Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 03/02/2026 In this raucous comedy by Nelson (A Batch Made in Heaven), a newly blended family navigates growing pains while embarking on a "familymoon." Twelve-year-old writer Cricket, 11-year-old aspiring naturist Flossie, and quiet seven-year-old Parker Merrivale are just getting used to living with their new stepbrothers, eight-year-old survival guide aficionado Darwin and mischievous six-year-old Newt Buckfort, when their parents announce that the whole family is driving to Yellowstone National Park on a vacation that will "fuse us with some great forever glue." It turns out, however, that piling two adults, five children, and a very large dog into an ancient motor home (affectionately dubbed Titan) makes for cramped quarters. And as they set off, the road trip soon devolves into chaos, with the forced proximity providing ample opportunity for hijinks, emotional friction, and-hopefully-familial bonding. Alternating third-person narration primarily centers Cricket, who chafes against eldest-child responsibilities and fears that the trip will do more harm than good. Lush prose depicts the natural wonders of Yellowstone, against which the white-cued family members endeavor to come together despite their disparate interests and personalities. Partially based on Nelson’s own childhood experiences, per an endnote, it’s a funny and frenetic summertime romp brimming with heart. Ages 8-12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Aevitas Creative Management. (May) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

School Library Journal - 03/27/2026 Gr 5–7—Blending families is challenging, even under the best circumstances. For 12-year-old Cricket, what was meant to be a camp- and friend-centric summer is instead taken up by a chaotic "familymoon" with her mom, new stepdad, and a slew of new stepsiblings. For Parker, Flossie, Cricket, Newt, and Darwin, the chaos is exacerbated by beginning their lives as stepsiblings on a road trip in a dilapidated RV. The Merrivale and Buckfort kids (now called the Merribucks) must learn how to navigate inedible meals, a packed itinerary, Titan (the RV, which is constantly breaking down), and each other's idiosyncrasies. Nelson shares in her author's note that the novel is based on a similar adventure with her newly blended family when she was Cricket's age. Readers will find adventure, silliness, and family chaos alongside the five stepsiblings who navigate bears, snakes, and horseback riding. Throughout, each child shares how they learn to be themselves while understanding the role they play in their family, both the old and the new. The perspective rotates between children, which adds depth but may pose comprehension challenges for less-experienced readers. Main characters are cued white. VERDICT Readers who crave nonstop adventure and humorous high jinks will eagerly sign on for the Merribucks' summer vacation. Recommended for library and classroom fiction collections.—Jennifer Seebauer - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2026 Adventure! Adjustment! Mae and Arthur marry and opt for a “familymoon” in an unreliable RV nicknamed Titan for three weeks. Mae’s kids, Cricket, Flossie, and Parker, have no choice but to join the wild ride with Arthur’s sons, Newt and Darwin, along with a sheepdog and a stowaway snake. Each kid has their own complicated feelings about the trip and their new family, and Nelson properly fleshes out the ups and downs of divorce and remarriage. Bonds take time to grow as the family travels to Yellowstone National Park in a story that feels so real because it is based on Nelson’s own experience. There is a classic build-up to catastrophe as well as a neat, sunny wrap-up, but the story does not feel stale. Instead, it is an accurate portrayal of how road trips can tax and strengthen relationships. Photos and excerpts from Nelson and her mother’s journals from their RV trip are included, adding a fun postscript to a silly but meaningful story. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.