Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 10/14/2024 Baseball has always been the thing that made Black Panamanian middle schooler Danilo Osorio feel close to his beloved pap?, who dreamed of becoming a pro baseball player. But when Pap? immigrates to the U.S. for work and severs contact, Danilo loses interest. He instead worries for his overworked mam?, whose job at a supermercado leaves him responsible for his younger sister Amara. Home conditions worsen in mid-December 1989, when the U.S. military invasion to oust Panamanian leader Noriega devastates Danilo’s neighborhood. The family is forced to move to a refugee camp, from which Danilo is granted a temporary escape: Danilo travels to San Diego following a white American baseball recruiter’s offer of a two-month spot on a U.S. Little League team. All the while, Danilo hides his true intention to locate Pap?. Burgess (Sincerely Sicily) utilizes Danilo’s stay with a wealthy white family-whose lavish lifestyle heightens the reality of Danilo’s personal struggles-and depictions of the ethnocentrism inherent among Danilo’s teammates to craft a compelling narrative. Emotive text tackles enduring themes surrounding prejudice while accessibly highlighting the protagonist’s struggles with his mental health, particularly with PTSD. Ages 8-12. (Jan.) - Copyright 2024

School Library Journal - 01/01/2025 Gr 5 Up—It has been months since Danilo has seen or heard from his father. Going to the United States to explore new opportunities, his father leaves behind a family struggling to make ends meet. The situation gets even more desperate for Danilo's family when American forces invade Panama, forcing their displacement from a crumbling apartment to a makeshift shelter. When Danilo, a skilled baseball player, is presented with a unique opportunity to train in the U.S., he makes a call that could change his future, the fate of his family, and give him a chance to find his father. Set in Panama and the U.S. at the end of Operation Just Cause in 1990, Danilo's story is briskly paced and shines a light on the challenges of navigating family trauma, especially through the dual lenses of PTSD and microaggressions. These themes are handled with sensitivity and care, making the story accessible to a middle grade audience. Though at times the dialogue can be unnatural and the plot resolves too neatly, the story has heart and hope shines through. Highly engaging and set during events that may be unfamiliar to most readers, this is a poignant tale of resilience, family, and self-discovery. VERDICT An excellent purchase for middle grade collections looking for unique historical fiction perspectives and sports fiction.—Louie Lauer - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.