Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2019 *Starred Review* Having been mercilessly bullied for three years by Parker, the son of his school’s indulgent principal, fifth-grader Bell is at first so relieved when his tormentor switches focus to flamboyantly dressed new girl Daelynn that he actually goes along with a mean prank on her. So sharp is his guilt, though—particularly after Daelynn justly berates him for being a coward—that after a few false starts he screws his courage to the sticking place and discovers that forming a mutual support group with her and other victims effectively keeps the bully at bay. But this is only partly about coping with a bully, and the rest of the story may well prove more engaging to young readers. Displaying a rare gift for nuanced characters, Burt captures the heady sense of accomplishment that comes with working together and exploring not just problems but creative interests and challenges. Bell is a lover of systems, plans, and diagrams (as are his mother and deployed dad, who are both construction engineers), Daelynn is a talented artist, and, along with a sometimes comically lively set of fellow students, they throw themselves into making floats for the upcoming Spring Festival, and for a Creative Club project, a full-size (weapon free) tank modeled on a design by Leonardo Da Vinci. The latter takes a major role in a spectacularly destructive climax that leaves all with their appropriately just desserts. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.