Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 04/27/2026 A nonmagical girl must fake her way through a magic education while uncovering her family’s complicated past in this charming middle grade debut from K?lsch (Empty Heaven). Though 12-year-old Lilac Black doesn’t believe in the supernatural, she leaps into action when a notable s?ance her medium uncle is hosting goes awry, pretending to channel a spirit in his stead. Afterward, she learns that ghosts are real, her family members are Seers, and now that Lilac has appeared to come into her own power, she’s ready to attend the Spindlewood School of Seeing. Lilac avoids admitting that she can’t perceive ghosts, fearful that the International Delegation of Seers would erase her memory if they knew. Instead, as she acclimates to her new school, she fakes results through misdirection, research, and quick wits. Upon befriending fellow eighth graders, Lilac realizes that Spindlewood is teeming with more mysteries than she anticipated, and that her late mother, a Spindlewood graduate, may have been involved in a school tragedy years ago. Now Lilac must uncover what happened, without letting her own secret slip. This delightfully unsettling tale offers captivating mystery helmed by a stubborn and fiercely practical protagonist. Snarky omniscient narration propels a wry, enjoyable entry in the magical school canon. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (July) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2026 Gr 3–7—Lilac Black, described as having black hair and gray eyes, is a skeptic. Despite living in the famously haunted city of Salem, MA, with her grandmother and uncles, one of whom performs séances for income, the 12-year-old is certain that ghosts are fake. But when she intervenes in her uncle's latest séance, using memory and deduction to prevent a potential disaster, her family believes that her ability to see spirits has finally blossomed. And though she intends to tell the truth, Lilac is swept up in a new world, quickly finding herself at the Spindlewood School of Seeing where she desperately tries to keep her secret safe. With help from new friend Emmanuelle and a cryptic old diary, Lilac just wants to survive class—but the girls soon realize they'll actually need to survive the sinister events happening beneath the library. The first in a spooky new series, at the heart of this work is an interesting twist: Lilac isn't the Chosen One. Far from being a true seer of spirits, Lilac relies on quick thinking and logical reasoning throughout the layered plot, which includes themes of familial love, the difficulties of friendship, and the burden of dishonesty. Diverse primary and secondary characters drive the plot points within an atmosphere built on a seamless mix of mystery and suspense. A scary ending requires Lilac to be brave, and readers will impatiently wait for the next in the series. VERDICT A perfect choice for fans of Jonathan Stroud's "Lockwood & Co." series, the television show Wednesday, and works by Lemony Snicket.—Maggie Mason Smith - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2026 *Starred Review* Lilac Black is excited and anxious to start at the Spindlewood School of Seeing, an elite boarding school that caters to those who can see spirits and communicate with souls from the beyond. Her immediate family members are all graduates, and they’re thrilled that she seems to have inherited the gift of sight too. But Lilac’s nerves aren’t simply stemming from the anticipation of starting a new school. She’s hiding a big secret: Lilac has never seen a single spirit and until a few days ago didn’t even believe they were real. A quick save at what she thought was her uncle’s fake séance led her family to believe she was actually communing with a presence, and she hasn’t figured out a way to tell them the truth. How can she possibly convince a school full of seers that she belongs there? It’s a fantastically fresh take on a magic-school story, and Lilac’s clever (and sometimes slightly desperate) deceptions to keep up the ruse are great fun. The vividly rendered island setting is delightfully cozy and creepy all at once, and a mysterious, all-knowing narrator adds intrigue. Casual queer representation, including Lilac’s potential crush on an enigmatic classmate, and a diverse student body are welcome inclusions. An ideal autumnal read for anyone seeking an eerie atmosphere, mounting mysteries, and heaps of humor. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.