Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/01/2025 Amy is an introverted mystery-novel connoisseur who freezes up anytime she’s in the limelight. After running out of class during a presentation, she is unsure whether to trust that an invitation to her classmate Reagan's murder-mystery birthday party isn’t some kind of setup. But after lots of encouragement from her therapist and parents, Amy eventually is cajoled into attending. Will everything turn out horribly, just like Amy’s expecting? Or will she be able to lose herself in her character and join in on the festivities? Full of nerves and heart, Evans and Bell's bright, inviting comic successfully encapsulates the complexities of being an anxious tween. Full-color spreads transition to shades of grey every time Amy enters a self-doubt cycle filled with negative self-talk, but the heavy emotions are balanced by bright, bubbly characters. A great fit for fans of Terri Libenson's Just Jamie (2019) and Lee Durfey-Lavoie and Veronica Agarwal's Just Roll with It (2021), this will also serve as an excellent resource for discussing social-emotional learning. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.