Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/29/2023 Gr 5 Up—Most readers will not know that the Mona Lisa painting was once stolen from its home at the Louvre. This nonfiction middle grade book contextualizes this historic moment with world events. The publicity that surrounded the theft only added to the painting's fame. Readers will learn of the heist, discover new connections to other artists, and find out fascinating details and facts of the long-ago crime. Moving back and forth between the caper and the life of Leonardo da Vinci, the text takes readers around the world figuratively and literally. Day writes in a pleasant conversational style, addressing readers directly. The story moves along at a reasonable pace and includes many historical figures; the abundance of cultural references makes the story challenging, but interesting. VERDICT An intriguing exploration of a significant yet little-known event.—Amy Caldera - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/23/2023 *Starred Review* The book opens in 1503 in Florence, where Leonardo da Vinci begins painting the portrait known as the Mona Lisa. A second story takes place in 1911 in Paris, where a thief hides out in the Louvre overnight, removes the portrait from its glass case, and walks away with it the next morning. Initially, no one realizes that the painting has been stolen, but afterward, the theft becomes front-page news internationally. Suddenly, the painting becomes a cultural icon, familiar mainly through reprinted photographs in newspapers. Alternating between Leonardo’s lifetime and the years between the theft and the return of the Mona Lisa, the story lines take unexpected twists and turns, from the personal and societal forces driving Leonardo down unconventional paths to the testimony in a Paris courtroom by a young, clearly terrified artist named Picasso. The narratives in both time periods are enhanced by Day’s clear explanations of events and their contexts, his appreciation for irony, and his skillful storytelling, which is continuously compelling and often brightened by understated humor. Best known for illustrating Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events books, Helquist contributes occasional black-and-white illustrations that capture the look of each time period while reflecting the droll tone of the writing. A completely engaging book. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.