Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2020 *Starred Review* Betsy K. Glory enjoys a peaceful existence with her ice cream–making father and charming mermaid mother on “an island that’s been left off of the map of the world.” Life becomes more interesting when Betsy is presented with an unusual challenge: in order to reverse a curse on a new friend, a very special wishing ice cream must be produced, and it requires rare Gongalong berries that are found on a faraway island and only ripen under a blue moon—which almost never happens. However, with the arrival of Mr. Tiger, a dashing circus leader, things begin to look up. Mr. Tiger seems to have a plan, and the group sets off on the crazy crusade. If the synopsis sounds a bit surreal, it absolutely is, in the weirdest and most wonderful way. Gardner, author of the Printz Honor–winning Maggot Moon, 2013, uses terrifically imaginative writing that’s simple, direct, and packed with whimsical details at every turn, without ever spilling over into something too precious. The text, printed in a blue typeface meant to assist dyslexic readers, wraps itself around eye-catching illustrations of varying sizes, adding to the fantastical nature of the story. It’s a marvelously inventive fairy tale full of heart and humor, and readers will be utterly enchanted by Betsy and her dreamy, ice cream–centric world. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.