Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2018 Lou Lou Bombay and her best friend, Peacock Pearl, are back for their second mystery-solving adventure, this time involving their city’s bicentennial celebration. It’s set to occur in their neighborhood, El Corazón, but when the mayor is called away for an emergency, Vice Mayor Andy Argyle announces that the celebration belongs in Verde Valley. He produces a diary that supposedly belonged to the city’s founder to back up his claim. Lou Lou and Pea smell a rat and set out to prove the diary is fake and bring the celebration back to El Corazón. The third-person narrator effectively relates the story, highlighting how these two friends share and share alike. Pea’s Mexican American heritage is folded into the text, fairly presenting traditional Hispanic culture, although some readers may need help translating the longer Spanish sentences. Throughout, each girl also shares sayings pertaining to her passion: Lou Lou, about gardening; Pea, about fashion. Fans of Lou Lou and Pea and the Mural Mystery (2016) will welcome this second adventure, but readers new to the series will not be at a disadvantage. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 Gr 3–5—Lou Lou and Pea are back again with their second novel, which centers around the Bicentennial Bonanza celebrating their city's 200th birthday—and the festival is in their own neighborhood, El Corazón. The girls are excited to showcase their talents at the event: Lou Lou will bring home-grown honeysuckle, while Pea creates hats. At first, everyone is getting ready for the celebration until the city's mayor must leave suddenly and the vice-mayor, Andy Argyle, is left in charge. Things get sticky when Mr. Argyle uncovers a secret diary belonging to the city's founders. It turns out that the Bonanza should be happening in a different neighborhood. The girls are skeptical and decide to find the truth. Spot art sprinkled around the edges of the pages add visual appeal and will entice young readers transitioning from chapter books. Pea, who is Mexican American, and other characters use Spanish sporadically; a glossary is also included. While this is part of a series, it is not necessary to have read the previous book in order to enjoy this installment. VERDICT With its soft illustrations, diverse cast of characters, and engaging and accessible style, this is an ideal recommendation for readers wishing to take the leap from simplistic chapter books to richer novels.—Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.