Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 07/01/2021 Gr 4–7—Mel, a bespectacled white redhead, is frustrated—her parents don't take her seriously, and their decision to move the family again is going to ruin her life. Mel knows that adults won't listen to kids, so if she could just grow up without having to wait, it would solve her problems. And she gets her chance when Mel goes for a rooftop walk and finds herself in a strange apartment, with an assortment of anthropomorphic animals and a bearded white man who takes her to the land of Here&Now. Here, any wish can have unexpected consequences—and that in the land of Here&Now, she is the Chosen One, and everyone expects her to get rid of Malcape the Magnificent, a creature who grants wishes that lead to regrets. Like many heroes before her, Mel didn't ask to be chosen; likewise, not everyone believes in her. Mel is flawed, funny, and often impatient, which will make readers both care for her and worry about her. Aragno creates a fantastic world that contains echoes of Narnia and Wonderland, but is also completely unique. Featuring loose linework, her illustrations pop with life and color, and will draw readers even deeper into this memorable story. VERDICT An engrossing read for young fans of imaginative stories, fantastic voyages, and reluctant heroes.—Andrea Lipinski, New York P.L., New York City - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/15/2021 *Starred Review* Aragno has a clear love for the greats of children’s literature, and she pays homage to them in clever and thoughtful style, beginning with an introduction to that most hallowed figure of journeys past: the chosen one. In this case, our chosen one is Mel, who feels like her choices and desires are being given short shrift by parents with the wrong priorities. Cue an unexpected trip to the magical land of Here&Now, where Mel and her idiosyncratic companions wend their way through a lovely but bizarre environment, receive secrets from long-lost friends, and confront the malignant but oh-so-tempting Malcape. Most importantly, though, here Mel must come to terms with the biggest bummer of all: growing up isn’t just about getting bigger; it’s about all the learning you do along the way. Of the book’s many joys, the greatest ones pour forth from the same wellspring as The Phantom Tollbooth, as we explore the surprising locations of Here&Now through Ragno’s flowing compositions and meet its odd denizens, twinkling with delight and menace by turns, scruffily hewn with an irresistible ’70's-vintage charm. It’s a sensibility brought to a point in Mel’s nightmarishly surreal final showdown, sure to scare readers exactly the right amount and leave them with some unforgettable images, just the way the great ones do. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.