Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/15/2024 *Starred Review* Many young readers will find the central conceit of Mendel the Mess-Up irresistible. Ever eager to be helpful, young Mendel always makes things worse—chopping wood, milking the cow, even setting the table all result in disaster. And that “always” is quite literal, as Mendel was cursed while still in the womb by Starface Matja, the local witch. So, when the Cossacks show up and Mendel is the only one in a position to defend his small Russian village, his determination and his belief in himself are put to the ultimate test. In this pitch-perfect paean to the time in life when our need to show our competence charges headlong into our shortcomings, LaBan offers a heartfelt, characterful, and exciting lesson in learning to meet our limitations with thoughtful consideration and patience with ourselves, while meaningfully embracing the adjacent concerns of scholarship and empathy. Given that this work involves both Judaism and Russia—it’s a historical context, but some associations may be unavoidable—the scene of villagers wandering among their decimated homes offers ample opportunity for more far-reaching consideration. LaBan’s art exemplifies what the cartoonish style does best: capturing and exaggerating characters’ physical and behavioral foibles and making them both ridiculous and lovable. And, indeed, it rings perfectly with a story all about mistakes but filled with so much to love. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.