife, and Arya at even greater risk. Bajaj’s moving story organically introduces readers to the realities of conservation, poaching, and bureaucracy. The succinct chapters and dual perspectives between Ro and Arya make Bajaj’s latest a perfect class read-aloud or choice offering for a book report. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.