Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2026 Gr 3–7—From the moment Ace the axolotl hatched, he is met with adversity. His larger siblings bully him as the runt of his litter and refuse to help him hunt. Then, his twin brother Jasper attacks him, devours his tail, and leaves him to die alone. Luckily for Ace, axolotls can regenerate their limbs. While learning to survive on his own in the lake, Ace meets Bubbles, Ariel, and Neptune. With these new friends Ace learns about all the amazing things axolotls can do. However, he also learns that this lake is the only place on Earth where axolotls can be found in the wild. They set off on a mission to save the species. This is part one of an underwater adventure where readers will quickly find the juxtaposition of a cute animal learning how cruel and ugly life can be. But it is also a tale of how friendship and determination can carry one through hard times. The novel includes many delightful illustrations perfect for middle grade animal fantasy readers. VERDICT An adventurous beginning to a series that both feeds the current axolotl craze and touches on important topics, such as friendship, family, allegiances, and betrayals.—Harley Smith - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2026 Ace, a new axolotl hatchling, is finding the world to be a dangerous and harsh place. As the smallest of their siblings, he and Jasper—the twin brother with whom he shared an egg—aren’t able to hunt as well as the others, and they soon become weak with hunger. In an act of desperation and betrayal, Jasper eats Ace’s tail and leaves him to fend for himself. He’s injured and distraught, but Ace’s luck begins to turn when he meets two new axolotls, Bubbles and Ariel. Ariel decides to teach Ace and Bubbles how to survive in the lake by improving their hunting and camouflage skills and, with the help of her mentor, start them on the path of (near) immortality via axolotls’ awesome regenerative abilities. As humans destroy the ecosystem of the lake, this book teaches young readers about the importance of an ecological balance as well as the power of compassion and believing in one’s ingenuity. With the current popularity of axolotls, this gripping, fact-saturated series starter is an easy recommendation for avid Warriors fans. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.