Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 10/01/2013 Gr 5–8—Gantos picks up where Dead End in Norvelt (Farrar, 2011) left off. Mr. Spitz is on the run and Miss Volker is the last Norvelt old lady remaining. In the wake of three momentous deaths, young Jack finds himself rushed from one uproarious adventure to another. Accompanying Miss Volker, he traverses the country ostensibly to memorialize Eleanor Roosevelt and Miss Volker's sister. Little does he know, however, that Miss Volker has another agenda. Even though she claims to be a pacifist, she becomes more bloodthirsty at each stop in her efforts to catch the murderous Mr. Spitz. Along the way she teaches Jack (and readers) about the history of the country in colorful and enlightening ways. The book is fast paced and laced with both history lessons and hilarity. The characters, who were so well developed in the first book, return, with perhaps too much reliance on previous developments. This is definitely a follow-up book, rather than one that reads well alone. Fans of Dead End in Norvelt will love reading more about young Jack Gantos and his pal, Miss Volker.—Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/15/2013 *Starred Review* Whodunit this time? The murder of yet another old lady starts off this rambunctious sequel to Gantos’ Newbery Medal–winning Dead End in Norvelt (2011). Is it old Spizz, who is on the lam after confessing to the murder of nine others? Is it Miss Volker, young Jack’s mentor? Could it be Mr. Huffer, the local undertaker? Before the mystery can be solved, Jack finds himself en route to Hyde Park with Miss Volker to pay tribute to the recently deceased Eleanor Roosevelt, who founded Norvelt. Once there, Miss Volker receives word that her twin sister has died (or been murdered?) in Miami, and so the two catch the first train south. When first Spizz—whom Miss Volker has vowed to shoot on sight—and then Mr. Huffer show up, our heroes decamp to Washington, D.C.; buy a battered old VW; and hit the long and winding road to the Sunshine State, pursued by the usual suspects, plus a mysterious ferret-faced fellow. Yes, there’s more than a little of the outré in this mystery-cum-farce that unspools episodically, building suspense along the way. Gantos does an excellent job of keeping readers guessing about his characters: are they the good Dr. Jekyll or the evil Mr. Hyde or perhaps a bit of both? Whichever, fans of Dead End in Norvelt won’t want to miss this lively sequel. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.

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