Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2026 Gr 2–6—Many readers will already know about art/music's influence on a person's growth and social-emotional development, yet few truly realize the untapped power art/music has on memory and human connection, especially when the creation is their own. Mother-son duo Wolitzer and Panek team up to illustrate how found music (the unexpected ordinary noise that makes up the humdrum of daily life) can empower individuals and boost creativity. Fifth grader Felix, brother Miles, and parents leave New York City every summer so the kids can be in a gifted program in Massachusetts. When Felix can't attend the program, he hesitantly meets up with neighbor Marigold as they stumble on a field recorder with voice memos that leads them on a wild hunt around town. Little do the friends know that Felix's estranged adult brother, Dylan, created a puzzle hunt to improve ties with his family. This novel shares lessons about self-acceptance, imploring readers to show their authentic selves and share with others. Educators will appreciate the subtle digs at the state of libraries with closures, discussion of changing relationships with friends, social-emotional learning connections, and student research. Adults who come across this will love the retro cassette tapes and older ways of producing music. Music and riddle enthusiasts will love the way Felix and Marigold discover unexpected sounds and create complex art out of the mundane. Felix has pale skin; additional character description is minimal. VERDICT A scavenger hunt adventure that is loving and tenderhearted about "a village" using local resources to model being open to new experiences in bold, creative, and inventive ways.—Laura Dooley-Taylor - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Publishers Weekly - 03/02/2026 Mother-son collaborators Wolitzer (To Night Owl from Dogfish) and Panek, making his debut, craft a charming summer romp with a brisk educational component, featuring two tweens who embark on a sound-inspired scavenger hunt. Every July, 11-year-old Felix Frank’s family travel from their cramped New York City apartment to a house in Blissfield, Mass., where Felix attends camp. But when a septic tank mishap cancels camp the summer after his older brother Dylan leaves home, Felix dreads having nothing to do and no one to spend time with. Relief arrives in the form of neighbor Marigold Tanizaki-Weathers, whose combat boots and multicolored hair match her devil-may-care personality. When the pair unearth a mysterious box in Felix’s bedroom containing a field recorder and the first of several sound-based clues, they set out to uncover the truth behind the cryptic message. Both an affectionate ode to the textures of everyday sound and a sensorial adventure, this freewheeling novel seamlessly integrates lessons in recording, remixing, and engineering, lending the mystery an accessible STEAM sheen. Beneath the action lies a tender emotional thread as Felix attempts to reconnect with Dylan and Marigold struggles with her own social challenges. Felix is described as having pale skin. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7-11. (Apr.) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2026 *Starred Review* Summer, for Felix, means leaving behind NYC and heading to small-town Blissfield, but this year he gets the chance to see—and hear—all his memories there in a new light. When Felix finds a box labeled “OPEN ME” in the closet, he gets pulled into a sound-based scavenger hunt that has him and neighbor Marigold exploring with their field recorder and trying to unlock the mystery at the end of these sonorous clues. But who left the mystery for them—and is it safe? Add in a complicated relationship with his older brother, a genius who isn’t tall enough to ride roller coasters, and Felix is suddenly in too deep. This novel, written by a mother and son, captures the spirit of summer, delivers two engaging protagonists in Felix and Marigold, and still packs a sweet punch at the end. Flowing as seamlessly as a favorite song and leaving readers listening to the world around them differently, this is a written book for an audio age—exciting and innovative yet still a realistic and heartfelt tale. Recommend this sensory story to fans of Rebecca Stead and of scavenger-hunt stories with a twist. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.