Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2026 Gr 8 Up—Ulá's father Andres has always seemed more interested in activism than parenting, and his pushiness about their native Bribri (Indigenous Costa Rican) heritage has also pushed them apart. Despite the distance between them, his not-entirely-unexpected death still rocks Ulá. Even if she and her brother Kabék had very different relationships with their father, they're equally determined to honor him according to traditional Bribri culture. In honor of his status in the community, his family is given four days to lay him to rest, and being reunited with Andres's sister Tía Paloma, Ulá's childhood friend Manuel, and her father's house is a comfort. As they begin the ritual of accompanying his body until the burial, Ulá can't shake the feeling that something isn't what it seems and makes a discovery that opens the door to more sinister possibilities surrounding his death. Though they may be placing themselves in danger, the siblings begin to draw connections to his work to undermine the forces destroying the environment, finding themselves in a race against time and the same threats their father feared. This explosive, layered mystery exposes an all-too-true web of corporate profit happening in the shadows and the danger to those who fight to see environmental justice done. A packed but delicately crafted plot keeps the pages turning, and shifting perspectives are braided together smoothly. Alongside an atmospheric Costa Rican setting and Bribri cultural details, Tison explores the forces that govern sibling relationships across multiple generations, creating bonds that run deeper than disagreement. VERDICT An adrenaline rush-inducing must-read.—Allie Stevens - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Publishers Weekly - 04/20/2026 Tison (Saints of the Household) presents an ambitious dual-perspective mystery that interweaves family drama with themes of identity and belonging. After her parents’ divorce, Bribri teen Ul? finishes high school in Wisconsin while living with her mother; her older brother, Kab?k, joins their land activist father in Costa Rica. Ul? frequently feels at odds with her dad, whom she believes is forsaking his familial responsibilities in favor of advocating for political reform. His sudden death brings the siblings back together on Bribri land, where their grief quickly gives way to suspicion about the event’s cause. As they prepare for the funeral, Ul? and Kab?k launch an investigation, uncovering a tangled web of family secrets and bitter land disputes-conflicts sharp enough to suggest that their father may have been murdered. Time-stamped chapters alternate between Ul?’s staccato first-person narration and an omniscient chorus of ancestral matriarchs, building tension and lending the story a lyrical cadence as the search for truth guides Ul? toward a more complex understanding of both her parent and herself. Tightly constructed and featuring thoughtful reflections on Indigenous identity, this resonant and rewarding novel will appeal to fans of Angeline Boulley. Ages 12-up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary. (June) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2026 *Starred Review* Ulá is connected to her Bribri heritage despite a complicated relationship with her father—her Bribri parent and an activist who either shows her off or criticizes how often she visits their territory. Their relationship is further muddled when he unexpectedly visits her at her home in Wisconsin and attempts a reconciliation, only to leave abruptly. His subsequent untimely death brings Ulá and her brother, Kabék, to their Bribri territory for the funeral. The siblings are thrust into a mystery when an independent local journalist suggests their father's death might have been a murder. While the mystery propels the action of this novel, the true heart of the story is found in the healing embrace of community. Ulá’s family, friends, and relatives are imperfect; there are feuds and infighting. Yet there's also love, support, protection, and growth. Tison doesn't shy away from complex relationships and tough topics, from illegal logging to police corruption to ongoing colonialism. Woven among the heavier emotional beats are uplifting moments: Bribri language representation, honoring traditions, living in relationship with the land (both their Indigenous Costa Rican territory and their mom's home in Wisconsin), healing, and understanding the power of story—the latter shining especially brightly in the ancestral matriarchs’ POV that shows these characters are never truly alone. A powerful and moving depiction of seeking justice amid mourning. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.