Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 Gr 3–6—Gabby and her family head to their lake house for another lovely summer vacation. While Gabby would prefer to spend the time cuddled up with a good book, her parents introduce her to Paige, the daughter of another lake house family. Paige is everything Gabby isn't: Paige loves adventure and the outdoors, and she's a master at keeping secrets. When Gabby learns of an old, empty cottage home nearby that's at the center of a celebrity disappearance, she's inspired to write a story, and Paige becomes Gabby's unlikely coauthor. Together, the girls decide to break into the cottage to discover its secrets. Their friendship is tested by Gabby's desire to do the right thing and Paige's distrust of people around her. This is a slow burn of a middle grade graphic novel. Bard spends the first third of the story introducing Gabby and Paige's families, fleshing out the world in and around their summer homes, as multiple plot lines intertwine. The natural dialogue and sharp characterization carry this book; Bard's artwork uses a minimalistic style reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier's work, but the characters' expressions and gestures remain realistic. VERDICT A solid recommendation for libraries where middle grade graphic novels are popular.—Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/15/2020 Gabby plans to spend summer vacation at her family’s lake house reading mysteries, but she gets more than she bargained for when presented with a real-life unsolved mystery. A nearby gated mansion has remained empty for years—one night the site of a party, owners gone the next morning—and Gabby decides to write a story about the husband murdering his wife. Gabby’s adventurous and tough new neighbor, Paige, talks her into seeking out real clues by breaking into the mansion, but when Paige, suspecting an elderly neighbor, tries to get Gabby to break into his home, the girls’ tempestuous friendship is put to the test. In her traditional publishing debut, Bard tackles the difficulties of making new friends and the importance of not jumping to conclusions through an imaginative mini mystery story written by Gabby. Bard’s illustrations are bright and cheerful, reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier’s, and will leave readers feeling as if they are exploring the lake house’s environs alongside the characters. A solid mystery for middle-grade comics collections. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.