Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 10/28/2024 A transgender teen and a golem aim to dismantle a supernaturally evil conversion therapy program in this satisfying horror-tinged novel by Lukoff (Different Kinds of Fruit). After 14-year-old A Izenson comes out as trans, his Jewish parents force him to attend Save Our Sons and Daughters, a "support group" that’s coercing participating members into backing a politician’s crusade against gender affirming healthcare. When agender Yarrow, A’s closest friend in the group, stops attending meetings-ostensibly to undergo further "treatment"-A’s attempts to uncover Yarrow’s whereabouts lead him to discovering a golem made of trash that claims A must save the world from a growing evil. With the help of an understanding rabbi, A learns more about banishing sheydim, Jewish demons that seem to be possessing the most ardent anti-trans folks he’s encountered. But as A’s search for Yarrow becomes entangled with his mythical calling, he realizes that the challenges are too great to face alone. This superb fantastical adventure tackles serious real-world problems faced by queer youth via unique interpretations of Jewish mysticism that, paired with A’s powerfully raw emotional journey, further flesh out the thrilling plot. Most characters cue as white. Ages 10-14. (Feb.) - Copyright 2024

Booklist - 01/01/2025 *Starred Review* A World Worth Saving is not a middle-grade novel that offers answers. Much as protagonist A Izenson, a 14-year-old Ashkenazi Jewish trans boy, wishes for them, this is a story compelled to ask questions instead. Nearly 40 percent of trans youth live in states where there are laws banning gender-affirming care, and through fantasy, Lukoff explores the impact of these laws and other relevant topics.Save Our Sons and Daughters (SOSAD)—that’s the name of the anti-trans conversion therapy group that A is forced to attend every week by his parents. Since he came out to them, he’s been going by his first initial, A, as he tries to discover the perfect name. But his parents, among many others, have become obsessed with a so-called transgender craze that they’re desperate to protect their children from. The only positive to SOSAD is that A met his closest friends there, lesbian trans girl Sal and agender Yarrow—relationships portrayed in a loving, achingly real way. Friendship and chosen family, especially among trans youth, are the beating hearts of this novel.But when Yarrow disappears for further, intensive treatment through SOSAD, A’s worry skyrockets. He nearly gets caught eavesdropping on Yarrow’s parents, but is saved by an ethereal being with a body composed of garbage—a golem, of mysterious origins. The golem speaks in riddles and offers more questions than answers, but is certain it needs to help A save Yarrow before the end of Yom Kippur. The golem is just a slice of the traditional Jewish folklore intricately woven into the plot, as Lukoff expands on in the author’s note. Much of the mythology incorporated is also loosely inspired, as noted powerfully, “from people telling stories.” Though the golem frustratingly does not always have the answers for A, and it's harder to distinguish than he’d like between “good” and “evil,” these are ultimately intentionally nebulous concepts. This emotional gut punch seeks to show A and the readers a world where everyone is worth saving.After A and the golem save Sal from a demon attack at SOSAD, A becomes more in tune with the things he can see that others can’t (a gift from the golem), and with the forces of evil that are conspiring around him. It turns out that the anti-transgender frenzy that has spread to his parents and beyond is no coincidence. Sheydim (demons) are possessing people whom they sense fear and hatred in. These sheydim, or sheyds as they are referred to in the story, have allowed SOSAD to flourish. SOSAD even partnered with local anti-trans politician Congressman Barrow to introduce legislation that will make it illegal for minors to access gender-affirming healthcare, an expertly navigated reflection of the real-world issue of rising transphobia. As A gets deeper into his mission to save Yarrow—and the world—he needs to face his fears, learn to trust people more, and accept help. He and Sal set off with the golem and find themselves unhoused, now that they no longer feel safe going back to live with their parents. They connect with trans teenagers living at the Transhack, a ramshackle but beloved living space that they have DIY’d, as there are no safe shelters left that won’t enforce conversion therapy and detransitioning on minors. This speaks to the very real high incidences of homelessness among LGBTQIA+ teenagers, and encourages collective activism and community building as key pillars of resistance against fascism and oppression.Pressures mount though, and A gets frustrated with the challenges of collaboration and the golem’s mysterious nature. Stubborn and determined, A crosses the line at times, selfishly hurting his friends, which he writes off as the cost of being “the chosen one.” Flawed, with great depth and immense heart, A is a window into the experience of a young person who has suffered exceptionally just for being who he is and wants to ensure that others never have the same painful experience. His friendships are realistic and powerful, filled with mistakes and accountability alike.Ultimately, Lukoff crafts a stunning powerhouse of fantasy and real-world issues, including the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on teenagers, gender identity, rising transphobia and anti-trans legislation, and homelessness in LGBTQIA+ youth. This is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White for a middle-grade audience. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.