Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2015 Gr 6–8—When your best friend's older brother is a bully, what's a seventh grader to do? Henry Nilsson takes the punch, and even helps look for Carl when the bully mysteriously goes missing. While searching for Carl, the twins Henry and Helen, and their friends Alan and Nicki stumble across a book about "subtle travel." They learn how to access the subtle plane: their "subtle bodies" can be up and around while their physical bodies remain asleep. The four friends encounter adventure and danger as they hunt for Carl, meet other astral travelers, and dodge the National Flux Travel Security Association. The 1963 rural Iowa setting means frequent bike riding, corded phones, and parents who don't give a second thought to four youngsters staying overnight with an elderly neighbor. The science fiction elements are balanced by historical details such as the space race, as well as realistic elements, such as details of the meals Henry likes to cook, family stress caused by his father's job loss, and asking a crush to the school dance. At times the book waxes philosophical, examining the nature of the body, consciousness, death, and humanity. The ending loops back in a satisfying way. For larger collections where readers appreciate a story that mixes adventure with musings on the nature of human goodness and immortality.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/15/2015 The strange book Henry finds in the woods contains detailed instructions: before bed, raise your arms, recite these numbers, and prepare to access the “subtle body”—the spirit-self that lives within every person’s physical body. Henry can’t help but try. After all, life has been bleak lately for him and his twin sister, Helen, in 1963 rural Iowa, where his family is struggling to make ends meet and the nation at large is embroiled in segregation disputes. So when Henry finds himself staring down at his own sleeping self that night, he is excited to explore a mystical new world. But he cannot anticipate becoming trapped in the middle of a long-running feud between the book’s authors—one of whom seems to have kidnapped Henry’s own best friend’s brother—or having trouble finding his way out of the “subtle” plane altogether. Aptly named, The Trap is a deceptively breezy, fast-paced mystery with an engaging kid narrator. Arntson (The Wikkeling, 2011) weaves classic sci-fi elements into a fresh, fantastical story ideal for middle grades on up. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 06/01/2015 As the summer of 1963 draws to a close, seventh-grader Henry Nilsson and his three best friends, including his twin sister, Helen, find themselves on an unexpected adventure. What starts as the search for a friend’s missing brother becomes a metaphysical mystery when they discover a book that teaches them the art of “subtle travel,” which lets their spirits wander free while their physical bodies are sleeping. Their nocturnal explorations soon lead them to a local widow and her late husband’s dangerous enemy, who wants to use subtle travel to rid the world of kindness and diversity. After Henry’s spirit gets stuck in a trap, his waking self will need all the help he can get to uncover the secret behind the book to save himself and maybe even the world. With its entertaining mix of mystery, history, science fiction, and old-fashioned bike-riding adventure, this novel offers up a story that is both engaging and thoughtful. Henry is a witty, self-deprecating narrator who is relatably awkward and innately heroic, and his friends provide a diverse, if somewhat clichéd, cast that allows the novel to reflect on issues of racism and intolerance in a way that has personal resonance. The underlying message about acceptance and compassion is at times heavy-handed, but it never detracts from the narrative’s emotional poignancy. This novel is a strong choice for readers new to science fiction who appreciate the power of storytelling to change the world. AM - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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